Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Kentucky was the Kentucky-based chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a left-of-center advocacy group for Muslims in the United States.

As of 2024, the group appears to be defunct. All social media postings from the organization ceased in 2020 and press statements concerning events in the state of Kentucky were subsequently published under the name of the national CAIR organization. ^{1 2}

Background

CAIR Kentucky’s history is obscure, as it lacks institutional webpages and a proper historical account of its activities. An Twitter account bearing the name “CAIR Kentucky,” which previously chronicled the group’s activity, was created in March 2017, offering a possible origin point for the group. ¹

Activities

CAIR Kentucky lacks its own website, and its activity on its social media profiles on Twitter and Instagram declined after 2020. ^{1 2}

While CAIR lacks webpages, making its activities more difficult to monitor, search results on the national Council of American-Islamic Relations websites reveal that CAIR regularly releases press statements on events occurring in Kentucky. The statements primarily condemn local actions it deems to be racist and Islamophobic. ³

In August 2020, CAIR joined local organizations in condemning fliers with neo-Nazi rhetoric. The flyers were allegedly distributed by a group called “14 First the Foundation” and employed slogans such as “Blood and soil,” “Jews will not replace us,” and “Blacks will not replace us.” ⁴

In September 2020, CAIR Kentucky posted a tweet supporting the family of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman who was shot by a police officer. ⁵

In December 2020, CAIR Kentucky called for an official probe into the alleged use of a Nazi symbol in a state law enforcement video. ⁶

In July 2023, the national CAIR organization expressed support for the removal of a Confederate monument at the courthouse of Jessamine County, Kentucky. “Monuments to racist traitors do not belong near institutions that are supposed to administer equal justice,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “We stand in support of local faith leaders’ efforts to remove this statue.” ⁷ CAIR also supported a bill promising to remove Confederate-themed holidays from the state. ⁸

In December 2023, the national CAIR organization filed a lawsuit against the jail system of Warren County, Kentucky, for removing the hijab of a female Muslim inmate and posting the “mugshot” booking photo of her on its website, arguing that it violated her religious rights. ⁹

Leadership

CAIR Kentucky was led by chairwoman Waheedah Muhammad. ¹⁰

1. “CAIR Kentucky.” Twitter. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://twitter.com/cairkentucky.
2. “CAIR Kentucky.” Instagram. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/cair_kentucky/.
3. “Search results for: Kentucky.” CAIR, Accessed January 19, 2024. https://www.cair.com/?s=kentucky
4. “CAIR.” Facebook, August 12, 2020. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational/posts/the-kentucky-chapter-of-the-council-on-american-islamic-relations-cair-the-natio/10157796321587695/.
5. “CAIR Kentucky – Retweet of @BerniceKing.” Twitter, September 23, 2020. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://twitter.com/cairkentucky.
6. Tweet. CAIR-Kentucky, Twitter, December 4, 2020. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://twitter.com/CAIRNational/status/1334902220832313345.
7. Allison, Ismail. “CAIR Supports Efforts to Remove Kentucky Confederate Monument.” CAIR, July 19, 2023. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-supports-efforts-to-remove-kentucky-confederate-monument/.
8. Allison, Ismail. “CAIR Supports Kentucky Bill Removing Confederate Holidays.” CAIR, February 22, 2023. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-supports-kentucky-bill-removing-confederate-holidays/.
9. Allison, Ismail. CAIR, December 1, 2023. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-files-lawsuit-against-kentucky-jail-for-forcibly-removing-muslim-womans-hijab-video/.
10. Hooper, Ibrahim. “CAIR-Kentucky Joins Christian, Jewish Groups in Condemning White-Supremacist Flyers.” CAIR.com, August 12, 2020. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-kentucky-joins-christian-jewish-groups-in-condemning-white-supremacist-flyers/