On Thursday, December 8, the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), along with other civil rights and interfaith groups, will hold a press conference calling on Congress and President Obama to reject the U.S. Senate’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1867).

CAIR-Chicago commends the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for taking decisive action against an employee who publically spewed racist and bigoted rants against Muslims, African Americans, Latinos, and Homosexuals. Roy Egan had worked at O’Hare airport for nine years where he checked passenger baggage.

On Sunday, November 6th, Muslims all over the world and in America will commemorate the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, or the Hajj, with communal prayers and celebrations. It is one of the most important Islamic holidays of the year. Each year, some two million Muslims, including thousands of American Muslims, go for the Hajj pilgrimage.

CAIR-Chicago filed a complaint in federal court yesterday against The American Bottling Company on behalf of a Muslim man who was unjustly fired from the company after requesting time off on Fridays for Islamic congregational prayers.

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 and the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Race and Gender today released “Same Hate, New Target,” the first-of-its-kind annual report outlining the disturbing growth of Islamophobia in the United States during 2009-2010.

Peter King’s (R-NY) false allegations and his history of anti-Muslim comments have produced broad-based pushback against his biased agenda and generated significant questions about the veracity of his hearings, such as the one held today on Islam in U.S. prisons.

“We are relieved that justice has not been denied even if it has been delayed,” said Ahmed Rehab. “This goes to show that the way to fight terror is through good intelligence operations, and not military surges abroad, or the choking of civil liberties at home.”

CAIR-Chicago welcomes today’s decision by District Court Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer to deny DuPage County’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed against the county by the Irshad Learning Center, a Naperville mosque.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) congratulates MECCA (the Muslm Educational and Cultural Center of America) for receiving approval today from the DuPage County Board for a special use permit to build a a new mosque.

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.

Chicago Muslim Leaders will be holding a press conference today at 3:00PM to react to today’s congressional hearings on Muslim “radicalization” led Rep. Peter King (R-NY).

Chicagoans will rally this Saturday to stand in solidarity with the people of Libya as they struggle to rid themselves of a 41-year-old dictatorship.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today welcomed the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak as a “first step toward freedom” and said there must now be a clean break with authoritarian rule and a swift transition to an open and transparent civilian government.

CAIR-Chicago denounced a vote by the DuPage County board to reject a requested height variance that would have allowed the construction of a minaret and dome at a proposed mosque on 91st Street in unincorporated Willowbrook. A decision on whether to allow the construction of the Muslim Educational Cultural Center of America (MECCA) has still not been made.

Chicagoans Demand the President Forcefully Call for Democracy in Egypt Obama Call for Mubarak
(CHICAGO, 2/3/11) – Thousands are expected to rally tomorrow in downtown Chicago to demand that President Obama forcefully call for Democracy in Egypt.

Hundreds of Egyptian-Americans and human rights activists will rally and hold a press conference today outside the Egyptian Consulate in Chicago to support the efforts of pro-democracy activists in Egypt.

Christian, Muslim, Jewish and civic leaders affirm religious freedom and call on the DuPage County Development Board to reconsider the Zoning Board’s decision to deny a permit for MECCA, a mosque in Willowbrook.

“There is a large and growing number of Muslim families who live, work, and pay taxes in DuPage County yet are being denied the same right as their neighbors to establish institutions to accommodate their religious and community needs,” said Ahmed Rehab.

CAIR-Chicago filed two complaints in circuit court today against the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. The complaints were filed on behalf of a Muslim family that was barred from entering a children’s water park last year because of their clothing.

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.

The lawsuit intervenes in a class action filed by the Equal Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in August on behalf of more than 200 Somali factory workers from the Swift Co. plant in Grand Island, Nebraska.

On Tuesday, November 16th, Muslims all over the world and in America will mark the end of the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj, with communal prayers and celebrations.

See Chicago prayer locations and timings at http://www.chicagomuslims.com/

“We appreciate Judge Bernthal’s bold and principled decision and his acknowledgment that such threats are acts of terror,” said CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator Amina Sharif. “We hope this sends a clear message to Islamophobes who try to threaten and intimidate Muslim Americans – that we will not live in fear.”

CAIR-Chicago applauds the efforts of law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the United States, Europe and the Middle East to foil an apparent plot to ship packages containing explosives from Yemen to synagogues in Chicago.

CAIR-Chicago filed a discrimination complaint in federal court against the Southwest Suburban Village of Worth on behalf of Ala Alsherbini, a local Muslim business owner.

CAIR-Chicago received a favorable ruling today from the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) regarding a discrimination complaint filed against a Cook County recreational pool on behalf of a Muslim family.

CAIR-Chicago announced today that it is deeply concerned about the FBI’s recent raids on the homes of anti-war activists in the Midwest.

CAIR-Chicago is issuing the following statement in response to the raids.

“The reprehensible attack against this Jewish congregation is an insult to all of us,” said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of CAIR-Chicago. “An attack against one house of worship is an attack against every house of worship.”

