Nezar Hamze is a prominent American Muslim community leader and former executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Florida chapter. He served in this leadership role for several years, becoming a public face for Muslim civil rights advocacy in South Florida. During his tenure, Hamze was actively involved in interfaith dialogue, community outreach, and addressing issues of Islamophobia and discrimination. He resigned from his position as Executive Director of CAIR-Florida in 2018. Hamze has also been a figure in local politics, including an unsuccessful bid for a seat on the Broward County Commission. His public profile has drawn controversy, notably a defamation lawsuit he filed against activist Joe Kaufman, which resulted in a default judgment in Hamze's favor in 2017. As a leader of CAIR, Hamze is also associated with the broader controversies surrounding the organization, including its designation as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2007-2008 Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF) trial and the FBI's subsequent decision to cut ties with CAIR due to concerns about its alleged links to Hamas.