CAIR-MO

(In the Name of Allah the most Compassionate the most Merciful),

The Imam Council of Metropolitan St. Louis (ICMSTL), a council representing the city’s 18 Islamic Centers and the Missouri Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Missouri) denounce President Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). We are heartbroken at the terrible decision which will not only impact the 3,500 young hardworking DREAMers living in Missouri or the over 800,000 DREAMers living in the U.S. but the moral character of our nation.

DREAMers are youth who positively contribute to society, work to provide for their families, build economic opportunities, serve in our military, and inspire all of us. This inhumane heartless decision puts DREAMers, their families, and all of us in a 6-month limbo where if Congress does not pass comprehensive immigration reform, which they have been unable to achieve for over a decade, will face deportation.

From a purely financial perspective, kicking the DREAMers out of our country will not only devastate communities but may cost the U.S. economy $460 billion in GDP loss according to 400 leaders of major American businesses. As Muslims, we recognize that no human being is illegal and should live under the constant threat of deportation.

We call on all people of conscience, our fellow Americans to contact their elected officials and demand a change for the DREAMers and a pathway towards citizenship. We conclude with the words of Allah in the Holy Quran when He says, “And those who emigrated for [the cause of] God after they had been wronged - We will surely settle them in this world in a good place; but the reward of the Hereafter is greater, if only they could know” (Quran 16:41).

We pray for the safety of all the DREAMers, their families, their communities, and our nation to navigate a moral resolution.

(SAINT LOUIS, MO, 8/18/17) – The Imam Council on Metropolitan St. Louis (ICMSTL), a council that represents 18 Islamic Centers in the Metropolitan area and the Missouri Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Missouri), a chapter of the largest civil liberties and advocacy organization for Muslims in America, today condemned the terror attack in Barcelona, Spain, that left at least 13 people dead and many more injured.

They also condemned the “Islamophobic” Twitter response to that attack offered by President Trump that included false information.

Trump tweeted, apparently in reaction to the attack in Spain: "Study what General Pershing of the United States did to terrorists when caught. There was no more Radical Islamic Terror for 35 years!"

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

“The Barcelona terror attack is barbaric and we condemn it in the strongest language. We also condemn President Trump’s irresponsible and Islamophobic response to that attack. President Trump claims he needed days to get the ‘facts’ on Charlottesville, and said nothing about the recent bombing of a Minnesota mosque, but tweeted false information within minutes of the Barcelona attack.”

“The President seems intent on defending white supremacy, downplaying his role in empowering hate groups, and promoting anti-Muslim bigotry. This is likely an attempt to distract attention from his response to the domestic terror attack in Charlottesville.”

POLITIFACT: Donald Trump Cites Dubious Legend About Gen. Pershing, Pig's Blood and Muslims

CAIR Says Trump’s Continued Use of ‘Pig’s Blood’ Myth Endangers American Muslims

“We pray for all those who tragically lost their lives in Barcelona and Charlottesville, and condemn all acts of violence against innocents” said Imam Askia Hameed Imam of Masjid Al-Mu’minun and member of ICMSTL. “It’s tragic that it takes the loss of life for us to wake up and again address racism and discrimination.”

CAIR-Missouri has witnessed an unprecedented increase in hate incidents targeting members of minority groups since the election of Donald Trump and is urging community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR-Missouri’s Civil Rights Department at 636-207-8882 or by filing a report at: https://cair-mo.org/civil-rights/file-a-complaint.html

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

La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

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CONTACT: CAIR-Missouri Executive Director Faizan Syed, 636-207-8882, 314-330-2946, E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Imam Askia Hameed, 618-580-8403, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;

(ST. LOUIS, MO, 8/3/2017) – On Saturday, August 5, the Islamic Circle of North America Relief Division (ICNA-Relief) Muslim charity, Project Downtown St. Louis (PDSTL), a Muslim run feed the hungry program, the Dar-Al-Jalal Islamic Center, and the Missouri chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Missouri) will host a Back-to-School giveaway at the Ferguson-Florissant School District and Ritenour School District.

The Muslim community will provide more than 300 backpacks and other supplies to students across the city with over 100 supplies distributed at Ferguson-Florissant. This is part of ICNA-Relief’s national Back-2-School Giveaway Project which is hosting 60 other similar events across the U.S, with aspirations to help over 100,000 children.

