Ahmed Rehab Keynotes MECCA Dinner alongside Rep. Keith Ellison

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.  Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) also spoke at the event.

Rehab's keynote spoke about the Muslim world and how it is changing more than ever now. He spoke on the issues and events in Tunisia, Egypt and Syria and discussed how they are important for the Middle East as well as the United States. He also said it is just as important to realize the change in the country we live in today, and how it effects the world around us.

Congressman Keith Ellison spoke on the struggles of many Muslims in the country today. He brought up the difficulties in building a new Mosque and linked it to the importance of civil rights in the nation.

The event brought in a crowd of 400 guests all hoping to raise money to benefit the future Mosque.  MECCA and its supporters were able to raise a 1 million dollars for development.

MECCA Business Director Nadia Malik said that MECCA was very glad "Ahmed Rehab and Congressman Keith Ellison were able to speak on such important points to the crowd." She also added that she was very "grateful for CAIR-Chicago in assisting them to receive the permit to begin the project as well as how successful the fund-raising went."