On Monday, February 6th, Communications Coordinators Aymen Abdel Halim and Amina Sharif presented a lecture on Islam and the media for a class at DePaul University in Lincoln Park.

Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago and ICIRR board member, spoke on a panel at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrants and Refugee Rights titled, “Framing the debate: Preaching beyond the choir.”

Our 8th Annual Banquet is set to take place on Saturday, March 3rd, 2012, at 6:00 p.m., at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Please mark your calendars and show your support by attending.

CAIR-Chicago’s Executive Director Ahmed Rehab will be speaking at the ICIRR “One Nation, One Dream” Immigrant Integration Summit at Malcolm X College this Saturday. The 2nd annual summit will feature 18 different workshops ranging from issues such as health care and deportations to politics and citizenship.

Executive Director Ahmed Rehab will be speaking at the Islamic Center of Naperville at Ogden on Friday, January 27. He will be discussing Islamophobia, focusing on origins and practical solutions for tackling Islamophobes and anti-Muslim ideologies.

Sponsorship packages include ads in our Program Booklet, tickets to our event, and a vendor display table for your business or organization. To become a sponsor or for more information, email Sufyan Sohel, Deputy Director of CAIR-Chicago, at ssohel@cairchicago.org or call 312-212-1520.

Amina Sharif, CAIR-Chicago’s Communications Coordinator, spoke at an Orland Park townhall meeting on Jan. 15. She presented on a panel with three other leaders from different faith organizations.

On January 12, students from Carthage College in Wisconsin paid a visit to CAIR-Chicago. Communications coordinators Aymen Abdel Halim and Leena Saleh featured presentations on historical contexts of Muslim representation, Muslim women in the media, and portrayals of Muslim women in popular culture.

Communications Intern, Dima Ansari, discusses Islamophobic FBI Training Materials

CAIR-Chicago proudly welcomes two new communications coordinators to our team. Read about Aymen Abdel Halim and Leena Saleh HERE. We also give a heartfelt thanks to Lyndsey Stemm for her dynamic service at CAIR-Chicago.

The Jewish Muslim Community Building Initiative is looking for artists for the upcoming Cafe Finjan on Thursday, March 15, 2012. This year’s Cafe Finjan will feature art that explores the theme “New Roots Chicago: Digging our past and branching into our future.” Apply Today!

CAIR-Chicago is looking for volunteers to help with our 8th Annual Banquet on March 3rd, 2012. Volunteer for your community in a positive, fun environment, and earn a FREE ticket to the event! Contact Sufyan Sohel at deputydirector@cairchicago.org.

A recent study published by the the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies and the Abu Dhabi Gallup Center (ADGC) found, among other things, that Muslim Americans condemn violence more strongly than other religious groups.

On December 24th and 25th, Ahmed Rehab, CAIR-Chicago’s Executive Director, presented at the MAS-ICNA 2011 Annual Convention. Rehab discussed the civil rights challenges facing Muslims, and he led a youth lecture on activism.

CAIR-Chicago’s Deputy Director, Sufyan Sohel, and Communications Coordinator, Amina Sharif, lead a training seminar for new fellows in ICIRR’s Unite America program.

On Thursday December 15th, 2011 – the 220th anniversary of the signing of the Bill of Rights into law – CAIR-Chicago’s deputy director Sufyan Sohel, along with members of the interfaith community, spoke at a rally in Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago to oppose new provisions introduced as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.

Amina Sharif, CAIR-Chicago’s Communications Coordinator, led a cultural awareness seminar on Islam and Muslims at the Tinley Park Police Department on November 30th. The department invited Sharif in light of the growing population of Muslims and Arabs in the area.

On November 15th, Gerald Hankerson, CAIR-Chicago’s Outreach Coordinator, conducted an event planning workshop for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights’ (ICIRR) “Uniting America” fellowship. Hankerson trained 18 fellows on how to reach out to the community.

Gerald Hankerson, CAIR-Chicago’s Outreach Coordinator, spoke at Oakton Community College on November 18th at the Muslim Student Association’s (MSA) Annual Eid Al-Adha Dinner. Hankerson discussed the effects of the media on Islam and Muslims in America.

Communications Intern, Noor Salahuddin discusses the Republican presidential candidates’ political positions.

On November 28th, Amina Sharif, CAIR-Chicago’s Communications Coordinator, spoke to a Roosevelt University class for education and counseling majors. She discussed the basic tenets of Islam, what it means to be a Muslim in today’s Western society, and what civil rights and social justice issues Muslims have faced since 9/11.

On Tuesday, December 6, 2011, CAIR-Chicago was honored to host the Golden Door Coalition in the CAIR-Chicago Gallery. Through the joint effort of its many member organizations, Golden Door seeks to promote safety, shelter and new life for those refugees seeking to call Illinois home. CAIR-Chicago applauds their effort, and welcomes the opportunity to provide a comfortable space for them to use.

On Thursday, December 8, civil rights and interfaith leaders held a press conference at the CAIR-Chicago office to condemn the controversial new provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1867) which passed in the Senate last week. SEE PHOTOS

Reem Rahman, Knowledge Manager at Ashoka, held an interactive session on social entrepreneurship at the CAIR-Chicago Gallery this past Tuesday, November 22, 2011. She led the audience through the evolution of Ashoka’s theory of change during its three-decade history of transforming the citizen sector by building the largest association of leading social entrepreneurs in the world.

Amina Sharif, CAIR-Chicago’s Communications Coordinator, presented at the University ofIllinois at Chicago (UIC) to the students of the Media and Professional Writing class on Tuesday, November 15, 2011. Sharif’s main purpose was to enlighten students on Public Relations and Communications, and their significant role in how social justice works.  She explained that marketing and communications is integral to [...]

CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator Amina Sharif spoke to the Islamic Center of Naperville’s Youth Group on Sunday, November 13th, about how to be an effective Muslim leader. The audience included about 100 middle school and high school students from the Naperville area.

On November 15, 2011, CAIR-Chicago’s Communications Coordinator Amina Sharif joined a panel discussion on the Constitutionality of legislation, proposed in 25 states, banning Sharia law. The panel included Chicago-Kent Constitutional Law Professors Steven J. Heyman and Mark Rosen.

Last night, CAIR-Chicago hosted a community discussion in honor of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations’ Arab Heritage Month. Speakers discussed the Arab Spring revolutions and the Wall Street protests.

On November 1, 2011, Amina Sharif, CAIR-Chicago’s Communications Coordinator, spoke to a DePaul University class on Middle-Eastern and Muslim communities in America.

Staff Attorney, Rabya Khan, of CAIR-Chicago was back in Grand Island, Nebraska again last week continuing depositions on the JBS Swift Case. CAIR-Chicago is representing about 50 plaintiff intervenors in an U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) discrimination lawsuit filed against JBS Swift in 2010.

Khan will be traveling again next week to Minneapolis for defending our clients in their depositions.

CAIR-Chicago’s Executive Director, Ahmed Rehab, was one of the key speakers at this year’s prestigious Independent Sector Annual Conference held at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago from October 30th to November 1st.

CAIR-Chicago successfully resolved another citizenship delay case this month; Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham and Litigation Director Kevin Vodak had worked on the case for more than two years.

TLC will be airing the new reality show, “All-American Muslim,” on Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 10 pm ET/PT.

CAIR-Chicago representatives attended IQRA International Educational Foundation’s fundraising dinner at Drury Lane on Saturday, October 29 to support its educational initiatives.

Amina Sharif is speaking with a DePaul University classroom about Middle-Eastern communities in the US. The class, which is taught by Professor Mazen Istanbouli, covers political socialization as well as identity. Sharif presents to the class a brief history of American Muslims.

CAIR-Chicago hosted a brown bag lecture featuring Joshua Hoyt, the Executive Director of the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), Lawrence Benito, Deputy Director at ICIRR, Merhdad Azemun from the National Peoples Action, and Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago.

After more than a year of CAIR-Chicago raising the issue, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) finally agreed to recognize “Arab” as a race. Just last week, the EEOC headquarters in Washington, D.C. issued an apology letter to CAIR-Chicago Litigation Director Kevin Vodak for the improper classifications and assured him that steps have been taken to prevent further problems.

Gerald Hankerson, Outreach Coordinator of CAIR-Chicago, presented at Wheaton College on October 5th regarding Muslim perspectives on American politics.

The CAIR-Chicago office welcomed a Bulgarian delegation on Wednesday, October 11th, 2011, whose mission was to gain knowledge on how the Bulgarian and American Muslim communities can benefit from international collaboration and cooperation.

CAIR-Chicago would like to thank all our interns and law clerks for their hard work and dedication. Our work would not be possible without the help of this talented team of young professionals. Read about all our interns and clerks HERE.

Staff Attorney, Rabya Khan, of the Chicago Office of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) begins depositions with the JBS Swift Case over employment discrimination lawsuit filed by EEOC in 2010.

The main focus of the conference was Islam and democracy. CAIR-Chicago’s Executive Director, Ahmed Rehab, moderated a panel entitled “Winds of Change in the Muslim World: Implications for Democracy” and gave a speech about the issue.

Two Muslim American movies discuss one message: the negative impact of 9/11 on Muslims in America. They use two different approaches: Fordson focuses on a Muslim community’s unity, while Mooz-lum focuses on one individual’s struggle.

The Chicago Office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) recently filed two complaints on behalf of Middle-Eastern men who alleged the USCIS has unlawfully delayed the processing of their citizenship applications.

CAIR-Chicago’s Executive Director Ahmed Rehab spoke on an interfaith panel at St. Michael Parish church in Orland Park on September 18th. The event, entitled “Extremism and Violence in the Name of Religion,” featured Christian, Muslim, and Jewish speakers.

CAIR-Chicago sponsored the eighth session of the Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium (MYLS) this past Saturday, September 24th. Over 50 youth participants attended and listened to presentations by five local Muslim leaders and professionals. The symposium highlighted topics related to self-identity, media effects, activism and leadership.

Gerald Hankerson, CAIR-Chicago’s Outreach Coordinator, spoke about civil rights and social justice at the 9/11 Primer, a civic engagement event created by HumanThread, held at the Meridian Stage in Pilsen.

The Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium of Chicago (MYLS-Chicago) initiative will host its 8th symposium this Saturday, 9/24 at the CAIR-Chicago office from 9 AM to 7 PM. The theme, “Building Our Legacy: Commit to Activism”, draws on the Muslim American community’s outlook moving beyond a decade riffed with fear and uncertainty, and taking a personal and collective responsibility to be proactive and engaged in our society.

CAIR-Chicago is now seeking two Communications Coordinators who will be responsible for meeting the communications needs of CAIR-Chicago.

The Communications Department adds vital perspective to public discourse, publishes in a variety of mediums, creates research reports and produces the latest in new-media including audio, video, graphic design, web design, blogs, and other multimedia.

See the responsibilities and necessary requirements HERE

CAIR-Chicago is having an open house this Thursday, September 15th, to mark the grand opening of our Gallery, a new center in downtown Chicago. We encourage you to drop by and take a tour anytime between 12pm-7pm. Come meet the staff, law clerks, and interns and enjoy the Gallery’s beautiful lake view. Food and refreshments will be served.

