CAIR on AIR - Beyond the Courtroom and Behind the Headlines

Shaden Awad is the founder and CEO of QUWA Labs, a product engineering studio that builds software for businesses, nonprofits, and startups. She was a software engineer at Microsoft and JPMorgan Chase, and she teaches nontechnical founders and business operators how to build with AI.

In today's episode of CAIR On AIR, Shaden joins me to discuss the opportunities, risks, and ethical challenges of artificial intelligence. She also shares her background and explains how Muslims can leverage AI in major facets of their lives and businesses.

Shaden explains how AI can be used for good, sharing examples of projects her company has built. She also explains how she uses technology to solve real problems while ensuring it does not cause harm.

Our discussion also explores the dangers of advanced AI and why Muslim communities need to pay attention to the growing use of surveillance technology. Shaden also explains why Muslims should participate in AI development, support ethical businesses, and build economic opportunities rather than risk being left behind.

We also talk about whether AI companies can be trusted to regulate themselves and whether government oversight and international cooperation actually matter.

Join us today as we explore the dangers and opportunities of AI, ethical technology development, surveillance and privacy, the responsibility of Muslim businesses and individuals, and how Muslim institutions can use AI to improve their work and better serve their communities.

Akram Shibly is a filmmaker and screenwriter whose work focuses on storytelling, community, and the power of film to capture real-life experiences. He is the director of Thank You for Thinking of Me, a documentary that follows the aftermath of a tragedy during a Black Lives Matter protest in Buffalo in 2020.

In today’s episode of CAIR On AIR, Akram joins me to discuss the story behind his documentary and the tragic incident that brought two people together whose lives were forever changed.

We discuss the importance of trust and care in documentary filmmaking, including how he balanced capturing the family’s experiences with respecting their privacy and personal boundaries.

Our conversation covers the misrepresentation of Muslims in the media, the importance of authentic storytelling, and why Muslim filmmakers should have the freedom to tell diverse stories about their communities.

Akram explains the challenges of independent filmmaking and the responsibility of Muslim institutions to support artists. He also reveals how to pursue a creative career without taking unnecessary financial risks.

Join us today as we dive into the story behind Thank You for Thinking of Me, the power of community advocacy, challenging Muslim stereotypes through film, supporting Muslim filmmakers, and how storytelling can inspire meaningful change.

In this episode, Ameer Al Khatahtbeh, founder and CEO of Muslim.co, explains how he built a leading Muslim media publication. He shares how his early internet use and a clear understanding of his Muslim and Palestinian identity led him to make a place for Muslim stories, which major news outlets often ignore.  

Ameer talks about changes in Muslim media, noting the rise of many Muslim voices online and their collective impact on issues like human rights. He also covers the problem of platform censorship, telling of Muslim.com's ban in India. He stresses the need to support young Muslims in media, showing how individual efforts in their chosen areas build a strong community that can speak up for what is right.  

Chapters: 

01:03:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction
01:51:20 Early Internet to Journalism Calling
05:59:59 Finding Purpose in Muslim Stories
06:51:59 The Birth of Muslim.com
01:17:30 Overcoming Self Doubt and Launching
03:13:00 Evolution of Muslim Media
04:27:30 Beyond Trends: Muslim Exposure
05:10:00 Fighting Censorship and Building Protection
07:07:00 The India Ban and New Censorship
09:23:00 Encouraging Youth and Community Impact  

Explore community building strategies and the fight for fair media representation.

Dr. Amelia Noor, PhD, is an Associate Faculty member in the Department of International Health at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her work focuses on suicide prevention, injury and violence prevention, and understanding the social and institutional factors that contribute to mental health challenges.

In today’s episode, Dr. Amelia joined me to discuss the mental health crisis affecting the American Muslim community, the growing concern surrounding suicide, and how these issues can be properly addressed.

Dr. Amelia shared her personal experiences with discrimination, health challenges, and suicidal thoughts, as well as the factors that influenced her commitment to suicide prevention.

We explored how Islamophobia, racism, xenophobia, and discrimination contribute to emotional stress among Muslims. We also discussed the connection between discrimination and a history of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Dr. Amelia also explained the importance of understanding different risk factors, why communities need to prioritize prevention before a crisis occurs, and how to create a culture where people feel comfortable seeking help.

Join us today as we discuss suicide prevention in the American Muslim community, the relationship between discrimination and mental health, the importance of community-wide safety planning, available crisis support resources, the role of faith in finding meaning and purpose, and much more.

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.