Quick Facts
- Position: Former Executive Director
- Years at CAIR: 2011-2021 (10 years)
- Status: Resigned amid scandal
- Allegations: 6+ accusers documented
- Investigation: NPR exposé (April 2021)
Hassan Shibly
Former CAIR-Florida Executive Director
🚨 SEXUAL ASSAULT SCANDAL
6 accusers interviewed by NPR alleging sexual coercion, domestic abuse, and workplace harassment. Shibly used religious authority to manipulate women into secret marriages and forced sexual relations.
— NPR Investigation, April 15, 2021⚠️ CAIR Cover-up
Leadership knew of allegations since 2016 but took no action
🔍 Religious Manipulation
Used Islamic authority to trick women into secret marriages
📰 NPR Investigation: 6 Accusers, 18 Witnesses
Investigation Scope
NPR's comprehensive April 2021 investigation interviewed 6 accusers and 18 current/former CAIR employees, reviewing internal documents, emails, and social media posts.
Primary Accuser: Kyla McRoberts
Hassan "tricked" her into a secret religious marriage in 2016, using her status as a new Muslim convert to manipulate her.
McRoberts alleges Shibly exploited her conversion to Islam to coerce her into an undisclosed religious marriage while he was already married.
Workplace Sexual Harassment
Laila Abdelaziz (former CAIR employee) claimed Shibly told her "I love you" in her office in 2016, creating a hostile work environment.
Multiple employees reported similar inappropriate workplace behavior and sexual comments.
Domestic Abuse Allegations
Imane Sadrati (his wife) posted a GoFundMe video alleging physical abuse and financial abandonment by Shibly.
Accusers claim he used religious manipulation to control and abuse women financially and physically.
Bizarre Control Tactics
- • Hair-cutting incident: Cut woman's ponytail while she slept for posting photos without hijab
- • Flight attendant photos: Inappropriately photographed flight attendants during business travel
- • Social media monitoring: Controlled women's social media presence and appearance
🏢 CAIR Organizational Cover-up & Failure
Leadership Knew Since 2016
CAIR-Florida Board Response
"Hassan's the executive director. He has all the relationships with donors."
Board dismissed complaints, prioritizing Shibly's fundraising ability over victim safety.
Pattern of Dismissal
- • Multiple complaints filed since 2016
- • No disciplinary actions taken
- • Victims told to stay quiet
- • Fundraising prioritized over safety
National CAIR's Failed Response
Sham Investigation
CAIR national hired an outside investigator but claimed they "could not substantiate any claims due to lack of cooperation."
Critics argue the investigation was designed to protect the organization rather than find truth.
Praise Upon Departure
Shibly was allowed to resign with praise in January 2021, with no mention of allegations in the departure announcement.
⚠️ External Confirmation
Religious scholar Aslam Abdullah confirmed receiving "credible allegations" against multiple CAIR leaders, and FACE (Facing Abuse in Community Environments) opened a separate investigation.
📢 Victim Advocacy & Accountability Pressure
@cairvictimsforum Campaign
Multiple accusers started social media campaigns to pressure CAIR for accountability and transparency regarding Shibly's misconduct and the organizational cover-up.
The campaign highlighted the pattern of CAIR protecting powerful leaders at the expense of victims' safety and rights.
Coalition of 30+ Victims
As documented in the Saroya lawsuit, a coalition of over 30 victims emerged calling for leadership accountability across multiple CAIR chapters.
The Hassan Shibly case became emblematic of broader systemic issues within CAIR's handling of sexual misconduct.
FBI Policy Impact
The scandal occurred while FBI policy since 2008 limits contact with CAIR due to alleged Hamas connections, raising questions about oversight of civil rights organizations.
Critics argue the terror connections shield CAIR from proper law enforcement scrutiny of criminal behavior.
🚫 Shibly's Denials & Defensive Tactics
Official Denials
Domestic Abuse
Denied all abuse allegations against his wife, claimed she was the actual abuser.
Sexual Misconduct
Called accusers' attempts to "humiliate and hurt" him, denied all sexual coercion claims.
Secret Marriages
Admitted to religious marriages but called them "courtships" with his wife's permission.
Counter-Attack Strategy
Victim Blaming
Presented photos claiming his wife abused him instead, attempting to shift blame to victims.
Classic abuser tactic of reversing victim and offender roles.
Religious Justification
Attempted to justify secret marriages as legitimate Islamic practice, ignoring the manipulation and coercion aspects.
🚨 SYSTEMIC PATTERN: Gender-Based Violence in CAIR
Hassan Shibly Case Reveals Organizational Culture
Systemic Issues Exposed:
- • Protection of powerful male leaders over victims
- • Financial considerations over victim safety
- • Religious authority used for sexual manipulation
- • Organizational retaliation against whistleblowers
Pattern Across Chapters:
- • Nihad Awad sexual harassment allegations (Saroya lawsuit)
- • Multiple chapter leaders accused of misconduct
- • Consistent organizational cover-up patterns
- • NDAs and legal intimidation of victims
📚 Complete Investigation Documentation
Primary NPR Investigation
⚠️ Investigative Analysis
Additional Coverage
🚨 DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY: Sexual Predators in Civil Rights
Hassan Shibly's case exposes how CAIR protects sexual predators while claiming to defend civil rights. Where are the criminal charges? Where is the justice for victims?