CAIR-Chicago Calls for the Creation of a “White List” of Muslim Charities with Six Chicago Congressional Staffers in Washington
On Monday, March 21, Fadi Farhan, CAIR-Chicago’s Director of Governmental Relations met with staffers from the following congressional offices: Congresswoman Judy Biggert (13th District-IL), Congressman Danny K. Davis (7th District-IL), Congressman Rahm Emanuel (5th District-IL), Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez (4th District-IL), Congressman Daniel W. Lipinski (3rd District-IL), and Congressman Bobby Rush (1st District-IL). He discussed two issues of concern to American Muslims living in the Chicagoland area: the need for a “white list” of Muslim charities to which citizens can contribute charitable funds without fear of retribution by governmental agencies, and the discriminatory closing of American Muslim and Arab-American bank accounts nationwide. CAIR-Chicago wishes to thank all the congressional staffers with whom meetings were held and hopes to work closely with them to resolve these issues. On Sunday, March 20, Farhan attended a Leadership Conference sponsored by the CAIR National office, CAIR-Ohio, Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Islamic Society of North America (ICNA), Muslim American Society (MAS), the Muslim Students Association (MSA-National), the Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations (CCMO), the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), and The Fairfax Institute (TFI) in Washington, DC. Speakers at the conference discussed issues such as what can be expected in the coming months with respect to the Patriot Act, assessment and strategy regarding civil rights in the United States, and a plan of action for the bolstering of civil rights post 9/11.
Later in the day, Farhan met with Matthew T. Bowles, National Field Organizer for the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) Washington Legislative Office regarding some of the deleterious effects of some of the provisions of the USA Patriot Act and REAL ID bill on the civil liberties and civil rights of all Americans.
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