“I expect police and federal investigators to thoroughly examine the incident and remain vigilant as there has been a significant rise in these sorts of hateful, Islamophobic incidents across the country,” said Abraham. “We will not let hatemongers spread fear and intimidate Muslims.”

CAIR-Chicago filed a discrimination complaint in federal court today against the Illinois State Police (ISP) on behalf of Kifah Mustapha, a leading Muslim religious leader (Imam) based in Chicago. The ISP had previously hired Imam Kifah as the first and only Muslim chaplain for its workforce after the completion of a thorough background check. Shortly after news of Imam Kifah’s hiring, the ISP revoked its decision citing a dubious Internet report attacking Imam Kifah. The report was written and distributed by Steven Emerson, an anti-Muslim blogger notorious for fighting against American Muslim civic participation.

CAIR-Chicago is hosting its annual “Taste of Ramadan” cook-off and Iftar August 26 in its downtown office. Over a hundred friends and supporters of CAIR-Chicago are expected to attend.

Local leaders will discuss their concern that a calculated campaign of Islamophobia and fear mongering have influenced public officials and misinformed the general public. The coalition will discuss opposition to mosques including in Illinois, rising levels of anti-Muslim bigotry and hate crimes.

At a press conference today, CAIR-Chicago and an interfaith community coalition responded to a recent decision by the Illinois State Police (ISP) to revoke a chaplaincy position previously extended and confirmed for Imam Kifah Mustafa, a leading Chicago Muslim cleric. (See Press Release HERE))

ISP revoked its decision citing an internet report attacking Imam Kifah that was written and distributed by Steven Emerson, an anti-Muslim blogger who has a well-known reputation for fighting against American Muslim civic participation.
Read FAIR’s detailed expose on Steven Emerson and his dubious work,
HERE

On Wednesday, June 23, the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) together with an interfaith and community coalition will hold a press conference responding to a recent decision by the Illinois State Police (ISP) to revoke a chaplaincy position previously extended and confirmed for Imam Kifah Mustafa, a leading Chicago Muslim cleric.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today urged President Obama to condemn what the Muslim civil rights group called an Israeli “massacre” of civilians on a flotilla of ships in international waters seeking to bring humanitarian aid to the people of the Gaza Strip. Israeli commandos killed at least 10 civilians in a pre-dawn raid on the flotilla.

Israel’s attack on the flotilla has already been condemned by the international community.

CAIR-Chicago announced today that vandals defaced an exhibit by Muslim graduate student Anida Yoeu Ali at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). The exhibit, which addressed racial profiling and the rise of violence and hate directed at Muslims in the post-9/11 era, was vandalized with large caricatures and a word bubble highlighting the text “Kill all Arabs.”

“RefugeeOne welcomes those who were dispossessed and displaced under life-threatening circumstances home to Chicago,” said Ahmed Rehab, RefugeeOne Vice-Chairman. “It’s a multi-faith, diverse organization that seeks to put our common values into action: respect and dignity for all human beings, and service to those most in need of our help.”

Muslims, in solidarity with the families of victims and key faith leaders who live, work and worship in Marquette Park, will gather in the wake of the gruesome act of violence that occurred Wednesday in their community and reject any rationale that connects this atrocity to the Muslim community and Islam

The Chicago office of the Council on American Islamic Relations announced that it has filed a complaint in federal court today against DuPage County, in response to the county’s rejection of a zoning permit for a proposed Islamic School in Naperville.

Monday, March 29, at 1pm CAIR-Chicago will hold a news conference to call on the City Colleges of Chicago to resolve complaints of discrimination by Muslim employees of Truman College.

CAIR-Chicago announced today that it is pleased with the plea agreement reached yesterday between state prosecutors and Valerie Kenney, a suburban woman who faced hate crime charges after attacking a Muslim woman at a Tinley Park grocery store 2 days after the Fort Hood shooting.

CAIR-Chicago announced today that it has filed a complaint in federal court against USF Holland and YRC Worldwide Inc. on behalf of an African-American Muslim former employee. The complaint alleges that the man, Reginal Exson, suffered discrimination and severe verbal abuse based on his race, religion and disability.

A Citibank security guard reportedly objected to a Muslim woman receiving service because it would encourage more of “them” to come into the bank. Throughout the process, which the Muslim customer described as “humiliating,” the guard allegedly made anti-Muslim remarks.

About 250 traditions and 10,000 people from around the world are expected to attend the conference. Luminaries in attendance include His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Rehab will be speaking on four panels.

On Friday, November 27th, Muslims all over the world and in America will mark the end of the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj, with communal prayers and celebrations. Each year, some two million Muslims, including thousands of American Muslims, go for the Hajj pilgrimage. This Islamic holiday is called Eid ul-Adha (EED-al-ODD-ha), or “festival of the sacrifice” and it commemorates the Prophet Abraham’s faithfulness in willing to sacrifice his son (who was then spared) at God’s command, an important historical event in Christianity and Judaism as well.

