CAIR, its staff, and board members were honored to receive at least 73 awards and recognitions during the 2013-2023 period. 24 U.S. Senators and 135 U.S. Representatives, Democrats and Republicans, have praised the organization in that same period.
Civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis praised our work writing, “I am happy to see the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. live on through organizations like CAIR.” Former Rep. Mike Honda, who as a child was placed in a Colorado internment camp for Japanese Americans, also praised the organization’s organizing efforts on Capitol Hill.
PR Week once noted, “Since 1994, CAIR has employed a well-rounded plan in its role as a top Muslim voice in the US.” The Indianapolis Star has reported, “Already fighting on behalf of American Muslims is the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, as it is commonly known. The organization…has developed a reputation for being something of a pit bull in protecting the civil rights of Muslims.”
USA Today listed our founding executive director among “19 of the most influential civil rights leaders of today” in 2020. A yearly listing of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims has included him a number of times.
Major news outlets, entertainers, international delegations, and interfaith partners have all applauded the group and dispelled the rumors all Muslim public figures are subject to.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
2023: CAIR-New Jersey Board Chair Nadia Kahf was confirmed as state Superior Court judge.
2023: CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad was named one of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims by Jordan’s Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. Awad has been named to the annual list a number of times.
2022: CAIR-Oklahoma Executive Director Adam Soltani received a “Humanitarian Award” from the Oklahoma Interfaith Alliance.
2022: CAIR-Sacramento Executive Bassam Elkara was honored among the Sacramento Bee’s 2022 AAPI Change Makers.
2022: CAIR office in Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry was presented with a Civil Rights and Fair Housing Trailblazer award by the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights.
2020: USA Today named CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad among “19 of the most influential civil rights leaders of today.”
2018: CAIR-NJ Staff Attorney Staff Attorney Jay Rehman was honored by Governor Phil Murphy with a 2018 Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month award for his leadership and bravery in representing the Muslim community.
2017: CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad was named one of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims by Jordan’s Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center.
2017: CAIR-Florida Northwest Regional Coordinator Hiba Rahim was honored as one of nine Women of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of the Florida Panhandle for her community impact.
2017: CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad was named the recipient of the Harvard College’s Phillips Brooks House Association’s 2017 Robert Coles “Call of Service” award.
2017: CAIR-San Antonio Executive Director Sarwat Husain was named one of the city’s Women of Power by Influence Magazine.
2017: CAIR-LA received the K.W. Lee Spirit Award from the K.W. Lee Center for Leadership for being an unsung hero that is dedicated to advocating for social justice for the underdog.
2017: CAIR-LA was honored with the Social Justice Award by the Democratic Party of Orange County at the party’s largest event of the year, the 23rd Annual Harry S. Truman Awards Dinner.
2017: CAIR-New York was listed as one of “10 New York-based organizations that are making the city a better place” by Time Out.
2017: CAIR-Alabama Executive Director Khaula Hadeed was listed among the Faces of Birmingham by Style Blueprint.
2017: CAIR Maryland Outreach Coordinator Zainab Chaudry was profiled by WMAR Baltimore (ABC 2) as “one of Baltimore’s most prominent civil rights leaders” during Women’s History Month.
2017: CAIR-New York received a Public Interest Award from the law firm of Outten & Golden LLP.
2017: CAIR-Alabama Executive Director Khaula Hadeed was profiled by Alabama Living.
2017: CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area Executive Director Zahra Billoo was profiled by the East Bay Times as part of its Women’s History Month coverage of “exceptional Bay Area women.”
2017: CAIR-Minnesota Executive Director Jaylani Hussein received a Governor’s Distinguished Service award from that state’s Governor’s Council on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.
2017: CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area Executive Director Zahra Billoo received the M. Shanara Gilbert Human Rights Award from the Society of American Law Teachers.
2017: CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area Executive Director Zahra Billoo received a ChangeMaker Award from South Asian Americans Leading Together.
2017: CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper was featured by the Georgetown University Center for Social Impact Communication among a list of people who “think they can-and indeed are-changing the world for the better.”13 (Note: This may be older, but to the best of our ability to determine it was published in 2017.)
2017 CAIR-Florida Orlando Regional Coordinator Rasha Mubarak received the Umm Sulaym RA Award from ICNA Relief.
2016: CAIR National Board Chair Roula Allouch appointed as Special Advisor to the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession.
2016: CAIR Board Member James Jones was honored as a “Champion Educator” by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University.
2016: CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad was named one of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims by Jordan’s Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center.
2016: CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush recognized at the inaugural Arab American Heritage Month hosted by the City of Anaheim. The award was in recognition of his 20 years of service and contributions to the development of the City of Anaheim through CAIR-LA’s work.
2016: CAIR National Board Chair Roula Allouch was featured on the cover of and profiled in Kentucky Alumni magazine’s Summer 2016 edition.
2016: CAIR Maryland Outreach Manager Zainab Chaudry was named one of “Baltimore’s 25 women to watch in 2016” by the Baltimore Sun.
2016: CAIR-Minnesota Executive Director Jaylani Hussein was named one of the “2016 Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans” by JCI Minnesota, an “all-volunteer civic organization in Minnesota, with over 1,500 members statewide.”
2016: CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush was named among the “Most Influential 2016” by the OC Register.
2016: CAIR-MA Board Member Tahirah Amatul-Wadud was named a Top Woman in Law 2016 by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.
