Across the U.S., mosques are being treated as soft targets—from firebombings in Minnesota to a foiled mass killing in San Diego that could have mirrored the New Zealand massacre. In this powerful live panel, we go inside the new reality of mosque security in America: how close communities have come to catastrophe, what actually prevented mass casualties, and why most masajid are still dangerously unprepared.

Hosted by Nicole Foster Bradford, CAIR’s Community Advocacy Director, this conversation brings together front-line imams and civil rights leaders who have lived these crises in real time:

• Imam Taha Hassane – Imam, Islamic Center of San Diego, where an armed congregant and a lockdown plan saved more than 100 lives.
• Tazheen Nizam – Executive Director, CAIR-San Diego, a “civil rights first responder” helping communities navigate trauma, policy, and police after attacks.
• Jaylani Hussein – Executive Director, CAIR-Minnesota, who has faced over 50 mosque incidents and survived a mosque firebombing himself.
• Imam Naeem Baig – Imam, Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center in Northern Virginia, a national interfaith leader building real community protection beyond the masjid walls.

If you’ve ever assumed “it won’t happen at our masjid,” this episode will change the way you think about safety, community, and responsibility—and give you concrete steps to take back to your board, imam, and fellow congregants.

Guests

• Imam Taha Hassane – Imam, Islamic Center of San Diego
• Tazheen Nizam – Executive Director, CAIR-San Diego
• Jaylani Hussein – Executive Director, CAIR-Minnesota
• Nicole Foster Bradford – Community Advocacy Director, CAIR
• Imam Naeem Baig – Imam, Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center

Key Takeaways

• Mosque security is not just cameras and locks—it’s policy, training, neighbors, and culture.
• The most effective protection often comes long before an attacker reaches the door.
• Tawakkul demands preparation, not passivity.
• Every community member can (and must) play a role in keeping the masjid safe.

Dr. Hatem Bazian is a teaching professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and a leading scholar and expert on Islamophobia. His work examines anti-Muslim hate, political scapegoating, racism, and the forces shaping how Muslims are represented in American society and politics.

In today’s episode, Dr. Hatem joins me to discuss the growing rise of anti-Muslim hate in the United States and why Islamophobic rhetoric appears to intensify during election cycles.

We dive into the political and social forces behind Islamophobia, including the role of elections, media narratives, political organizations, and the ongoing war in Gaza. Dr. Hatem also explains how the fear of Muslims is used to shift public attention away from economic and foreign policy issues.

We also explore the growing presence of American Muslims and whether directly confronting Islamophobia is the most effective strategy for candidates. Dr. Hatem also reveals how candidates can prevent opponents from turning Islamophobia into the central issue of a campaign.

Dr. Hatem also talks about the changing attitudes among some conservatives toward Muslims, the political impact of the Epstein files, and how Islamophobia may be used when individual candidates succeed or fail.

Join us today as we discuss the rise of Islamophobia in America, the politics behind anti-Muslim hate, Gaza and U.S. foreign policy, Muslim political power, and what Muslims can do to build a stronger future.

Dr. Saher Selod, is a sociologist and researcher whose work focuses on Islamophobia, racialization, surveillance, and the experiences of Muslim Americans. She is the author of Forever Suspect: Radicalized Surveillance of Muslim Americans in the War on Terror and coauthor of A Global Racial Enemy: Muslims and 21st Century Racism.

In today’s episode, Saher joins me to discuss the current state of anti-Muslim hate in America and the striking contradiction between increasing Islamophobia and the growing political and social visibility of American Muslims.

Saher shares her perspective on how anti-Muslim rhetoric has evolved since 9/11, explaining how policies created during the War on Terror became institutionalized over the past 25 years. She also explains the role of political campaigns in portraying Muslims as a perceived threat and how Donald Trump made anti-Muslim rhetoric more overt.

The conversation also explores surveillance, airport profiling, the USA PATRIOT Act, and the broad and sometimes ambiguous definition of “material support for terrorism.” We also discuss how these policies can affect Muslim nonprofits, charities, student organizations, and people who simply criticize U.S. foreign policy.

Saher explains why these issues should concern all Americans, not only Muslims, and how policies created around counterterrorism can eventually affect other communities.

Join us today as we dive into the rise of anti-Muslim hate, the legacy of 9/11, surveillance and counterterrorism policies, political rhetoric, October 7 and its impact on Muslim Americans, Muslim student experiences, and what can be done to protect both public safety and civil rights.

Hamza Abu-Hamdeh and Noor Al Dein are members and co-founders of the Young Palestinians of Birmingham (YPB), a grassroots organization dedicated to educating, mobilizing, and organizing communities in support of Palestinian self-determination.

In today’s episode of CAIR On AIR, Hamza and Noor Al Dein join me to discuss their backgrounds, what inspired them to become involved in Palestine advocacy, and how YPB began in Birmingham.

We talk about what grassroots Palestine advocacy looks like in Birmingham, how they reach people who have never learned about Palestine before, and the coalitions they’ve built across ethnic, religious, and neighborhood lines.

We explore the institutional pushback they have experienced, challenges involving the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and how they pushed through these obstacles. Hamza and Noor Al Dein explain the balance between protests and educational events and how they’ve had to adapt their strategy as community energy shifts.

Our conversation also covers the future of Palestine advocacy in the United States, the growing importance of Palestine in political campaigns, and YPB’s work with the No Apartheid campaign.

Join us today as we explore grassroots Palestine advocacy in Birmingham, the role of social media versus face-to-face advocacy, the shifting political landscape around Palestine, and advice for young people who want to get involved in the movement.