CAIR-Chicago announced today that it has reached out to the FBI on behalf of a Muslim woman who was a victim of a hate crime and had her headscarf pulled at her local grocery store.
“I expect Tinley Park police and federal investigators to thoroughly examine the incident and vindicate this woman. Racial and religious discrimination shall not be tolerated in our pluralistic society,” said Abraham.

“The Illinois GOP’s attack strategy seems to try to deflect mounting criticism from voters by smearing those who hold it accountable for its lack of spine. Additionally, the timing of this fishing expedition seeks to stoke anti-Muslim hysteria on the heels of the tragic shootings at Fort Hood,” said CAIR-Chicago in a statement.

“We condemn this cowardly attack in the strongest terms possible and ask that the perpetrators be punished to the full extent of the law, ” said CAIR in a statement today. “American Muslims stand with our fellow citizens in offering both prayers for the victims and sincere condolences to the families of those killed or injured.”

Despite an abysmal record on human rights, he has been invited by the University’s Harris School of Public Policy, as a leader with a vision of “achieving prosperity through peace.” CAIR-Chicago’s Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham will address the hypocrisy of this invitation at a press conference outside the event. Also read CAIR-Chicago’s Action Alert regarding this issue,
HERE.

CAIR-Chicago congratulates President Obama for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. “The award acknowledges the noticeable shift in U.S. diplomacy under the Obama administration as seen by his efforts to reach out to Muslims around the world and to increase cooperation with the international community,” said Amina Sharif, Communications Coordinator.

CAIR-Chicago is filing action in federal court today against Columbia College on behalf of a Palestinian Muslim Instructor who claims to have suffered wrongful termination after a student falsely reported that she made an anti-Semitic comment in class.

The plaintiff’s co-workers and superiors would call him “terrorist,” “sand ni***r” and “camel jockey.” An opinion issued yesterday by federal district court judge Dow notes the precedent set by CAIR-Chicago’s legal victory in Yasin v. Cook County. Dow writes, “There can be little question that, as a court in this district recently concluded, referring to a Muslim of Middle Eastern origin and Arab ancestry as a ‘terrorist’ or ‘bin Laden’ is ‘discriminatory, insulting and humiliating.’”

“This is not just an immigration issue; this is a human rights issue. All Americans should unite to fix this broken system that currently denies America a realistic, fair and humane solution to the issue of 10 million undocumented residents of the US,” says CAIR-Chicago Government Affairs Coordinator, Reema Ahmad.

(CHICAGO, 09/10/09) – CAIR-Chicago is hosting a “Taste of Ramadan – Cook-Off and Iftar” this evening at its downtown office. Around one hundred friends and supporters of CAIR-Chicago are expected to attend.

(CHICAGO, IL, 8/28/09) The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today announced that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has determined that Somali Muslim employees at a meatpacking plant in Nebraska faced “unlawful harassment” because of their religion.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) announced today that it has filed a complaint in federal court on behalf of a Palestinian Muslim man who claims to have suffered discrimination and wrongful termination by his employer, U.S. Foodservice Inc.

The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) announced today a verdict in favor of an Arab-American correctional officer in a discrimination case CAIR-Chicago Staff attorney, Kevin Vodak, litigated against the Cook County Sheriff’s department pro-bono.

CAIR-Chicago announced today the trial details for a corrections officer’s discrimination case against the Cook County Sheriff’s department.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today announced that Robert Spencer, one of the nation’s leading Islam-bashers, will not speak tomorrow at the annual conference of the American Library Association (ALA) following intervention by CAIR and the withdrawal of the other scheduled panelists in protest.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today announced that all other panelists scheduled to speak at an American Library Association (ALA) annual conference session on stereotyping of Islam have withdrawn in protest over the participation of Robert Spencer, one of the nation’s leading Islam-bashers.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today called on the American Library Association (ALA) to drop an “Islamophobe” from a panel discussion on dispelling stereotypes about Islam.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today announced the filing of a complaint in federal court on behalf of a Muslim man of South Asian descent who alleges that he suffered harassment at his workplace, culminating in an unjustified termination from his position.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) filed a complaint in federal court today on behalf of a Muslim woman who claims to have suffered harassment at her workplace where she served as a personal banker.

Today the Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights (CCDBR) is hosting The State of Surveillance in the Surveillance State: Chicago and the Nation. The event will take place at Northwestern University School of Law from 1-4pm.

On Thursday, June 4, members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations – Chicago Chapter will be available for comment and media interviews to offer a local Muslim reaction to President Obama’s live address from Cairo, Egypt.

CAIR-Chicago announced today that a District Court ruled for a corrections officer’s discrimination case against the Cook County Sheriff’s department to move to trial. U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve denied Cook County’s motion for summary judgment this week. (The court had also denied Cook County’s motion to dismiss the case in 2008.)

On Monday, April 27, the Coalition to Ground Torture Flights will hold a protest and news conference at the annual Boeing shareholder’s meeting to demand that the company respond to allegations that it is an active participant in so-called “torture flights.”

CAIR-Chicago is joining with other members of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) to rally against Congressman Mark Kirk’s anti-immigrant stance. Congressman Kirk has supported numerous anti-immigrant bills and has said he is “…OK with discrimination against young Arab males from terrorist-producing states” (Sun-Times, November 6, 2005).