WHAT: Ferguson-Florissant Back to School Giveaway

WHEN: Saturday, August 5th

WHERE: Administration Center

1005 Waterford Drive, Florissant, MO 63033

WEBSITE: https://www.icnarelief.org/wp/index.php/back2school

CONTACT: ICNA-Relief Outreach Director AbdulBasit Syed, 314-601-4779, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 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.

“As Muslims, it’s our duty to assist our neighbors and families who are under financial pressure and to promote education,” said Abdul Basit Syed, Outreach Director of ICNA-Relief St. Louis. “Islam teaches us that one is not a Muslim unless that person wants for others what he or she wants for himself or herself. We want to do our part in making sure every student starts off with the tools they need to succeed”.

“Dar Al-Jalal Mosque's mission is to serve our community, regardless of faith,” said Dr. Ferrahs Abdelbaset board member of the Dar-Al-Jalal Islamic Center, the largest Masjid in North County. “a major part of our community belongs to the Ferguson-Florissant School District and we believe it is our duty to help when called upon..”

“Ferguson is my home and I'm honored to be a part of a project that will give my community's children the tools they need to succeed,” said Faizan Syed, executive director of CAIR-MO.

The Muslim community will also hold similar back to school drives at the West Florissant Islamic Center, 6809 W. Florissant Ave, St. Louis MO, 63136 on Sunday, August 5th from 12 P.M. – 2 P.M. and at the ICNA-Relief Food Pantry, 10570 Page Ave, St. Louis MO 63132 from 11 A.M. – 1 P.M.

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.

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CONTACT: CAIR-Missouri Executive Director Faizan Syed, 636-207-8882, 314-330-2946, E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CAIR-Missouri: Muslims Showcase City’s Diversity, Challenge Stereotypes Through Food Festival

(ST. LOUIS, MO, 7/31/2017) -- On Sunday, August 13, the Imam Council of Metropolitan St. Louis (ICMSTL), representing the city's 18 Imams (Islamic religious leaders) and the Missouri chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Missouri), a chapter of the largest civil liberties and advocacy organization for Muslims in America, will host, “The Great Muslim Cook-Off and Food Festival.” It is the first St. Louis international food festival showcasing the tremendous diversity of the city’s Muslim population through food.

WHAT: The Great Muslim Cook-Off and Food Festival

WHEN: Sunday, August 13, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

WHERE: The World’s Fair Pavilion in Forest Park

1904 Concourse Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146

WEBSITE: https://cair-mo.org/cookoff

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 Intern Sadia Ali, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 636-675-9471

“Our goal is to showcase the diversity of American Muslims through the various international dishes cooked every day in our community,” said Faizan Syed, executive director of CAIR-Missouri. “What better way to challenge the growing anti-Muslim hysteria than through food? We hope that our neighbors will come out, break bread, or nan in this case, and get to know their Muslim neighbors a little better.”

The food festival will feature several local Muslim-owned restaurants with meals from around the world. Guests will be able to shop in the bazaar for not only unique edible delights but also for clothing, henna art, and much more. There will also be a food competition with various dishes that will be entered into a six-category competition with prizes. All dishes entered will be halal, kosher, or vegan, including an under 13 children’s category.

The St. Louis chapter of the Islamic Circle of North America Relief (ICNA-Relief) with Volunteers in Medicine will be conducting a health fair in order to provide free basic health services to guests along with medical services in case of injury. The league of Women Voters will be organizing a voter registration drive. The exhibition is public and family friendly.

“Sharing a meal with a stranger is a universal value to build friendship, break down barriers, and build community,” said Sadia Ali event coordinator for the food festival. “Our food festival is unique because it empowers the local Muslim community to share its diversity, culture, and traditions through the medium of food. A langue that all of us understand and gravitate towards.”

Some of the businesses and sponsors of the food festival include:

• AbdulBasit Syed, Outreach Coordinator of ICNA-Relief St. Louis and manager of the Health Fair, (314_601-4779. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Wahed Invest, https://wahedinvest.com/home.php
• Sami Ahmad, Owner of St. Louis Gyros, https://www.facebook.com/STLgyros/
• Lisa Grozdanic, Yapi Restaurant, https://www.facebook.com/Yapi-Mediterranean-Subs-and-Sandwiches-1781770068772258/
• Jim Hacking, Hacking Law Practice Business Sponsor, http://hackinglawpractice.com/
• Jena McVicker, The Shabby Hijabi, http://shabbyhijabi.com
• The Turkish Society of Missouri, http://tasom.org/

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.

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CONTACT: CAIR-Missouri Executive Director Faizan Syed, 636-207-8882, 314-330-2946, E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.