CAIR-MO

The Sheldon hosts Creativity & Identity: An American Muslim Art Exhibition on April 20th, 2019. This collection of nearly two dozen St. Louis area Muslim artists continues CAIR Missouri’s yearly effort to provide the Muslim community with an outlet for their artistic expressions.

This year signals a shift in the event however, whereas the previous exhibits hosted a wide variety of works with no specified direction, this event was treated as more of a traditional exhibition with a theme: mental health awareness.

Another milestone from this year’s exhibit was St. Louis’ first ever Women’s Only Fashion Show to feature all Muslim women modeling clothing from around the world.
For more information about CAIR please visit www.cair-mo.org.

See Full Article: https://hecmedia.org/posts/cair-missouris-3rd-annual-american-muslim-art-exhibition

Media Advisory

CAIR-Missouri Condemns Attacks on Christian Worshipers and Others in Sri Lanka as ‘Outrageous, Despicable’

 
(SAINT LOUIS, MO, 4/21/19) - The Missouri chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Missouri) today condemned a series attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka that reportedly left more than 210 people dead, and over 500 injured.
 
SEE: Sri Lanka bombings: 207 dead, hundreds injured in church, hotel explosions on Easter Sunday
https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/21/asia/sri-lanka-explosions/index.html

In a statement, CAIR-Missouri Executive Director Faizan Syed said:

"We are saddened by the terrible murder of over 200 Christian worshipers celebrating Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka. These heinous crimes violate the tenets of every faith and are crimes against humanity.

We join the countless voices from around the world in condemning these despicable attacks and extend our sincere condolences to the victims and their families. These crimes were carried out to reignite religious and ethnic tensions in Sri Lanka which for decades suffered from bitter civil war and unrest. We pray for peace in Sri Lanka and stand with those calling for unity in the face of hate and violence.”

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.

CONTACT: Faizan Syed, Executive Director, 314-403-3626, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

MEDIA ADVISORY

CAIR-Missouri: American Muslim Art Exhibition and First Modest Women’s Fashion Show Set to Challenge Stereotypes

(ST. LOUIS, MO, 4/16/2019) – On Saturday, April 20, the Missouri chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Missouri), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, will host its third annual “Creativity & Identity, An American Muslim Art Exhibition” in St. Louis.

The event will feature over two dozen local Muslim artists and performers as well as the city’s first Modest Muslim Women’s fashion show designed to challenge stereotypes, build understanding, and empower American Muslims to share their stories through arts and fashion.

The exhibition will highlight nearly two dozen local American Muslim artists and performers who will display their art at the Sheldon Concert Hall and discuss how art impacts their faith and identity as American Muslims. A variety of interactive tables will feature everything from Henna Art to Arabic Calligraphy. Guests will be able to purchase art from the local artists. The exhibition is open to the public and is family friendly.

WATCH: 2018 CAIR-Missouri Presents Creativity & Identity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcBQMo_az5s

WHAT: Creativity & Identity, an American Muslim Art Exhibition

WHEN: Saturday, April 20^th at 6:00 P.M. – 9:30 P.M.

WHERE: The Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries, 3648
Washington Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108

WEBSITE: www.cair-mo.org/art

TICKETS: $15 Adults, $10 Students, $5 for children 6 – 12, free for children 5 and under.

FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/events/326351784684992/

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES: Artists and performers are available for interviews in the days leading up to the event, as well as during the event.

CONTACT: CAIR-MO Executive Director Faizan Syed, 314-403-3626 E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Events Organizer Sadia Ali, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,Fashion Designer Mojda Sidiqi, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SEE: Artists & Performers Videos

• St. Louis Muslim-American Poet Shares Her Story Before Annual Art Exhibition
  • https://www.facebook.com/cairmo/videos/1062502460600620/
• Meet Alia Rehman, A Muslim Surreal Artists on a Mission
  • https://www.facebook.com/cairmo/videos/2209751936005345/
• Meet Bismah Syed, a Local Artist who Uses her Work to Reflect Her Culture
  • https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=882146038784276

“For over 1,000 years Muslims have utilized the arts to express their faith, stories, struggles, and accomplishments” said CAIR-MO Executive Director Faizan Syed. “We hope to reignite that passion for the arts within our community as well as use our artists’ expressions to define who we are and challenge stereotypes.”

This year’s art exhibition features the first Modest Muslim Women’s Fashion show to showcase modest fashion designs, one of the latest trends in the fashion industry.

“Our religion promotes modest fashion and styles which directly challenge a modern fashion industry that regularly exploits and objectifies women’s bodies” said Mojda Sidiqi, fashion designer for the art exhibition. “We want to showcase modest designs that can be worn by women of all faiths that make them look beautiful and express themselves, all while remaining modest. We’re also excited to showcase traditional clothing worn by Muslim women from around the world.”

“By giving these local Muslim artists a platform to showcase and sell their work we hope to transform our communities and have more community members pursue careers in the arts” said Sadia Ali event organizer for the art exhibition.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos. 

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CONTACT: CAIR-Missouri Executive Director Faizan Syed, 314-330-2946, E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;  

(ST. LOUIS, MO, 3/28/19) – Later today, the Missouri chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Missouri), along with other concerned community members, will attend the St. Peters Board of Alderman meeting in St. Peters, Mo., to express their concerns over the gun store Tactical Sh*t’s glorification of the recent massacre of Muslim worshipers in New Zealand.

After the tragic terror attacks in New Zealand at two Islamic centers that ended the lives of 51 people, Tactical Sh*t posted a poll on social media asking their followers whether the shooting was “tragic” or “f**king great.” Fifteen percent of respondents said it was great.

WHAT: St. Peters Board of Alderman Meeting

WHEN: Thursday, March 28, 6:30 P.M.

WHERE: St. Peters Justice Center, 1020 Grand Teton Dr, St. Peters MO, 63376

CONTACT: CAIR-Missouri Executive Director Faizan Syed, 314-403-3626, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SEE: CAIR-Missouri Condemns Gun Store for Celebrating the Mass Murder of 50 Muslims in New Zealand

https://www.cair.com/cair_missouri_condemns_gun_store_for_celebrating_the_mass_murder_of_50_muslims_in_new_zealand

“We believe that this is an important opportunity for the St. Peters’ Board of Alderman to unequivocally reject Islamophobia and hate of all kinds and take appropriate actions against this gun store,” said Faizan Syed, executive director of CAIR-Missouri. “After this incident, Muslims living in St. Peters reached out to me expressing concerns for their safety and questioning whether they should move out of that community.”

Syed will offer the invocation for the meeting.

CAIR has reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims, immigrants and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president and has repeatedly expressed concern about Islamophobic, white supremacist and racist Trump administration policies and appointments.

The Washington-based civil rights organization is urging mosques and other Islamic institutions to take measures outlined in its "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety" booklet. The advice in CAIR’s security publication is applicable to all institutions, regardless of organizational mission.

The booklet may be viewed at: https://tinyurl.com/BestSafetyPractices

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos. 

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CONTACT: CAIR-Missouri Executive Director Faizan Syed, 314-403-3626, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.