Diverse community advocates join to condemn hate speech and call for the Republican Party to repudiate offensive comments. Participants will denounce intolerant and hateful remarks made by Rosanna Pulido – the Republican candidate for the 5th congressional district seat – against these communities.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced today that it has filed a complaint in the U.S. district court, Northern District of Illinois, on behalf of a Muslim flight attendant who allegedly suffered discrimination by his employer, American Airlines.

The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is co-sponsoring two vigils today that will celebrate Martin Luther King’s fight for justice and human rights, and in the spirit of his work, call for peace in Palestine.

The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today condemned the vandalism of three local synagogues this past weekend.

The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is co-sponsoring a mass protest along with a coalition of over 30 organizations. The rally will begin with a press conference at Daly Plaza where leaders from diverse communities will call on public officials to help stop Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, restore the cease-fire, end U.S. military aid to Israel, and initiate peace negotiations in the Middle East during the coming year.

The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is co-sponsoring a mass protest along with a diverse coalition of over 30 organizations. Thousands of protesters are expected to call on public officials to help stop Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, restore the cease-fire, end U.S. military aid to Israel, and initiate peace negotiations in the Middle East during the coming year.

The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today condemned an arson attack on a Chicago synagogue as “reprehensible.”

On Monday, December 8th , the Muslim community in America will mark the end of the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj, with communal prayers and celebrations at locations around the country.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is closed today as its staff mobilizes Muslims at local precincts to Get Out the Vote (see: www.cairchicago.org). The campaign focuses on the southwest suburb of Bridgeview and marks the culmination of a long campaign to urge the Muslim community to let their voices be heard with a strong voter representation.

On Monday, October 27, 2008, the Chicago office of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) will join elected representatives, state legislators, immigrant advocate partners, new voters, and volunteers to celebrate the success of ICIRR’s (Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and refugee rights) voter registration drive and launch the Get out the Vote Campaign.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced today that the Islamic Foundation mosque of Villa Park was vandalized Thursday for the fourth time in less than two months.

On Wednesday, October 1* , the Muslim community in America will celebrate the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan with communal prayers around the country. (Ramadan is the month on the Muslim lunar calendar during which Muslims abstain from food, drink and other physical needs from the break of dawn to sunset.)

The Hate Hurts America Multifaith Community Coalition (HHA), a group of religious and civic organizations seeking to challenge hate speech in our society, today announced that it has launched a website as a positive response to the anti-Muslim bigotry used in an ongoing multi-million-dollar campaign to influence the presidential election.

The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today will attend a meeting between the Chicago Board of Education and the family of a 6th grader who was singled out and ridiculed by his teacher in class.

The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today mourned the passing of one of America’s greatest spiritual leaders, the Honorable al-Imam Warith Deen Mohammed.

A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group said today that the resignation of a recently-appointed Muslim community liaison for Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign is symptomatic of a nationwide effort by Islamophobes who seek to deny Muslims access to the political process.

The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today denounced the anti-Muslim smear campaign behind the resignation of Mazen Asbahi, the Obama campaign’s national Muslim liaison. The attacks against Asbahi ironically linked him to mainstream Muslim personalities and groups that were falsely described as “fundamentalist”.

On Sunday, July 27th, the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) will sponsor MYLS Summer 2008 where 100 Muslim high school students will gather for a weekend leadership symposium. The program is designed to inspire Muslim youth to leverage their faith values towards constructive citizenship that benefits community and country.

On Saturday, July 26, the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), in cooperation with New Islamic Directions, will co-sponsor a workshop for journalists, titled “Presumption of Guilt: Media Treatment and Coverage of Muslims in America,” at the UNITY ’08 convention.

On Thursday, July 17, the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), in cooperation with other organizations, will co-sponsor its fourth biannual blood drive at the Downtown Islamic Center in Chicago, Ill.

The Northern District Court of Illinois today granted a Chicago Muslim man his citizenship after the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) filed a lawsuit against the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for its delay in processing the application.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today thanked an Illinois law enforcement official who apologized for using a fake “mosque” in a recent emergency preparedness drill.

A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today said an emergency preparedness drill in Illinois, in which a fake “mosque” was stormed by law enforcement authorities, sends the “wrong message” that all Islamic houses of worship may be potential security threats.

On Monday, April 28, the Coalition to Ground Torture Flights will hold a protest and news conference at the annual Boeing shareholder’s meeting to demand that the company respond to allegations that it is an active participant in so-called “torture flights.”

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) is proud to announce the success of its first official Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium (MYLS), a program designed to inspire Muslim youth to leverage their faith values towards constructive citizenship that benefits community and country.

On Saturday, February 23, the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) will commemorate its work in championing civil rights and advocating on behalf of Muslim Americans with its fourth annual banquet, themed “American Muslims: Defining Ourselves.”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on the Bush adminstration to immediately intervene to put an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today welcomed a decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit to overturn a controversial award judgment against American Muslim charities in an Illinois civil suit.