CAIR-Chicago is looking for more fall interns- find out how you can contribute! Internships at CAIR-Chicago offer students and activists a great opportunity to learn, interact, and grow in a friendly and diverse environment.

Today, September 9th, CAIR-Chicago, together with interfaith and community coalition leaders will hold a news conference to reflect on the events on and since 9/11, and offer hope that American’s can move forward 10 years after the attacks.

CAIR-Chicago intern, Becky Fogel, created this audio documentary for Vocalo and Chicago Public Media on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks to share perspectives on the media’s role in harboring Islamophobia. Becky interviewed civil rights activists in the Muslim community and had them share their thoughts on how public perception of Muslims has changed since 9/11.

Join CAIR-Chicago in attending the opening night screening of “Fordson: Faith, Fasting, Football” on Friday, September 9th at 7:15pm. We encourage you to support this inspirational, award winning film!

A group of DePaul students visited CAIR-Chicago’s downtown office this past Monday to learn about the organization’s services for immigrant communities. This visit was a part of DePaul’s course, “Discover Chicago: Immigrant Youth in Chicago.”

Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson will participate in an event that will present speakers, spoken word performers, music and art. The event will weave together the history of peacemakers, incorporate readings of works from Thoreau, Tolstoy, Jane Addams, Gandhi, King, Ikeda, and more.

Communications Intern Becky Fogel discusses the overblown reaction to a rally at the ICE hearing last week.

Rabya Khan met with school officials to convey the importance of presenting balanced perspectives and not perpetuating stereotypes. CAIR-Chicago has requested that the school remove the worksheets, and not use them again or any similar worksheets. Rabya also provided a resource list of organizations that can conduct workshops on Islam, including CAIR-Chicago, and is compiling a list of educational resource companies with balanced materials on Islam and Muslims.

We were delighted to host 319 guests and relish in nearly 50 dishes and desserts from all over the world. SEE PICTURES HERE

As you know, we have endeavored to expand both the quality and quantity of our work each and every year since our rebirth 7 years ago. This year is no different. I want to update you on some exciting changes we have been working on at CAIR-Chicago for some time now.

Communications Intern Jenn Schanz weighs the pros and cons of the image being portrayed by the a new Arab video game character.

In the wake of the abhorrent events that occurred last Friday in Norway, information has come to light revealing connections between the terrorist suspect, Anders Brehing Breivik, to the anti-Islam movement in England, as well as to prominent Islamophobes in the US.

Communications Intern Ben Small discusses the rise of the EDL in England and compares it with Islamophobia in the U.S.

CAIR-Chicago’s Civil Rights director, Christina Abraham, traveled to South Africa last week in order to persuade the government to condemn president Bashar al-Assad’s military assault on Syrian anti-government protesters.

Former speechwriter for the Bush Administration Joshua Treviño tweeted to his 5,716 followers a message encouraging the IDF to shoot flotilla activists. Such careless and pro-violence remarks made by an individual who represents American leadership ought to be called into question.

CAIR-Chicago staff hosted civil leaders from Singapore for a discussion on Muslim-American issues and activism.

CAIR-Chicago Intern Ian Peterson discusses racial profiling in the U.S. in the first of a series of video blogs on the issue. In his first video, Ian focuses on significant supreme court cases and government policies that have continued to erode the 14th amendment of the constitution which prohibits racial profiling in the U.S.

Becky Fogel, CAIR-Chicago intern, discusses State Senator Syverson’s hateful sense of humor and disdain for political correctness.

CAIR-Chicago is working with Patricia M. Rodriguez Mosquera, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Wesleyan University, in conducting the second phase of her research on the psychological impact of Islamophobia on Muslim Americans.

CAIR-Chicago would like to congratulate the Islamic Society of North-America (ISNA) on another dynamic convention this past weekend. The annual event is the largest gathering of Muslims in North-America. The ISNA Convention, which draws thousands of attendees and features presentations by dozens of renowned Muslim leaders, scholars and activists, is a meeting place of people and ideas, [...]

CAIR-Chicago’s Communications Coordinator, Amina Sharif, along with Communications Extern Aymen Abdel Halim, visited Columbia College on July 6th to speak to Professor Rose Economou’s media ethics class on the importance of unbiased reporting in today’s media.

Submit your photos to our photography contest, “Faces: Scenes of Muslim Life.” Submissions should highlight Muslim American identities and illustrate the diversity and uniqueness of America’s Muslim community.

Winning pieces will be enlarged to 30” X 40”, framed, and permanently displayed in the CAIR-Chicago office. Winners will be honored at our Taste of Ramadan reception on August 11th, 2011 where they will sign their works of art.

CAIR-Chicago Intern Noor Salahuddin discusses the humanitarian flotilla to Gaza that was prevented from delivering aid by Greek authorities at an Athens port. Noor dispels false claims made by Israeli officials in their attempts to delegitimize the humanitarian mission.

CAIR-Chicago intern Kinza Khan discusses whether revolutions like the recent ones in Egypt and Tunisia could occur in Pakistan, and whether the country is capable of having a successful revolution.

CAIR-Chicago Communications Intern Noor Salahuddin discusses new Georgia ID laws and the impact on undocumented immigrants.

Civil rights law clerk Tarek Khalil analyzes and critiques Herman Cain’s “Muslim loyalty oath”.

Government Affairs intern Ian Peterson discusses Rep. Peter King’s latest congressional hearing on the “Radicalization of Muslim Americans,” which focused primarily on the threat of Islamic “radicalization” within the United States prison system. Ian breaks down how King misconstrues the problem.

Across city campuses, effective discourse has taken place on socially relevant issues, pulling them out of the “taboo drawer” and placing them into the limelight. From gender equality to immigration, today’s student approach has consistently been “let’s talk about it.”

And then there’s Israel and Palestine.

