Hassan Shibly has become one of the world's most renowned civil rights attorneys. He has more than a decade of experience in community service and is a renowned nonprofit consultant and philanthropist. His expertise and experience have enabled CAIR-FL to become one of the most prominent American Muslim civil rights organizations. He has defended those who have had their civil rights violated. This has made him an outspoken attorney who international news organizations frequently cite.

Childhood and Schooling

Hassan was born in Damascus, Syria. At age four, he emigrated to the United States. Political science bachelor's degree from Magna Cum Laureate University. Numerous scholarships allowed him to attend the University at Buffalo School of Law, where he graduated near the top of his class.

Career

Upon graduation from law school, he clerked for the Honorable Eugene H. Nickerson in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Before moving to Tampa, Florida, to become the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CAIR-Florida, the largest Muslim civil rights organization in the state, he worked as an attorney at two of New York City's premier law firms. Under Shibly's leadership, CAIR-Florida has become one of the nation's leading Muslim civil rights organizations. He has also been instrumental in forming alliances with people of all religions and ethnicities.

Hassan is the chief executive officer of CAIR-Florida and a licensed attorney in Florida. He has represented Muslim clients across the country who were victims of discrimination, harassment, and civil rights violations. In addition, he provides free legal counsel to low-income individuals and families in the Tampa Bay area.

Hassan Shibly disseminates his message of justice and civil rights through public speaking, social media marketing, lobbying, political activism, traditional media appearances and interviews, and fundraising.

He has also founded Help Yateem USA, an Islamic educational publishing house. A charity dedicated to assisting African orphans. Shibly has raised millions of dollars for various worthy causes, including civil rights protection in the United States and international aid.

Mr. Shibly has represented Muslim victims of discrimination, harassment, and civil rights violations across the nation as an attorney. He has also provided free legal assistance to low-income individuals and families in the Tampa Bay area. Hassan holds a law license in both Florida and New York.

Shibly has criticized the FBI's Muslim community harassment, profiling, informant recruitment, and entrapment practices. Throughout the years, he has fought for the rights of Muslim detainees, especially those held in solitary confinement or other harsh conditions.

He has faced difficult circumstances while maintaining his integrity and speaking the truth to those in authority. In one such case, he represented a Palestinian man held by Israeli authorities without charges for nearly a year. In addition, he has attempted to free American Muslims wrongfully imprisoned on terrorism-related charges. He has been a leader in the fight against prejudice against Muslims and hate crimes. Additionally, he has worked to foster relationships between law enforcement and the Muslim community.

He has been an ardent opponent of the Trump administration's Muslim ban and other anti-Muslim policies and sentiments. Moreover, he has filed lawsuits challenging the legality of the ban.

Awards

Hassan Shibly has received numerous honours and commendations for his civil rights advocacy and community leadership work. In 2014, he was named "Attorney of the Year" by the Florida Bar Association. The Huffington Post named him one of the "50 American Leaders Who Are Changing the World" in 2016. He was named one of the fifty "Most Influential Muslims in America" by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center in 2017.

Other significant distinctions and awards received by Shibly include:

The Young Lawyer of the Year Award from the New York State Bar Association's Young Lawyers Section (2011)
Liberty and Justice Awards of the New York Civil Liberties Union (2012)
The Unsung Hero Award presented by the Florida Commission on Human Relations (2013)
Making a Difference Award from Council on American-Islamic Relations (2014)
Award for Promoting Justice by the Florida Muslim Bar Association (2015)
Lawyer of the Year Award from Stetson University College of Law (2016)
The Champions of Justice Award from the Florida Justice Association (2017)

Hassan has frequently addressed major national issues with the media. He has made recurring contributions to Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, and Al Jazeera.

His humanitarian efforts have included establishing a publishing company for traditional Islamic education and Help Yateem USA, an organization dedicated to assisting African orphans. Hassan Shibly has raised millions of dollars for a variety of deserving causes, including the defence of civil rights in the United States and the aid of people in other countries. In addition, he has provided legal support and assistance to a substantial number of Muslim refugees and immigrants.