On Saturday, December 1, Ahmed Rehab representing the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) and the Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) will take part in the Heartland Presidential Forum in Des Moines, Iowa by asking a presidential candidate whether she or he would be ready to join the ongoing civil rights movement, if elected.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today expressed dismay at what it termed the “excessive” eleven-year, three-month sentence given to Dr. Abdelhaleem Ashqar for the non-violent charges of criminal contempt and obstruction of justice.

On Saturday, September 8, the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) will host a Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium (MYLS) to encourage Muslim youth to become model citizens dedicated to helping make America a better place for all Americans, regardless of race or creed.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) joins thousands of fellow citizens in expressing their dismay at the 21-month federal prison sentence given to Muhammad Salah, 54, for being convicted of a minor charge of lying on a pre-trial questionnaire in a civil lawsuit. He was also fined $25,000 by U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today announced that its executive director, Ahmed Rehab, successfully completed the FBI Citizenship Academy Program for 2007. The class graduated Friday.

On June 26, a representative of the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) will be available to discuss the findings of a task force of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs that considered how to engage American Muslims more fully in the national discourse on foreign policy. CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab is a member of the task force.

A national report released locally today by the Chicago office of a prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group indicates a 25 percent increase in the total number of complaints of anti-Muslim bias from 2005 to 2006, with citizenship delays being the major issue.

On Tuesday, June 19, the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) will hold a news conference to release its 12th annual report, titled “Presumption of Guilt,” on the status of Muslim civil rights in the United States.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today resolved a citizenship delay case that has been pending for the past five years.

The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) has filed a complaint with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations on behalf of a Muslim employee who allegedly suffered discrimination in the workplace.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) reacted today to the “first-ever” nation-wide survey of Muslim-Americans.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today condemned vandalism of a Chicago synagogue as “reprehensible.”

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) as a member of the Coalition to Protect People’s Rights, an alliance of over 20 organizations and individuals united to protect citizens from civil liberties and human rights abuses, is announcing a press conference in response to the Salah / Ashqar verdict today.

For many years now, Mr. Muhammad Salah lived life in the infamy of being labeled as the only designated US terrorist. He suffered the repercussions of this judgment, long before he could face an open and fair trial in a US Court of law. His assets were frozen, and his life shattered. His family carried the burden of this label to their schools, workplaces, and to the local supermarket.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) as a member of the Coalition to Protect People’s Rights, an alliance of over 20 organizations and individuals united to protect citizens from civil liberties and human rights abuses, is announcing a press conference in response to the anticipated Salah / Ashqar verdict 30 minutes after the verdict is read.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today issued a statement in reaction to the arrest of a 22-year-old Rockford man accused of plotting to set off grenades in a local shopping mall.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) is fielding local media inquiries regarding the detention of six Imams, or Islamic religious leaders who were removed from a US Airways flight in handcuffs at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Monday night.

CAIR-Chicago announces today that Irfan Vora, age 30, has been missing since November 10, 2006. Last known contact with Irfan was that day as he was leaving home for Friday prayers. It is not known if he made it to the prayers.

Today the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced that this Monday, November 13, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley will preside over the grand opening ceremony of the Mosque Foundation Garden at Northerly Island, south of the Adler Planetarium. Local elected officials and members of the Chicago Muslim and interfaith communities will be in attendance.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced today that as a part of election activities, to encourage staff, interns, volunteers and community members to vote, the office will be closed on Election Day. It will also pull down its highly-visited website and replace it with a single splash page with the text, “We Vote.”

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced today that it has issued a letter, along with the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA), and Illinois Coalition for Civil Liberties and a number of organizations, demanding a clarification from Congressman Jerry Weller (R-IL, 11th congressional district) on his recent comments about racial profiling.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced today that it has registered over 1,000 new American-Muslim voters through the New Americans Democracy Project (NADP), in partnership with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR).

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) and the Chicago chapter of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination committee (ADC) will join his Excellency, Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), in a press conference this Saturday on the subject of US-Muslim relations 5 years after 9/11.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today condemned comments made by Andrea Zinga, a congressional candidate for the 17th district of Illinois.

‘Ties That Bind’ is a documentary that premiered in Barcelona at the Parliament of World’s Religions’ and UNESCO’s “Pathways to Peace” conference and has aired several times on Chicago’s PBS Television Station, WTTW11. Since then, a dozen town hall meetings have brought local diverse groups together. On the fifth Anniversary of 9/11, the Muslim community of Bridgeview is hosting such a gathering as a statement that hate and misunderstanding shall not prevail.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations today formally announced its joining the launching of a coalition supporting Chicago Hotel Workers in a breakfast ceremony at the signature room, tomorrow morning.

The Chicago Office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced today that the U.S. Postal Service is currently conducting an investigation into concerns of possible foul play expressed by a Chicago-area Muslim Charity. The Zakat Foundation reported its concerns to CAIR-Chicago earlier today.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today issued the following statement at a news conference in Washington, D.C., in response to the arrests of 21 individuals for allegedly plotting to use liquid explosives on passenger flights traveling from the United Kingdom to the United States. (NOTE: CAIR’s news conference was taped for later broadcast by C-SPAN.)

