DEARBORN — The Council on American Islamic Relations of Michigan (CAIR) continues to make progress in the fight to shield American Muslims from hate and discrimination.

Members of CAIR Michigan pose for a photo during their recent annual banquet held in Dearborn.

During the group’s annual banquet April 14 at the Islamic Center of America, the civil rights cases CAIR has been successful in were highlighted.

Warda Kalim, Safe Spaces Coordinator says the group is currently working on preventing Muslim students from being bullied and harassed in schools. The CAIR-MI Safe Spaces project is designed to create a mutually beneficial environment between employers, educational institutions, and government entities and Muslim employees. She says Safe Spaces is working with teachers in some districts to address bullying, and giving sensitivity training to educators focused on Muslim students. Since the attacks on 9/11, Muslim and Arab Americans have experienced an increase in hate rhetoric and bullying in schools around the country.

CAIR was influential in helping gain zoning approval for the American Muslim Diversity Association to build the first mosque in Sterling Heights, and filed suit against the FBI and Customs Border Patrol for the alleged profiling of Muslim and Arab Americans at the United States-Canada Border.   

The keynote speaker was Imam Suhaib Webb, of the Islamic Society of Boston’s Cultural Center.  Webb, 40, was raised a Christian and converted to Islam, he initially had plans to pursue a career in the music industry earlier in his life. Webb spoke about the youth becoming actively engaged in promoting CAIR’s mission.