Chicago Public Radio: 9/11 Anniversary: Muslim Groups Express Concerns

It's been five years since the September 11th attacks. But the Council on American-Islamic Relations says that reports of discrimination and harassment against Muslims are on the rise nationally.

CAIR received nearly 2,000 civil rights complaints in 2005. That's up from about 1,500 the year before.

Ahmed Rehab heads the Chicago CAIR chapter.

"It seems the five years after 9/11, the Islamophobic environment that Muslim Americans are facing is on the rise, not diminishing, by any means," he says.

Rehab says mainstream Muslims condemn terrorist attacks, and he says their faith has been "hijacked" by small groups of extremists.

CAIR is among some prominent Muslim groups that plan to take part in an interfaith memorial service at St. James Cathedral at 7 tonight.

© 2006 Chicago Public Radio.