On Thursday, July 20th 2006, the Chicago Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) will hold a news conference with members of the local Muslim and Arab-American communities who have relatives under attack in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

The Chicago Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) released the following statement in response to the current escalations in the Middle East:

“The whole world is watching, with total dismay and shock, the barbaric destruction of Lebanon by Israel. It is a shame as well a crime that such destruction is happening with the political and financial support of our government.

A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today called on the international community to intervene after at least 12 Lebanese civilians, including women and children, were killed in an Israeli attack on a convoy fleeing threats to destroy their village.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on President Bush to demand that Israel stop bombing civilian areas in Lebanon at least long enough to safely evacuate some 25,000 U.S. citizens in that nation.

Today at 1:30, the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) will hold a press conference to comment on the Sears Tower Terror plot botched by the FBI. CAIR-Chicago will give a local Muslim reaction to the developing story and the unfolding events.

The Chicago Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced today that it is wrapping up its successful 2006 Building Bridges to Islam Day of Discovery tomorrow. Since 2005, over 1200 Americans have graduated from CAIR-Chicago’s “Building Bridges to Islam” lecture series, sponsored by Elderhostel.

This morning, a coalition of attorneys and civil rights activists filed a class action lawsuit arguing that 10 Muslim men who applied for U.S. citizenship are being discriminated against on the basis of their religion and gender.

On Tuesday, April 25, the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) will hold a news conference to urge the Village of Arlington Heights and the State’s Attorneys Office to drop charges against Rehana Khan, a Muslim woman who alleges that police ripped off her Islamic head scarf (hijab) during an arrest at a 2005 immigrant rights protest.

In today’s post 9/11 America, much attention is being given to Islam and Muslims. More often than not, coverage of Islam and Muslims is limited to the sensational and the extreme. Moreover, commentators on cable and radio stations often approach the subject with an emotional bias rather than a comprehensive objective analysis. This, coupled with the limited accessibility of outspoken moderate Muslims, leaves the average American gravely misinformed about Islam and Muslims.

Today the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) conducted sensitivity training for approximately 30 Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and administrators in Chicago.

On Thursday, March 23, 2006, the Loyola Student Coalition Against Bigotry (LSCAB) is holding a peaceful rally and rebuttal against controversial speaker Ann Coulter, who is scheduled to speak about “Liberal Lies about the Conservative Right” on the Loyola Lakeshore campus at 7pm, that same day.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) has mobilized Muslim voters to actively participate in today’s primary election in Illinois.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)-Chicago is currently mobilizing Muslim voters to actively participate in the Illinois primary election on Tuesday, March 21st. CAIR-Chicago has made nearly 800 phone calls, reaching out to registered voters in the third congressional district since last weekend, as a part of a large Get Out the Vote Campaign.

As a civil rights organization, our aspiration is to see every American granted his or her full rights under any and all circumstances. Mr. Muhammad Salah, an American citizen, is entitled to the right to a fair trial. This entails the right to public hearings. This right hangs in the balance, while several of his other rights have already been violated.

The Coalition to Protect People’s Rights, an alliance of over 20 organizations and individuals united to protect citizens from civil liberties and human rights abuses, will hold a press conference on Friday, March 3 coinciding with the opening statements for the suppression of evidence obtained under torture hearings.

CAIR-Chicago, the local office of a prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy group condemned today anti-Semitic attacks leveled at a Chicago Area Synagogue earlier this week. On Monday morning, February 13, Agudas Achim North Shore Congregation was vandalized with swastikas and anti-Semitic writings.

The Chicago Chapter of a prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today announced that it will hold a local press conference this Saturday to announce a major educational effort called “Explore the Life of Muhammad” as a positive response to the worldwide controversy over caricatures of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad.

Following the Press Conference at 6:00 at the same facility, the Chicago Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations will hold an open community forum on the cartoons in conjunction with the Chicago Chapter of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA). The Public debate and discussion will address many questions related to the controversy and the ensuing reactions around the world.

The promises of the first amendment are a critical foundation to our great nation. However, free speech is not a license for irresponsible journalism. While the Daily Illini’s reprinting of the Danish Cartoons within its February 9th editorial section may not have violated our laws, the decision did violate human decency.

On Tuesday, February 14, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will hold a noon news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., to launch a major educational effort focusing on the life and legacy of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today condemned an attack on a Shia Muslim procession in Pakistan that killed at least 27 people.

On Sunday, February 5, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will hold a news conference in Washington, D.C., to express the U.S. Muslim community’s rejection of violence in response to the defamatory caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad published in European newspapers.

Representatives of the American Muslim community met with the Danish ambassador in Washington, D.C., on Monday to discuss their concerns about defamatory caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad originally published in Denmark.

The Chicago chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), joins The Civil Liberties Coalition of Illinois (CLCI) in inviting Congresswoman Melissa Bean of the 8th district in educating her constituents about the US Patriot Act.

