CAIR Urges PayPal to Stop Freezing Transactions with Common Muslim Names

CAIR Urges PayPal to Stop Freezing Transactions with Common Muslim Names
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The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called on PayPal to address a pattern of freezing and denying transactions involving common Muslim names, the organization’s website reported.

In a formal letter, CAIR requested an urgent meeting with PayPal’s leadership, citing data from Compass Homeschool Enrichment, an educational program that serves many Muslim families. According to the data, 72% of transactions placed on hold over the years involved individuals with common Muslim names, while identical payments from non-Muslim customers cleared without issue. Some of these payments were reportedly held for months or even years.

CAIR’s letter stated that when “Muslims alone encounter opaque barriers, the resulting chilling effect undermines both civil rights and marketplace fairness.” The civil rights organization also noted that this pattern aligns with similar reports it has received from Muslim-owned small businesses, religious nonprofits, and individual donors. CAIR is seeking an immediate meeting to discuss corrective actions to protect these customers.