WeCAIR Press Release Following Leila Fadel’s NPR report on the culture of abuse in CAIR leadership
Protecting the civil rights of American Muslims is vital, but CAIR senior leaders have betrayed that mission and abused their power. They have violated civil rights by intimidating employees, tolerating harassment, and allowing fraud.
We are former CAIR employees, board members, and community members who have been victimized by CAIR leaders. We believe our civil rights have been violated by an organization that claims to protect those rights.
We have tried to address our concerns privately with CAIR board members, executive staff, National Council, and chapter heads. Many of us have also reached out to community leaders for help and were ignored. Some of us have been threatened with legal reprisal by a well-funded organization with attorneys. Others have been forced to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that prevent any public comments about the abuses inside the organization.
Because of this, many of us are too afraid to give our names – although more and more people are speaking out publicly. Still, we are asking for a new culture of accountability and transparency within CAIR help end abuse.
Our concerns about abuses inside CAIR include:
- Gender discrimination
- Sexual harassment & sexual exploitation
- Retaliation
- Interference with staff efforts to unionize/union busting
- Hostile work environment
- Board incompetence & lack of board oversight
- Tokenism
- Financial abuse and mismanagement
- Religious discrimination
WE CAIR 