Award recipient Suzan Khaimi directs a nonprofit group helping Muslims learn and understand the Quran

(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 04/04/2018) – On Saturday, April 7, the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK) will hold its 12thAnnual Awards Banquet (6 p.m.) at the Reed Conference Center in Midwest City. CAIR-OK expects some 400 guests at the banquet.

SEE: CAIR-OK 12th Annual Awards Banquet Event Page
https://www.cairoklahoma.com/event/12th-annual-awards-banquet/

The banquet will feature a keynote address by Imam Khalid Latif, executive director and chaplain for the Islamic Center at New York University (NYU). In 2005, Imam Latif was appointed as the first Muslim chaplain at NYU and is the youngest chaplain in history to be appointed to serve the New York City Police Department.

CAIR-OK’s event will also honor two individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their community with the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Oklahoma Muslim of the Year Award, an honor given to a person nominated by his or her peers. The evening will conclude with entertainment by Jeremy McLellan, a stand-up comedian from South Carolina who is famous for his humorous take on interfaith relations.

 The recipient of the 2018 Oklahoma Muslim of the Year Award is Suzan Khaimi, the director of the IQRA Center of Oklahoma, a nonprofit organization helping Muslims to learn and understand the Quran.

“This awards banquet is a time for us to come together as a community and honor the work of our past, while at the same time looking forward to the future of our organization,” said CAIR-OK Executive Director Adam Soltani. “In a time of unprecedented Islamophobia, it is increasingly important for the Muslim community to have pride in its accomplishments and to share in celebrations together.”

“Given the current political climate, the community has responded with great enthusiasm and support. We are expecting a large crowd, and we have worked hard to create an exceptional program for the evening,” said CAIR-OK Community Outreach Fellow Natasha Saya.

CAIR-Oklahoma is a chapter of 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.

The banquet will be held at Reed Conference Center in Midwest City (5750 Will Rogers Rd), from 6-10:00pm, April 7.

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, 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.