The idea that is being propagated by some conservative political leaders and media outlets is that Sharia is an imminent threat to American society. This is simply not true, and the recent legislative push to ban Sharia from th U.S. is not only a waste of time and taxpayer money, it’s a fear-mongering movement that only creates divisions between Americans based on ideology.

Noor Salahuddin discusses immigration issues in CAIR-Chicago’s Immigration Vlog. In this session Noor dispels common U.S. immigration myths.

CAIR Chicago Staff Attorney Kevin Vodak discusses new FBI guidelines, and what you can do to work with your local law enforcement to make sure your civil liberties are being protected.

For our Civil Rights Vlog this week, Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham discusses the significance of the newly extended PATRIOT Act.

Syria is witnessing the atrocities and the massacre of innocent civilians committed by the forces of the dictator. Human rights are being violated. Many Syrian cities are under constant attacks. Many have been killed. Help bring freedom to Syria.

The panel sought to engage community members in a discussion regarding the problems some Americans have in adjusting to and interacting with new immigrant populations.

On May 13 ICIRR held its DREAM Unity Event celebrating the accomplishments of the Illinois Senate last week in passing the Illinois Dream Act and Smart Enforcement Act. Both pieces of legislation received strong bipartisan support. Of the 45 votes for the DREAM Act, 11 were from Republican senators and of the 66 votes for Smart Enforcement Act, 17 were from Republicans.

CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab delivered the keynote speech at a fundraising dinner for the Muslim Educational and Cultural Center of America on May 8th.

CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab spoke at the Northwestern Muslim-cultural Students Association luncheon for parents and alumni on Saturday, May 7th.

Rehab spoke to over one hundred attendees on how they can serve social justice causes to better their community, their country, and the world.

At the press conference, the speakers echoed President Obama’s assertion that Osama Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader, and in fact was a mass-murderer of Muslims. CAIR-Chicago’s Communication Coordinator, Amina Sharif, stated “Bin Laden never represented Islam and was never seen as a Muslim leader, but unfortunately many people’s understanding of Islam was distorted by the actions of Bin Laden.”

Gerald Hankerson, CAIR-Chicago’s Outreach Coordinator, and Amina Sharif, the Communications Coordinator, presented to a religion and culture class at Northwestern University on Thursday, April 21. The two discussed the role race and ethnicity play in the American Muslim experience.

CAIR-Chicago’s Communications Coordinator Amina Sharif delivered presentations to Media and Professional Writing classes at the University of Illinois at Chicago on April 19th and 26th. Professor Linda Landis Andrews

On April 23rd, Staff Attorney Kevin Vodak, and Communications Coordinator Amina Sharif participated in a summit about the zoning process for mosques in Illinois.

Kevin Vodak, CAIR-Chicago’s Staff Attorney, participated in a panel discussion in immigrant and human rights at WorldChicago’s Fulbright Scholar Conference on Saturday, April 2, 2011. The conference, held at the National Museum of Mexican Art, was entitled Democracy and Human Rights: An Exploration.

CAIR-Chicago executive director Ahmed Rehab was the keynote speaker at the Syrian American Medical Society event on April 24th.

Over a thousand were in attendance, underscoring the broad support CAIR-Chicago continues to receive. Take a look at a slide show of the evening and our beautiful, powerful community HERE

Dr. Robert Pape will be holding a book signing at CAIR-Chicago’s Annual Banquet, at 6:00 PM. Be sure to get there on time to secure a copy of Pape’s insightful new book, co-authored by James K. Feldman, entitled Cutting the Fuse: The Explosion of Global Suicide Terrorism and How to Stop it.

Ahmed Rehab will join four professors for a panel discussion at Governors State University March 22nd, 2011. Hosted by the Governors State University Honors Program, the discussion is titled, “Community Teach-in: Changes and Directions in the Middle East.” The panelists will explore the causes and impact of recent political developments in the region.

On March 10, 2011 CAIR-Chicago’s Outreach Coordinator, Gerald Hankerson, and Communications Coordinator, Amina Sharif, conducted a presentation among teachers who are part of the Inner-City Teaching Corps (ICTC).

The vote is next week! Call the DuPage County Board and show your support for MECCA as well as the other mosques seeking permits: the Islamic Center of the Western Suburbs (ICSW) and the Irshad Learning Center (ILC).

Jewish and Muslim artists, musicians and community members will explore the crossroads we face in Chicago’s political scene, as well as the crossroads of ethnicities, cultures and religions that make our city great at the next “Café Finjan” event.

CAIR-Chicago’s Executive Director Ahmed Rehab was one of many speakers taking part in the Al-Jazeera Forum in Doha, Qatar this past weekend. The forum typically hosts various representatives from media, politics, academia and activist groups to convene and discuss issues regarding the constantly changing dynamic of the Arab world and its place in globalized society.

On March 9, 2011, CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab traveled to Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN to speak about his eye-witness account of the Egyptian Revolution.

On March 9, 2011, CAIR helped sponsor the Third Annual Illinois Muslim ACTION! Day (IMAD), coordinated by the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC).

On Tuesday March 8 2011, delegates from the Kyrgyzstan news media came to the CAIR-Chicago office to meet with the Communications, Outreach, and Research departments. The delegation was here to understand and develop editorial policies in independent print and online media.

The Muslim Community Center of Greater Rockford had their 6th Annual Women in Islam Event. Many women from various faith communities were in attendance. Amina Sharif was a featured speaker during the program.

Ahmed Rehab speaks with John Williams about different controversies on Muslim persecutions. Rehab talks about the idea of guilt by association and how it is very speculative to associate the Muslim community with radicalized individuals.

CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab has returned from an unforgettable visit to Egypt. Rehab reached Cairo just a couple days before the historic revolution began. Read about Ahmed’s adventures on his blog!

Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham spoke at the Midwest Regional Conference of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression on February 12.

CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator gave a presentation to a DePaul University class.Topics included understanding the Muslim-American community, ethnic diversity and socioeconomic levels.

Gerald Hankerson joined the Board of Directors of ARISE Chicago. His role will be primarily a Muslim representative in its Faith and Labor Solidarity Program.

CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator Amina Sharif will be speaking at the Lake Forest College Islamic Awareness Week (IAW) on March 17th.

Amina Sharif is a featured speaker at the Muslim Community Center of Greater Rockford. She will have a presentation on the Mosque’s annual Muslim Women Day.

Join us to support the people of Libya against a dictatorship. We stand by the peaceful protests in Libya as they struggle for freedom and democracy.

Are you a Muslim or Jewish artist who believes in the transformative power of art? Showcase your talent at Café Finjan 2011! The theme of this year’s Café Finjan is “Chicago Crossroads,” emphasizing the crossroads we face in the city’s political scene, as well as the crossroads of ethnicities, cultures and religions that make our city great.

Amina Sharif is speaking with a DePaul University classroom about Middle-Eastern communities in the US. Sharif presents to the class a brief history of American Muslims.

Reserve your tickets online, fast and secure, and save 25% from door ticket price WHAT: CAIR-Chicago’s 7th Annual Banquet, Beyond the Comfort Zone: Crossing the Divide WHEN: Saturday, April 16, 2011 WHERE: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 55 N. River Rd., Rosemont, IL 60018 WANT A FREE TICKET?   Then Become A Volunteer! All volunteers will [...]

For area Muslims, practicing their faith can require traveling to mosques outside their communities or gathering in residential homes to pray. Now after years of fundraising and preparation, several groups want to move ahead with plans for their own places of worship in DuPage County.

Amina Sharif refutes the idea that Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood would change Egypt into a radical Islamic state and go against the 1979 peace treaty with Israel.

Chicago Egyptians are commenting on the news that President Hosni Mubarak has stepped down. They’re excited that this will bring a new era for Egypt and are hopeful the country will recover quickly.

Ahmed Rehab says the the biggest weapon the Egyptian people had against Mubarak was their numbers and perseverance. Rehab is excited that peaceful demonstrations were extremely effective in this revolution.

CAIR-Chicago representatives talk about the history making resignation of President Mubarak. Yaser Tabbara comments on the persistence of the Egyptian people for Mubarak to step down.

As Egypt’s President Mubarak resigns, Ahmed Rehab speaks about the excitement seen throughout the country. Rehab and Egyptian protesters marched in Tahrir Square hugging each other and cheering after hearing the news.

Ahmed Rehab reveals how the protesters in Egypt are reacting to the news that Hosni Mubarak has resigned. Rehab and other Egyptian protesters had been rallying against the Mubarak regime for 18 days.

Ahmed Rehab discusses possible reasons Mubarak stepped down today and what that means for the country. He says that Egypt is on its way to a new beginning and that the start of a new Egypt will not be easy.

Ahmed Rehab speaks with Fox Chicago News about how Facebook and Twitter played a role in gathering all the people in Egypt to come together. Rehab said that social media allowed the Egyptian people to gather quickly and in large enough numbers that security forces could not prevent the movements.

After the speech from President Mubarak stating that he would not step down, Ahmed Rehab speaks about the reactions from the protesters. Rehab also discusses where the peaceful protests should go from here.

Ahmed Rehab talks to Ed Schultz about what’s happening in Egypt shortly after Mubarak said he would not step down, as well as what needs to be done in the country in order for a peaceful revolution to be successful.

As protests continue to grow in Egypt, speculations regarding who will take President Hosni Mubarak’s place grow as well. For the past two weeks, U.S. media coverage has portrayed the Muslim Brotherhood to be first in line to succeed Mubarak’s regime. However, some say the Muslim Brotherhood is not as radical as most people think.

As crowds of protesters in Egypt erupted in anger, Egyptians in the Chicago area were glued to their televisions and computers as they grappled with what they called shocking news: The president of Egypt was not stepping down, despite weeks of protests and hints that he would do so.

Chicagoans came out yet again, braving the freezing cold, to show support for democracy in Egypt. Watch our video!

Chicagoans came out in force on Saturday to show their support for Egyptians demanding democracy, and called on President Obama to urge an immediate change of the Egyptian government.

An uprising in Egypt intensifies as protesters risk their lives to demand that embattled president Hosni Mubarak step down.

“A Chicagoan is in the thick of the protests. Ahmed Rehab is the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Chicago. He says Egyptians are demanding change after generations of stagnation.”

The Egyptian government may have engineered a blackout on Internet and cell phones to keep protestors from communicating, but one call from a Chicagoan in Cairo got through. CBS 2′s Mike Parker spoke with Ahmed Rehab, of the local Council on Islamic American Relations.

“I planned it to be here so that I could participate heart and soul, body and mind with the people during these times,” Ahmed Rehab said in a phone call.

Egyptians who have long voiced discontent with their government are now taking to the streets in unprecedented numbers demanding change. If Egypt succeeds, analysts agree that a domino effect is likely.

While people continue to protest in the streets of Egypt, hundreds of Chicagoans were rallying outside of the Egyptian consulate in Chicago Saturday afternoon. The pro-democracy rally was one of several protests that took place across the country on Saturday.

Ahmed Rehab has been hit 24 times with an acrid cloud of tear gas — stopped in his tracks as he and thousands of other protesters march for democracy in Egypt. Unlike other American travelers, the Chicago-based civil rights activist, who heads CAIR-Chicago, went to Egypt in anticipation of the simmering revolution.