A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today announced that it is sending a delegation to Iraq to call for the release of American journalist Jill Carroll who was abducted January 7th while on assignment for the Christian Science Monitor newspaper.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today announced that it has joined a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a secret National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance program that targeted American citizens without court authorization.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called for the immediate release of American journalist Jill Carroll abducted January 7 while on assignment for the Christian Science Monitor newspaper in Baghdad.

Leaders of the American Muslim and Arab-American communities met today with FBI officials in Washington, D.C., to discuss concerns about the secret monitoring of radiation levels at Muslim homes, businesses and mosques nationwide.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today urged American Muslims to register to vote at events nationwide next week marking the Eid ul-Adha holiday. CAIR’s Eid voter registration drive is part of a major non-partisan Muslim political mobilization effort to be conducted during the 2006 election cycle.

A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today urged Americans of all faiths to pray for the safety of 13 West Virginia coal miners trapped underground since early Monday.

A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today announced the filing of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for all government records relating to a secret government program that monitored the radiation levels at more than 100 Muslim homes, businesses and mosques in the capital region and in other areas nationwide.

U.S. officials have secretly monitored radiation levels at Muslim sites, including mosques and private homes, since September 11, 2001 as part of a top secret program searching for nuclear bombs, U.S. News and World Report said on Friday.

A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today announced the filing of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for all government records relating to President Bush’s post-9/11 executive orders authorizing electronic surveillance of Americans and others in the United States without first obtaining court approval, as required by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today issued a travel advisory for Muslim citizens who will be attending a conference in Canada this weekend or participating in the upcoming Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca.

The Chicago chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) will join the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) in holding a downtown press conference tomorrow to discuss action against Congressman Mark Kirk’s recent nod to discrimination against Arabs.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) announced today that the coalition of diverse Chicagoland-based organizations condemning congressman Kirk’s anti-Arab remarks have grown to 30.

More than two weeks have passed since Congressman Mark Kirk made the troubling statements that bring us here today. We want Congressman Kirk to know that we are not OK with discrimination on the basis of national origin or religion, just as we are not on the basis of race or gender.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) announced today that a coalition of 25 diverse Chicagoland-based organizations have joined forces to issue a joint statement in response to recent controversial comments made by US Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL,10th District) in which he said: “I’m OK with discrimination against young Arab males from terrorist-producing states.”

The Chicago chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), in conjunction with the Law Offices of Robert M. Mihelich, will hold a press conference to discuss a complaint filed by a Muslim police officer for race, religious and national origin discrimination against the Milwaukee Police Department.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced today that the Mosque Foundation of Bridgeview will recognize a local High School for its accommodation of its Muslim students and a Chicago Tribune reporter for her fair reporting. The awards will be presented during the Annual Mosque Foundation Community Dinner

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is calling on local Mosques and Islamic centers to hold prayers and collect donations tonight for those killed, injured or left homeless by the recent massive earthquake in South Asia.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced today that a prominent local Chicago Mosque will mark the month of Ramadan with daily open house meals, or iftars, for neighbors and the homeless.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced that the Muslim community in Chicago’s Southwestern Suburbs is marking the start of Ramadan by opening its doors to neighbors, interfaith leaders, law enforcement and elected officials.

Civil liberties and Muslim groups criticized Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on Thursday for suggesting that authorities should spend more time monitoring mosques and their attendees, possibly with wiretaps.

The American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT), a national coalition of major American-Muslim organizations, today cautioned Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf to not allow his address to the American Jewish Congress be misconstrued as an endorsement of the state of Israel’s conduct towards occupied Palestinians.

More than six million American television viewers have already seen CAIR’s “Not in the Name of Islam” public service announcement (PSA) since its release in June.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today dismissed Rep. Tom Tancredo’s (R-CO) comments on the design of a memorial to those aboard a plane that crashed in Pennsylvania on 9/11 as a cynical political ploy designed to gain national attention. (See: http://tancredo.house.gov/)

On Sunday, September 11, some 1200 Muslim volunteers will feed Hurricane Katrina evacuees in four shifts at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. National and local representatives of the Muslim Hurricane Relief Task Force (MHRTF) will also hold a noon news conference at the convention center to outline the American Muslim community’s ongoing relief efforts.

The newly-formed Muslim Hurricane Relief Task Force (MHRTF) today announced the launch of a website, www.mhrtf.net, designed to offer information about the American Islamic community¿s efforts to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina. MHRTF recently announced a pledge to raise $10 million in humanitarian relief.

On Saturday, September 3, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) presented an award to Imam W. Deen Mohammed in recognition of his outstanding leadership role in the American Muslim community.

A coalition of major American Islamic groups meeting at the annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) in Chicago today announced a pledge to raise $10 million in humanitarian relief for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today called on mosques and Islamic centers nationwide to collect donations for hurricane disaster relief following Islamic congregational prayers (Jumah) on Friday.

On Friday, September 9, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will host an interfaith candlelight vigil at the Capitol Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., to mark the fourth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.