2016: CAIR-Oklahoma Executive Director Adam Soltani received the Angie Debo Civil Libertarian of the Year Award presented to him by the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma at their annual meeting.
2016: CAIR-Minnesota received the 2016 Winds of Change diversity award from the Forum on Workplace Inclusion, in partnership with the University of St. Thomas – Opus College of Business.
2016: CAIR Maryland Outreach Manager Zainab Chaudry received a “Community Quarterback Award” from the Baltimore Ravens football team for “tireless leadership, dedication and commitment to bettering our local communities, and in appreciation for your outstanding impact on neighbors in need.”
2016: CAIR Maryland Outreach Manager Zainab Chaudry received a 2016 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Award honorable mention for Outstanding Inclusive Initiatives in Emergency Management.
2016: CAIR-Minnesota Executive Director Jaylani Hussein received the “Immigrant of Distinction Award” from Minnesota/Dakotas American Immigration Lawyers Association for outstanding contribution to social justice.
2016: CAIR-Minnesota Executive Director Jaylani Hussein was appointed Minnesota Governor’s Council on Law Enforcement and Community Relations.
2016: CAIR-Minnesota received the State Advocate of the Year from the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.
2016: CAIR-Minnesota Board Chair Kausar Hussain was recognized as among the 50 over 50 of most inspiring and accomplished leaders from across Minnesota by POLLEN.
2015: CAIR-Oklahoma Executive Director Adam Soltani received the Oklahoma Conference of Churches Interfaith Leadership Award presented to him by Rabbi Vered Harris of Temple B’nai Israel at the 2015 Oklahoma Conference of Churches Annual Dinner.
2015: CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area Government Relations Coordinator Sameena Usman was named among California Assembly District 25’s Community Heroes by Assembly member Kansen Chu.
2015: CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area received the Yuri Kochiyama Impact Award from the Asian Law Caucus.
2015: CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia Shearson received recognition by the City of Cleveland during its “Salute to Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones.”
2015: CAIR-Washington received a 2015 Champion of Civil and Voting Rights Achievement award for an organization from the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of Seattle King County.
2015: CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad was named an emerging voice for civil rights leadership in the 21st Century by the LA Times.
2015: CAIR-Minnesota Executive Director Jaylani Hussein received the “Visionary Leader” Award from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.
2015: CAIR-Sacramento Valley Executive Director Basim Elkarra was given the Power of Voice award by Access Sacramento.
2015: CAIR-Washington’s contributions were praised by the Spokane City Council.
2014/15: CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad was named one of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims by Jordan’s Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center.
2014: CAIR-Sacramento Valley Executive Director Basim Elkarra was featured in Comstock Magazine as one of a group of young professionals helping shape the future of the Sacramento Valley.
2014: CAIR received the Ummil-Kheer Humanitarian award from the Islamic Research and Humanitarian Council of America.
2014: CAIR-Oklahoma Executive Director Adam Soltani received the 2014 Human Rights Award that was presented by the Oklahoma Human Rights Alliance.
2014: CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area Executive Director Zahra Billoo received an Unsung Hero Award from the National Lawyers Guild-SF Chapter.
2014: CAIR-Connecticut. Executive Director Mongi Dhaouadi received the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers 2014 Award at the “It Takes a Village” Banquet.
2014: CAIR-Minnesota Board Chair Kausar Hussain received the Outstanding Contribution Award from the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans (CAPM).
2014: CAIR-Los Angeles’ Communications Coordinator Yasmin Nouh received a “Women Making a Difference” award from Calif. State Senator Lou Correa.
2014: CAIR-Florida Executive Director Hassan Shibley received a humanitarian award from the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lakeland.
2014: CAIR-Michigan Executive Director Dawud Walid was recognized “for his activism in the area of civil and human rights” by the Arab American Political Action Committee.
2014: CAIR-Michigan Staff Attorney Lena Masri was given a RARE Everyday Hero award by Winning Futures.
2014: CAIR-Florida Executive Director Hassan Shibly received an appreciation award from Helping Hand (USA) for Relief and Development for his “ongoing commitment and dedicated service to humanity.27
2014: CAIR-Los Angeles Public Affairs Coordinator Haroon Manjlai was recognized among the “Future 50” by the Interreligious Council of Southern California.
2013/14: CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad was named one of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims by Jordan’s Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center.
2013: CAIR-Washington was given a Civil Libertarian Award by the ACLU of Washington state.
2013: CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad received the Prophet Ibrahim Interfaith Award from the National Islamic Committee on Scouting.
2013: CAIR received an Excellence in Advocacy award from the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.28
2013: CAIR-Michigan Staff Attorney Lena Masri was honored by the Federal Bar Association for her extensive “pro bono legal services on behalf of poor and indigent clients in the Eastern District of Michigan.”
2013: CAIR received an Appreciation Award from United Sikhs for the organization’s “hard work and dedication to the Sikh community.”29
2013: CAIR-Los Angeles Deputy Executive Director Ameena Qazi was celebrated as one of “the most interesting people in Orange County” in OC Weekly’s annual OC People issue.
2013: CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area received the “Fred Korematsu Civil Rights” award from American Muslim Voice Foundation.
2013: CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad was listed among Arabian Business Magazine’s Power 500.
2013: CAIR received an Excellence in Civil Rights Golden Minaret from the Academy of Muslim Achievement.
2013: CAIR-Washington received the Ron Chisom Anti-Racism Award from the Seattle Human Services Coalition