Ahmed Rehab of the Council on American Islamic Relations said the atmosphere was tense.
“It seems that every major square and every small street in Cairo was basically taken over by communities … people are parading the streets, walking around with baseball bats and knives,” he said from Cairo. “We didn’t get any sleep all night.”

Dubbed “Rage Friday,” Egyptians took to the streets in massive numbers all over Cairo, Alexandria, and several other cities around the country directly calling for a regime change. Until recently, while the government tolerated a certain degree of freedom of speech, criticism of Egypt’s 30-year despot Mubarak was unimaginable; those who tried faced swift retribution by the government in one form or another.

CAIR-Chicago participated in an interfaith press conference held on behalf of the Muslim Education and Cultural Center of America (MECCA), the third mosque denied a permit in DuPage County in the past year.

CAIR-Chicago Bids Farewell to Government Affairs Coordinator Reema Ahmad and
congratulates her on new position at Project Mobilize.

“I am grateful that Reema’s talent, professionalism, and work ethic will remain at the service of the Chicago Muslim community,” said Ahmed Rehab.

The AAUW put together the conference at DePaul University in order to achieve more knowledge on the role of women in Islam. The presentation, which drew around thirty audience members, allowed Abraham to bring up present day issues and misconceptions regarding Muslim women.

Members from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), including CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab, met with Chicago’s mayoral candidates at a small conference held at the ICIRR office in the Chicago Loop on Friday, January 7, 2011.

The featured candidates were former U.S. Senator Carol Moseley Braun and City Clerk of Chicago Miguel Del Valle.

Amina Sharif issued a statement today on behalf of CAIR-Chicago, condemning the FBI’s recent raids on the homes of local anti-war activists who have dedicated their lives towards peacefully organizing for justice at home and abroad.

The DREAM Act is finally being put to a vote in the Ill. House, and possibly later in the Senate today. The DREAM Act aims to create a pathway to citizenship for thousands of young students who were brought to the United States years ago as children.
Call your local representatives and ask them to support the DREAM Act!

CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab delivered the keynote speech at the 2010 United Muslim Students Association (MSA) Dinner, an event that unites the four main Naperville-area high school MSAs.

Check out our Civil Rights Digest and see how CAIR-Chicago works to help people in the Muslim community.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations yesterday filed a discrimination lawsuit in federal court on behalf of 49 Muslims of Somali heritage who were fired from a meat packing plant in Nebraska.

“Here in DuPage county officials seem to be more focused on the types of land that’s available in residential areas and want to appease residents’ concerns rather than the rights of religious institutions,” said Kevin Vodak, attorney for the Chicago chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations.

“A particular concern would be women who wear the hijab because obviously their standards of modesty are probably higher than most people and so they are more concerned about the groping, they are more concerned about the invasion of privacy,” said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Council on Islamic Relations in Chicago.

Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago invited representatives from CAIR-Chicago to speak to a men’s group as part of a four-part series on topics in Islam. Amina Sharif and Gerald Hankerson gave a presentation that explored American perceptions of Muslims. Congregants and other members of the community attended the session.

CAIR-Chicago communications Coordinator Amina Sharif and Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson gave a presentation to students at St. Ignatius Catholic school Wednesday, December 1st about the sociological and theological background of Islam.

This year the Naperville Central, Naperville North, Waubonsie Valley, and Neuqua Valley High School MSA’s will be hosting a United MSA dinner. The program will include dinner and a presentation from Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago.

CAIR-Chicago filed a discrimination lawsuit in federal court on behalf of 49 Muslims of Somali heritage who were fired from Swift Co, a meat packing plant in Nebraska. The lawsuit intervenes in a class action filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in August.

“If you wear baggy jeans and you’re brought aside for secondary screening for wearing baggy clothing, you are just as much entitled as the woman in a hijab to be able to pat yourself down and then have your hands swabbed for residue. That’s the current TSA policy– it applies to any baggy clothing,” said Rehab

CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator Amina Sharif delivered a presentation to students at the University of Illinois at Chicago on Wednesday, Nov. 18th to share how CAIR-Chicago engages with the media and advocates for a fair depiction of Muslim-Americans.

Ahmed Rehab talks to Red Eye Radio’s Marc Germain about a Muslim woman who was denied service at a convenience store because she refused to remove her hijab.

Check out our Civil Rights Digest and see how CAIR-Chicago works to help people in the Muslim community.

In order to continue CAIR-Chicago’s strong tradition of engaging the community, Executive Director Ahmed Rehab spoke at an event put on by DePaul University’s Muslim student group, UMMA, on the topic of Muslim activism.



See photos HERE

The Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium (MYLS) in Chicago hosted its sixth annual gathering. Muslim High school students from around the Chicago area came to learn how they can become leaders in their community and what it takes to turn ideas into action.

CAIR-Chicago staff and interns participated in a rally alongside the Assyrian community of Chicago to condemn violence against Iraqi Christians. The rally was organized in response to the massacre of dozens of Assyrians Christians in Baghdad on October 31st.



Read CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab’s reflections on the rally at his blog, www.ahmedrehab.com.

Chicago Communications Coordinator Amina Sharif presented to a DePaul University class about Middle Eastern communities in the U.S. Sharif’s presentation aimed to give students a broad understanding of the Muslim-American community in terms of its ethnic diversity, socioeconomic levels and political beliefs.

While CAIR-Chicago believes that Hizb ut-Tahrir has a right to their views that Muslim’s shouldn’t vote, the organization says that American Muslims must be civically engaged, from voting to running for office.

Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson specifically objected to the organizations point that even though Muslims have voted in the United States and around the world, it’s done them little good.

