COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations is hoping to create a more positive American Islamic relationship.
For many, religion has been the root for change both in Ohio and abroad.
Mahsa Amini, 22, was apprehended by Iran’s morality police for not wearing her hijab correctly. After being taken to the hospital, she was later pronounced dead.
Communities in Iran and abroad have come together to speak up and demand change.
“We always stand with folks who are speaking up against oppression, speak up against tyranny and we’re lucky enough that we live in the United States, in which those freedoms are upheld,” said Amina Burhumi, the acting executive director for CAIR Ohio.
While Muslims in Iran continue to fight repression, Muslims in Ohio are fighting against oppressive laws and policies. CAIR Ohio brought dozens of Muslims together on Tuesday to learn about existing bills like House Bill 353 which addresses excused religious absences for state colleges and universities.
The House passed the bill in May, and it is currently awaiting a hearing by the Workforce and Higher Education committee in the Senate. While bill movement in the legislature marks progress, Kareem Azrek, a Columbus eighth grader, said there needs to be policies and laws that address the primary education curriculum. He hopes to make it more inclusive.
“For history and that stuff, we just learn about the U.S. history, things that happened in the past like WWII, but I feel like if you learn about different religions, more people can learn about the students in their class,” said Azrek.
Earlier this year, Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 181, which protects students rights to wear a hijab in school sports and extracurricular activities. CAIR Ohio was an integral part of that legislation, and said while progress is slowly being made, there’s still a long way to go.
“There are laws and institutional injustices that happen and it’s our responsibility to speak up against it and so that’s why we’re here today,” said Burhumi.
CAIR Ohio is also asking for extended policies in tandem with Ohio’s anti-bullying law with the goal to protect Muslims from being discriminated against or ridiculed for religious or cultural practices. For a full view of CAIR Ohio’s mission, click here.
