(TAMPA, FL, 12/8/2016) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations - Florida (CAIR-Florida), the state's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization , facilitated in conjunction with DHS and the State Department, a week long training and tour for a delegation of French officials on how to effectively challenge violent extremist individuals of all backgrounds and prevent hate crimes, while protecting civil rights and challenging profiling and discrimination.

The French delegation participants were: Mrs. Christelle Barrarad Arini, Education Specialist, Departmental Association for the Development of Prevention Actions, Bouches-du-Rhone Region; Ms. Isabell Luca, Police Deputy Chief, Directorate of Public Safety for the Bouches-du-Rhone Zonal Service of Territorial Intelligence, Marseille; Mrs. Vanessa Peree; Deputy Prosecutor, Court of Appeal, Aix-en-Provence; Mr. Guy Pouchol, Specialist in the Prevention of Radicalization, Directorate of Territories and Social Action; Mr. Christophe Reynaud, Senior Sub-Perfect, Chief of Staff for the Chief of Police, Bouches-du-Rhone Region; Mr. Jeremy Roubenne, Head of Mission to Prevent Radicalization, Office of Prefect Delegate for Equal Opportunities, Prefecture of the Bouches-du-Rhone, Ministry of the Interior. CAIR-Florida Personnel with the French Delegation and DHS in Orlando, FL More pictures of French delegation with DHS and CAIR-Florida personnel may be found here CAIR-Florida's Chief Executive Director, Hassan Shibly, had the opportunity to present the French delegation with CAIR-Florida's vision and mission at their Tampa office. The majority of CAIR-Florida's staff, including all its department's directors, joined this meeting. He was followed by a presentation from the Civil Rights Director, attorney Thania Diaz-Clevenger and immigration attorney Floyd Huntz. Nezar Hamze, CAIR-Florida's Regional Operations Director and a sworn law enforcement officer, had the opportunity to present and discuss CAIR-Florida's state-wide Community Empowerment Programs (CEP) that addresses protecting against hate crimes and other forms of violent extremism. The CEP is a community led and funded independent program that facilitates 'Educational Programs', 'Crisis Intervention Teams', 'Positive Peer Groups', and 'Community Service Partners' and 'Safety and Security Trainings' that safeguard civil rights, safety, and security. Mr. Shibly stated, "CAIR-Florida applauds the French national security delegation's participation and collaboration in the program. We commend the DHS Community Engagement Office's efforts in facilitating this cooperative model program allowing all parties to engage atunprecedented levels. We appreciated the opportunity to communicate how restricting liberty encourages hate crimes and violence and that preserving liberty and civil rights is key to preserving peace and security" "Sitting down and exchanging our CEP programs and ideas with DHS and the French delegation on national security matters and civil rights was very eye-opening and educational. Our shared democratic values were a common ground where we navigated the importance of security and civil rights protection. Both parties benefited immensely from this exchange," said Mr. Hamze. CAIR-Florida is the state's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties of all people, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. La misión de CAIR-Florida es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua. - - -END - -