CAIR-Chicago Outreach Coordinater Gerald Hankerson discusses Muslim American involement in this election:
“Even with the election cycle there is much argument and debate whether Muslims should be involved. One way or another we are living here, and our life is being impacted by whether or not we decide to offer our voice and our balance. So most definitely religion may factor into it on certain issues, such as immigration reform, such as protecting first amendment rights, because we definitely want to see that our faith is not impeded for us to be truly considered Americans,”

When the topic was brought up, yet again, that America has been attacked by Muslims, Ahmed Rehab responds:

“Here’s also a pattern that you need to be aware of. In almost every one of those cases it was Muslims who helped foil these terrorists plots. In the case of the “underwear bomber” it was his own father, a Muslim, who reported him. In the case of the “time square bomber” it was a Muslim who saw the smoke from the car who reported him. Even in this case Saudia Arabia was actually the country that tipped us off about this plot.”

Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson discusses the importance and the potential power of mobilizing young people to vote in elections. He describes some of the efforts CAIR-Chicago makes to reach young people early in life, to instill in them a sense of civic duty.

“For American Muslims, the biggest concern right now is the quality and tone of the debate,” added Rehab. “Whether this debate is on our national security, or our jobs or the economy or even the place of Muslims in America, our concern is that the nature of the debate in America has become more and more divisive, cynical, frenzied, paranoid, and we are very concerned about that and we wish that they debate itself, regardless of the positions people take, to be rooted in more intellect and empirical analysis and honest debate and mutual understanding.”

We are the most diverse religious community in this nation, representing people different needs and interests, who grow in complexity and variance. We all pay taxes to maintain the upkeep of our neighborhoods and its institutions. And we have a responsibility to make our voice count—we can, and should vote.

Check out our Civil Rights Digest and see how CAIR-Chicago works to help people in the Muslim community.

October 16th marked Immigration Democracy Day for voters and volunteers. Asian, Latino, Polish, Muslim residents and their supporters learned about political participation, heard from their future leaders, and finally, put knowledge into action by early voting.

Christina Abraham discusses the lawsuit CAIR-Chicago filed for businessman Ala Alsherbini, against the village of Worth.

Check out our Civil Rights Digest and see how CAIR-Chicago works to help people in the Muslim community.

CAIR-Chicago would like to treat you to a day of fellowship and fun. Join us for the Fall 2010 MYLS Conference “Jump Start Your Future- Commit to Activism!”

“Read and your Lord is Most Honorable, Who taught with the pen, Taught man what he knew not.”

These are among the Quranic verses read by CAIR-Chicago Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson at the American Library Association (ALA) Banned Books Week Read-Out in Washington Square on September 25. The most recent list of most frequently banned readings for 2010 was topped by the Qur’an, the holy text of Islam.

On Monday, Oct. 4th, CAIR-Chicago Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson met with an international envoy from Israel and Palestine to share ideas on how to improve Jewish-Muslim relations through art.

CAIR-Chicago proudly congratulates Sufyan Sohel, a CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Law Clerk, on receiving recognition by the prestigious PSLawNet Pro Bono Publico Award. Sohel, a third year student at DePaul University College of Law, was nominated by DePaul and placed second in the national competition.

A group of 25 DePaul students and staff visited the CAIR-Chicago office last month to learn about the organization’s civil rights activism on behalf of immigrants. The students were part of a class that focuses on young people from diverse cultural backgrounds and teaches about the realities of life for immigrant youth and the organizations that facilitate and incorporate them into Chicago’s wider community.

CAIR-Chicago Staff Attorney Kevin Vodak discusses the absurdity of proposed legislation aimed at limiting citizenship rights.

On September 11th, CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham spoke to first year Law School students at Kent Law School about the divisive rhetoric surrounding Muslims in America. She was joined by esteemed Northwestern law professor Joseph Marguilez.

ICIRR representatives, including board member and CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab, took the stage alongside Senator Dick Durbin, Congressman Luis Gutierrez, Congressman Danny Davis, and State Treasurer and Senate Candidate Alexi Giannoulias to rally support for comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act.

CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator Amina Sharif emceed a banquet hosted by the Northwest Suburban College on Friday, September 24. Speakers included Rami Nashashibi, executive director of the Inner City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) and Dr. Zaher Sahloul, Chairman of the CIOGC (Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago).

On September 11, Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson participated in an event hosted by the American Library Association(ALA), entitled “The Qur’an Read-out Protest”. The event was in coordinated as response to recent Qur’an burning threats, such as Pastor Terry Jones’ proposed “Burn A Koran Day.”

Nearly 200 people gathered at CAIR-Chicago’s downtown office for the annual “Taste of Ramadan” iftar, or bread-breaking, dinner. The food represented a wide range of cultures including: the Mediterranean, the Arabian Levant, Turkey, Yemen, Pakistan, Morocco, Palestine, Israel, Algeria, Egypt, India, Senegal, Poland, Austria, France, Spain, and Iran.

The Honor Killing Awareness Campaign responsible for the taxi advertisements is powered by the anti-Muslim group Stop the Islamization of America (SIOA), run by Islamophobe bloggers Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer.
Their overt connection between the Islamic faith and violence is not only incorrect and offensive, but short-sighted in that it fails to acknowledge the wider problem of violence against women in America.

CAIR-Chicago’s Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham moderated an event featuring a speech by Robert D. Grant, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Chicago Field Office, at the American Islamic College.

Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham gave a lecture on the Patriot Act and other national security policies to students at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Abraham discussed how these laws have affected Muslims in America particularly regarding immigration, travel, and relations with law enforcement.

Ahmed Rehab discusses misconceptions about Islam and American Muslims, specifically addressing the “Ground Zero Mosque” controversy, and reacts to recent Sarah Palin twitter comments about the issue.

