Vision and mission
CAIR Oklahoma’s vision is to be a leading advocate for justice and mutual understanding.
Our 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.
Core principles
- CAIR Oklahoma supports free enterprise, freedom of religion, and freedom of expression.
- CAIR Oklahoma is committed to protecting the civil rights of all Americans, regardless of faith.
- CAIR Oklahoma supports domestic policies that promote civil rights, diversity, and freedom of religion.
- CAIR Oklahoma opposes domestic policies that limit civil rights, permit racial, ethnic or religious profiling, infringe on due process, or that prevent Muslims and others from participating fully in American civic life.
- CAIR Oklahoma is a natural ally of groups, religious or secular, that advocate justice and human rights in America and around the world.
- CAIR Oklahoma supports foreign policies that help create free and equitable trade, encourage human rights, and promote representative government based on socio-economic justice.
- CAIR Oklahoma believes the active practice of Islam strengthens the social and religious fabric of our nation.
CAIR Oklahoma condemns all acts of violence against civilians by any individual, group, or state. - CAIR Oklahoma advocates dialogue between faith communities both in America and worldwide.
CAIR Oklahoma supports equal and complementary rights and responsibilities for men and women.
CAIR Oklahoma is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) grassroots civil rights and advocacy group. Established in 2006 by a group of local Muslims, CAIR Oklahoma serves the entire state of Oklahoma through its Oklahoma City office. CAIR Oklahoma is a chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group with chapters nationwide. The national headquarters is located on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.
Civil Rights Work
CAIR Oklahoma’s civil rights department counsels, mediates, and advocates on behalf of Oklahoma Muslims and others who have experienced religious discrimination, defamation, harassment, or hate crimes. The department works to protect and defend the constitutional rights of Oklahoma Muslims, thereby supporting the rights of all Oklahomans. The Civil Rights Department also functions as a statewide leader in the realm of civil rights development alongside our racial and social justice allies to work towards changes in policy, law, and culture.
Government Affairs
CAIR Oklahoma’s government affairs department conducts and organizes lobbying efforts on issues related to Islam and Muslims in our state. The department monitors legislation and government activities and responds on behalf of the Oklahoma Muslim community. CAIR Oklahoma has hosted its Annual Oklahoma Muslim Day at the Capitol at our state’s Capitol building every year since 2015. The government affairs department seeks to connect Oklahoma’s Muslim community to their elected leaders and empower minorities to engage civically in all levels of government.
CAIR Oklahoma regularly produces resources to educate the Muslim community on voting and registration and sponsors voter registration drives across the state.
Action Alerts
CAIR Oklahoma issues Action Alert emails to generate grassroots responses to critical political, social, legal, and media-related issues. These alerts notify the community of newsworthy events and provide suggestions on how to get involved, from calling or writing legislators to signing petitions to making public comments on crucial issues. They also describe changes in the law that may affect vulnerable communities, such as immigrants, people using social welfare programs, or people seeking legal services.
Media Relations
CAIR Oklahoma’s communications department works with local and national media to ensure an accurate portrayal of Islam and Muslims is presented to the American public. CAIR Oklahoma monitors local, national and international media, in part to challenge negative stereotypes, but also to applaud and encourage positive representations of Islam and Muslims. Over the years, CAIR Oklahoma has become a respected and credible source for journalists and other media professionals.
Research and Publications
CAIR Oklahoma’s research team conducts empirical research studies on subjects relevant to the Oklahoma Muslim community, including gathering and analyzing data for the annual civil rights report and annual government affairs report. Our research team has produced printed Guides to Islamic Religious Practices for employers, educators, and health care providers that have been distributed to thousands of Oklahomans seeking to learn how to more effectively serve their Muslim employees, clients, patients, students, and families. Additionally, we have released the first-ever comprehensive guide to Islam and Muslims in Oklahoma, detailing not only the demographic information about the Oklahoma Muslim community but also statistics on civic engagement, community service, and volunteerism.
Internships
CAIR Oklahoma offers internships to students or other interested individuals who wish to gain experience in media relations, political activism or civil rights work. The Omar Al-Farooq Legal Fellowship brings top law students from law schools across Oklahoma to serve in the Civil Rights Department, gaining valuable legal skills and forging connections to our wide network of state leaders in politics, community service, and activism.
Education: Conferences, Seminars and Workshops
CAIR organizes regular conferences and training seminars for government and law enforcement agencies, media professionals, and the academic community. These events are designed to present easily accessible and accurate information about Islam and Muslims. CAIR provides diversity training workshops to employers, educators, and organizations as a proactive approach that highlights relevant Islamic practices and offers suggestions for religious accommodation. CAIR also provides training for the Muslim community and activists in areas such as media relations, public speaking, lobbying, and civil rights. Our printed Guides to Islamic Religious Practices are reinforced with in-person seminars that provide opportunities for interaction and Q&A with top civil rights advocates.
Outreach and Interfaith Relations
Each year, groups representing people of all faiths visit CAIR Oklahoma’s office and join us at our events to learn more about Islam and Muslims in Oklahoma. Through these visits, as well as other interfaith initiatives, CAIR Oklahoma strives to educate others about Islam while building strong relationships with other faith communities.