Press Release: CAIR Executive Graduates FBI Citizens' Academy

(CHICAGO, IL, 7/04/07) - 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. Now in its fifth year, the Citizens’ Academy is a stimulating eight-week (10-session) program that gives business, religious, civic, and community leaders an inside look at the FBI, according to the Bureau’s pamphlet. Participants of the Citizens’ Academy are chosen by the Special Agent in Charge of the local FBI field office.

“Muslim-Americans are continuously working to build positive and effective relationships with law enforcement,” Rehab said. “It’s important that law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve relate to each other based on accurate knowledge of one another, not on stereotypes. Maintaining safe communities cannot be the work of the FBI and the police alone; we, the citizens, have a role to play in keeping our streets safe by staying vigilant and reporting unlawful activity. We commend the FBI for this valuable program.”

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 33 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to promote justice, enhance the understanding of Islam, and empower American Muslims.

CONTACT: Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director (847) 971-3963 or (312) 212-1520 director@cairchicago.org

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