CAIR-Chicago Hosts Local Reactions to Large Scale Chemical Attack on Syrian Civilians
The victims were mostly women and children according to local activists. As of 10:10AM on April 5th, the death toll has risen to 72 people.
(CHICAGO, IL, 4/4/17)-
On Tuesday, April 4th, the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) will host a multi-community group of leaders for a 4:00pm news conference to react to the chemical attack on civilians in Syria today.
A large scale chemical attack today on the rebel-held city of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib left hundreds of bodies strewn on the ground, babies suffocating, and medical workers scurrying in shock and desperation, painting a scene of general havoc and mayhem. Over 75 people have been killed, including many children, and hundreds more injured in today's chemical attack, the worst since the infamous Ghouta massacre in 2013.
Experts concluded based on the number of casualties and the symptoms that the banned chemical weapon, Sarin nerve gas, was used in airstrikes from Syrian Regime Sukhoy-22 fighter jets.
Chicago has one of the largest Syrian-American communities in the United States, including 145 recent refugees escaping violence from Syria. Leaders from Chicago's Syrian community, the medical community, and the Muslim and interfaith communities will give their reactions at the Press Conference. A survivor of the 2013 Ghouta chemical massacre will also be present to give her reaction.
WHAT: Syrian, Muslim, Interfaith Reaction to Chemical Attack on Syrian Civilians WHO Syrian-American Medical Society (SAMS), Syrian Community Network, CAIR-Chicago, Interfaith leaders, Jewish Leaders, Hoda (Survivor of Previous Chemical Attack in Syria) WHEN: TODAY, Tuesday, April 4th, 2017 at 4:00pm CST WHERE: CAIR-Chicago, 17 N. State Street, Suite 1500, Chicago IL, 60602
"This is one of the worst attacks on civilians since the start of the war," said Dr. Zaher Sahloul, a Chicago Physician with SAMS rescue group. "The local hospitals are severely deficient. Many hospitals were bombed earlier including Syrian American Medical Society- SAMS hospital in Maara. We need our elected officials to know that hospitals are running out of Oxygen, Atropine, Bronchodilators and antidotes. Doctors need Protective gears. We need to do all that we can to stop these attacks by Assad and Putin."
"Obama's red line has been crossed once again, Trump was on the podium today and entirely failed to condemn or even acknowledge the attack." Ahmed Rehab, CAIR-Chicago Executive Director said. "The lack of moral leadership from the US weakens our country in terms of both its ethical and geostrategic position in the world. And yet words will not be enough, we demand all reasonable action to help halt what is one of the worst atrocities in the world today."
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.