(CHICAGO, IL, 11/6/26) - The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, warmly welcomes the decision by the La Salle County Board to rescind an anti-Muslim resolution.
SEE: La Salle County Board rescinds resolution denouncing ‘Sharia law’
In a 16-12 vote, the La Salle County Board reversed its previous 13-12 decision from October 8, 2026, which had originally approved the measure. The reversal came following critical legal guidance from the county’s attorney who warned that the resolution was unconstitutional.
[NOTE: Washington, D.C.-based CAIR has repeatedly challenged the manufactured controversy of “sharia law” created by those promoting anti-Muslim fearmongering and dangerous smear tactics amid rising anti-Muslim hate incidents nationwide.]
"We commend the La Salle County Board for correcting its course and recognizing that measures targeting faith communities are not only divisive and discriminatory, but fundamentally unconstitutional," said CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab. "Local governments should focus on serving all residents equally rather than on advancing symbolic bias-motivated policies rooted in anti-Muslim animus."
Rehab noted that in June, CAIR-Chicago condemned Islamophobic remarks made by La Salle County Board Member James Reid regarding a proposed housing development in LaSalle County and called on the county board to formally censure him.
Earlier this month, CAIR-Chicago decried the decision by a Will County judge to grant pretrial release to a Wilmington man facing felony hate crime and intimidation charges.
Last month, CAIR-Chicago welcomed the filing of multiple felony hate crime charges against a Des Plaines man who allegedly threatened to shoot three Muslim women wearing hijabs at Lake Opeka (Lake Park) while shouting white supremacist slogans.
CAIR-Chicago encourages anyone experiencing or witnessing bias or discrimination to report incidents immediately to its civil rights department at www.cairchicago.org/get-help.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director, CAIR-Chicago arehab@cair.com; Jordan Esparza-Kelley, Communications Coordinator, j-esparzakelley@cair.com