The American Islamic College held a private luncheon for the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Sheikh Ali Gomaa, and distinguished guests on July 5th, 2010.

Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago, moderated the event and introduced the guest of honor.

On Thursday May 20th, Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson and Communication Coordinator Amina Sharif visited St. Ignatius College Preparatory School to give students a firsthand look into Islam and how it is practiced by Muslims in America.

CAIR-Chicago’s Communications Coordinator, Amina Sharif, spoke to a journalism class at Columbia College today about media coverage of Muslims and how to report on culturally sensitive issues.

CAIR-Chicago is indebted to the hard work and dedication of our dynamic team of interns and law clerks.

Read about them HERE

CAIR-Chicago would like to thank its community of supporters for joining us at our 6th Annual Banquet this past weekend. The hugely successful event was a milestone for our organization and the Chicago Muslim community.

On April 22, 2010, Muslim youth, leaders, and activists from all over Illinois will join in Springfield to lobby members of the Illinois General Assembly. This event, organized by the Council of Islamic Organization of Greater Chicago and sponsored by CAIR-Chicago and Zakat Foundation, is expected to bring together hundreds of Muslim Americans and advocates of the community. Last year, there were over 450 participants, and organizers are hoping for even more this year.

CAIR-Chicago will be running Annual Banquet ads with our partners at WCPT all this month. Listen for it at 820 AM, or 92.5 FM in the west suburbs, 92.7 FM in the north, and 99.9 FM in the south.

or hear it HERE

CAIR-Chicago participated in the Honored Star Case Ceremony held at the Chicago Police Headquarters Building on Tuesday, March 2. The ceremony, which was hosted by the Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis, honored 11 fallen officers who died in the line of duty.

Communications Coordinator Amina Sharif presented to a DePaul University class on multiculturalism and democracy. Sharif’s presentation aimed to give students a broad understanding of the Muslim-American community in terms of its ethnic diversity, socioeconomic levels and political beliefs.

Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson presented a workshop to a Jewish Youth Group at Beth Emet the Free Synagogue in Evanston. Hankerson provided and introduction to the concepts of Islam and a profile of the Muslim-American community. The workshop served as the kick off to an educational and interfaith program between the synagogue and the Muslim Educational Center (MEC) in Morton Grove.

CAIR-Chicago is pleased to announce that Professor Tariq Ramadan will be the keynote speaker at our 6th Annual Banquet. This will be his first event in the U.S. in nearly six years, since the Bush Administration’s ban. Ramadan was chosen as one of the world’s 100 most influential human beings by TIME magazine and currently teaches at Oxford University.

On February 4 CAIR-Chicago co-hosted Cafe Finjan, an interfaith arts and culture event coordinated by the Jewish-Muslim Community Building Initiative (JMCBI). The event aims to bring together Jews and Muslims from across Chicago. Outreach Coordinator, Gerald Hankerson, performed spoken word poetry and facilitated group discussions on religion and identity.

Watch Gerald’s Performance HERE

Due to the high number of Muslim constituents in Bridgeview, the Police Department is working to develop more cultural sensitivity by gaining a better understanding of Islam and Muslims. CAIR-Chicago believes more training like this will serve to eliminate racial profiling and future injustices directed towards Muslims in Chicago and across the country.

CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham gave a “Know Your Rights” presentation to members of the Islamic Society of the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago (ISNS).

In a panel discussion hosted by the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration(SSA), CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator, Amina Sharif, talked to masters students about CAIR-Chicago’s advocacy work and the services it provides to the Muslim-American community.

Tuesday, February 2nd, is your chance to have your voice heard by our representatives. Click here to read a lists of some of the candidates running for office.

If you are in need of a ride to your polling site contact CAIR-Chicago to coordinate transportation.

CAIR-Chicago would like to announce that Dr. Mazen Kudaimi has accepted the position of Chairman of CAIR-Chicago’s Board of Directors. Read more about Dr. Kudaimi HERE.

CAIR-Chicago also says goodbye to its former Chairman, Safaa Zarzour, who will now be serving as the Secretary General of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). He will be missed.

According to Gallup, more than 4 in 10 Americans (43%) admit to feeling at least “a little” prejudice toward Muslims. This is more than twice the number who say the same about Christians (18%), and almost three times more than that of Jews (15%) and Buddhists (14%). The poll questioned Americans about knowledge of Islam, to which 63% of Americans said they have “very little” knowledge or “none at all.”

“The American Muslim community stands with other Americans in a collective commitment to support the Haitian people during their time of crisis with money, supplies, and prayers,” said Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago. The Coalition also demanded Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants in the US.

CAIR-Chicago is proud to announce that Ian Bushner has joined its team as a Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Fellow. Ian graduated with honors from the University of Chicago Law School and following his Fellowship will work as an associate with the law firm Jenner & Block LLP. To read more about Ian click here

Sharif discussed CAIR-Chicago’s work to combat religious discrimination and promote religious tolerance, and explained how media plays a critical role in that effort. She also described how CAIR-Chicago serves as a resource to journalists and news producers by offering them support and expert analysis as they develop their news reports.

After a 4-year wait, a divorce, and two passed citizenship tests, a man was sworn in as a citizen of the United States.

The man, charged with criminal trespassing during the protest, was represented by CAIR-Chicago’s Christina Abraham.

CAIR-Chicago has recently resolved the cases of four Muslim men whose bids for citizenship faced long delays and complications.

A Muslim CTA employee contacted CAIR-Chicago for representation after being repeatedly passed up for promotion.

CAIR-Chicago recently settled a discrimination suit in favor of a Muslim woman fired for not attending an annual company event.

Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson describes his experience on an intercultural and friendship tour in Turkey. The trip was organized by the Niagra Foundation and its international partner in Turkey, BAKIAD.