As the most intensely affected group by some of the unconstitutional provisions in the USA PATRIOT Act, Muslim Americans in general and Illinois Muslims in particular have repeatedly affirmed their support for balanced legislation that makes our country safer yet does not jeopardize our American civil liberties. As the local chapter of the largest national civil rights organization representing Muslim Americans, CAIR-Chicago has been documenting a number of incidents that range in severity that were the direct result of Section 213 of the USA PATRIOT Act and other sections.

The Chicago chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), in conjunction with the Civil Liberties Coalition of Illinois (CLCI) and Representative Danny K. Davis will hold a press conference to discuss the new threat to civil liberties due to the recent passage of the Patriot Act’s sunset provisions in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Chicago Chapter today called on Chicago mosques and Islamic centers to offer prayers for rain in the draught-stricken African nation of Niger during this week’s Friday congregational services, or “jummah.”

A number of leading Chicago Muslim organizations today publicly endorsed the fatwa (Islamic religious ruling) against terrorism and extremism during a news conference held this morning at the Downtown Islamic Center. The fatwa, recently issued by the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA), is endorsed by more than 150 U.S. Muslim groups, leaders and institutions.

CAIR-Chicago, the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), applauds the US Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Illinois, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) for their respective roles in bringing federal charges against a man who firebombed a Burbank Muslim family’s van in March of 2003.

The Chicago chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), in participation with the Civil Liberties Coalition of Illinois (CLCI), will hold a town hall meeting with guest speaker, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, to encourage Illinois’ elected representatives to vote “NO” to the reauthorization of the expiring provisions of the Patriot Act.

The Chicago chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), in participation with the Civil Liberties Coalition of Illinois (CLCI), held a town hall meeting today with guest speaker, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, to encourage Illinois’ elected representatives to vote “NO” to the reauthorization of the expiring provisions of the Patriot Act.

On Friday, July 29, The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) – an umbrella organization representing 54 Chicago area Mosques & Islamic Organizations – and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Chicago Chapter (CAIR-Chicago) will hold a news conference at the Downtown Islamic Center, 231 S. State Street, to officially endorse the recently issued national fatwa (Islamic religious ruling) against terrorism and extremism.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today reported that the FBI is investigating a number of racist phone threats made against a Chicago Ridge Muslim family.

In today’s post 9/11 America, much attention is being given to Islam and Muslims. More often than not, coverage of Islam and Muslims is limited to the sensational and the extreme. Moreover, commentators on cable and radio stations often approach the subject with an emotional bias rather than a comprehensive objective analysis. This, coupled with the limited accessibility of outspoken moderate Muslims, leaves the average American gravely misinformed about Islam and Muslims.

CAIR Chicago, a local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), is launching its new online center on January 20th, 2005 at 8:00am.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today announced that a Muslim worker of Pakistani origin in Illinois has filed a religious and national origin discrimination lawsuit against AFI Industries.

On Friday, December 31, Muslims in Chicago will offer prayers for those who died as a result of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Asia. The prayers, called salat al-ghaib (sa-laat-all-guy-ib), or “prayers for those who have died in a distant place,” will be held following the regular Friday Jum’ah prayers at the Islamic Cultural Center and the Mosque Foundation, as well as other area mosques.

We are not here to pass judgment of guilt or innocence – that is to be determined by a court of law. What we are here to do is draw attention to the fact that the Quranic Literacy Institute is not receiving a fair trial, nor a just due process. This is a case of justice being catered to the wealthy and powerful, and denied for the disenfranchised.

Citing a need for public accountability and to guard against the wholesale surveillance of religious and political organizations, a diverse group of Chicago-area associations and individuals sharing a commitment to social justice and community service today filed federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) asking that agency to release surveillance files about those groups and individuals that were opened and maintained by FBI agents.

On November 13th or 14th (exact date depends on sighting of the new moon), the Muslim community in America will celebrate the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan with communal prayers around the country.

Today, we are standing together against the growing use of race, religion, and immigrant bashing in the political discourse of our nation. It is Important that we stand united against all forms of bigotry. An attack on one is an attack on all.

On Friday, October 1, 2004, representatives of Chicago-area interfaith, Latino, Asian, and immigrant organizations will hold a news conference at the Downtown Islamic Center to protest what the groups say is “hate-filled” rhetoric about Muslims by Illinois Republican congressional candidate Kurt Eckhardt.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today expressed concern over the potential for racial and religious profiling in a new security initiative by the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). The initiative focuses on searching CTA L cars for “suspicious” passengers and objects.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today announced that a Muslim worker in Illinois filed a religious and national origin discrimination lawsuit against a subsidiary of Sears, Roebuck and Co., one of the nation’s largest retailers.

Immigrants and their allies gathered outside the campaign office of Dan Lipinski, candidate for U.S. Representative (District 3), to challenge him to meet with local southwest side leaders. Demonstrators demanded he fulfill a promise made weeks ago, to a meeting with community leaders to discuss his position on issues affecting immigrants.