Hillary, known online as ‘Opening My Heart 24’, is an activist, writer, and social media influencer who reverted to Islam in 2024. She has since become a vocal advocate for Palestinian human rights and works to educate the American public about Islam while also sharing reflections on the metaphysics of the faith.

In today's episode, Hillary joins me to discuss her journey from environmental activism to Islam. She shares her background and what moved her to pick up the Quran for the first time.

We dive into what it meant for Hillary to take her time with her reversion, the online Shahada that welcomed her into the faith, and the gradual, heart-centered way she grew into the practice of Salah rather than treating it as a rigid checklist.

Hillary also opens up about the reactions she has received, both from within the Muslim community and from her liberal friends, and how those conversations became opportunities to challenge misconceptions about Islam and Muslim women.

We also talk about the power of social media in shaping public understanding of Gaza, her decision to leave TikTok after its acquisition, and why she believes teaching people the history of Palestine is the most effective way to open closed minds.

Join us today as we dive into faith, activism, and the ongoing fight for Palestinian human rights, and hear Hillary's hopes for how American public opinion and policy may shift in the years ahead.

Linda Sarsour is one of the most prominent grassroots organizers in America. She co-founded and helped lead the 2017 Women's March, one of the largest single-day protests in U.S. history. She is the Executive Director of Empower Change and the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir 'We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders'.

In today's episode, Linda joins me to break down the wave of primary and general election upsets carried out by candidates who spoke out against the Gaza genocide and U.S. military aid to Israel, despite going up against powerful, well-funded opponents backed by groups like AIPAC.

We dive deep into the stories behind these wins, from Zohran Mamdani's 100,000-volunteer campaign for NYC mayor, to a former Columbia encampment organizer who unseated an AIPAC-backed incumbent in New York.

Linda also unpacks what this shift means heading into 2028, why establishment figures like Rahm Emanuel and Kamala Harris are suddenly softening their tone on Israel, and whether that softening is sincere or just political triangulation.

Linda offers guidance for student activists and young people wanting to stay engaged: how to balance activism with education, and which organizations to plug into after graduation.

Join us today as we dive into the forces reshaping American elections, the real story behind this year's most surprising political upsets, and what it takes to turn grassroots conviction into lasting political change.

Mosab Abu Toha is a Palestinian writer, poet, scholar, and founder of Gaza's first English language library, the Edward Said Library. His debut poetry collection won both the Palestine Book Award and the American Book Award. In 2025, he received the Pulitzer Prize for his reporting and writing on Gaza in The New Yorker.

In today's episode, Mosab joins me to share what life has been like since leaving Gaza after being detained by the Israeli military while trying to flee with his family. He explains how he continues documenting the realities on the ground while living with the pain of losing more than 100 relatives during the war.

Mosab explains what daily life inside Gaza looks like today and the devastating impact these living conditions have on children, the elderly, and the wounded.

We discuss the importance of documenting these events, how social media has shaped global awareness of the conflict, and why younger generations are seeing a different reality from previous generations.

Our conversation also covers the importance of preserving Palestinian stories, the need for accountability, how public opinion is shifting around the world, and what individuals and political leaders can do to help bring about meaningful change.

Join us today as we discuss the realities inside Gaza, the humanitarian crisis, the power of firsthand storytelling, the changing conversation around Palestine, how we can all help bring about justice, and much more.

Anthony Aguilar is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, combat veteran, and former security officer with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). After witnessing conditions on the ground in Gaza firsthand, he made the difficult decision to speak publicly about what he saw, despite knowing it could cost him both professionally and personally.

In today’s episode of CAIR On AIR, Anthony joins me to share what happened after he spoke publicly about his experiences in Gaza.

We dive into why telling the truth can come with serious consequences and the importance of standing by your values, even when doing so puts your career, reputation, and livelihood at risk. Anthony also opens up about the backlash he faced, the threats he received, and why he continued speaking out despite those consequences.

We also discuss how silence enables injustice and how others who want to speak the truth can find the courage to do so.

Anthony explains how his 25 years of military service shaped his perspective on international law and accountability, and why he ultimately decided to run for Congress.

Join us as we discuss the courage it takes to become a whistleblower, overcoming fear and intimidation, defending your integrity, speaking the truth in the face of pressure, the importance of moral conviction, and what we all must understand about standing up for justice.

Josh Paul is a former U.S. State Department official who resigned in 2023 in protest of the Biden administration’s decision to dramatically expand military assistance to Israel at the start of the Gaza war. After spending more than a decade working on arms transfers, security assistance, and defense diplomacy, he has become one of the most prominent voices calling for a reassessment of U.S. policy toward Israel and Palestine.

In today’s episode, Josh joins me to discuss what led to his resignation, what he witnessed from inside the U.S. government, and why he believes the current debate over Israel and Palestine is fundamentally a political problem rather than a policy problem.

Josh explains the mission behind A New Policy, the advocacy organization he co-founded. He also shares details about proposed provisions within the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the Intelligence Authorization Act, and discusses how they could impact U.S.-Israel integration.

We also talk about growing public opposition to unconditional military aid, shifting political dynamics in Washington, tensions between U.S. and Israeli interests regarding Iran, the expansion of executive power, and the impact of Israel-Palestine policy on civil liberties and free speech in America.

Join us as we explore the future of U.S.-Israel relations, congressional efforts to deepen military cooperation, the political forces driving American foreign policy, what these legislative proposals mean for the public, and how citizens can engage in the democratic process to influence policy decisions.