CAIRO – America’s largest Muslim advocacy group has picked Ohioan female Muslim lawyer Roula Allouch as its new acting national board chair, replacing previous chair Omar Zaki who stepped down after two years in his post.

“I would like to thank Omar Zaki for his service to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and to the defense of civil rights for all Americans,” Allouch said in a CAIR statement.

“I hope to continue and strengthen CAIR’s efforts to enhance understanding of Islam and Muslims, to encourage civic participation by American Muslims and to build coalitions with like-minded individuals and organizations to promote justice and mutual understanding.”

Allouch, an attorney practicing in Ohio and Kentucky, focuses on employment law, insurance defense and general civil litigation.

Allouch is a member of the American, Kentucky, and Cincinnati Bar Associations and serves as public service co-coordinator for the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and is the Kentucky young lawyer delegate to the American Bar Association House of Delegates.

She has also served as vice chair of CAIR’s board when Omar Zaki held the post of CAIR chairman.

Allouch has also served as president of CAIR’s Cincinnati chapter from 2008 to 2013.

Her choice was welcomed by Nihad Awad, CAIR National Executive Director, who praised her dedication.

“Roula’s dedication and legal expertise make her an ideal choice to head an organization that seeks to prevent the ongoing erosion of civil liberties in our society,” said Awad.

Though there are no official figures, America is believed to be the home of nearly 7-8 million Muslims.

Established in 1994, CAIR is a non-profit grassroots organization headquartered in Washington DC, with 35 offices and chapters across the US and Canada.

It strives to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.