CAIR-Chicago Executive Director, Yaser Tabbara, along with a number of Muslim community leaders, met Thursday, February 10, with United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Patrick Fitzgerald and local FBI and DHS officials. The parties discussed ways in which the Chicago FBI and local DHS officials can continue to improve relationships with the Chicago Muslim community.

A number of specific issues were presented by CAIR-Chicago and other attendees; among the issues discussed were the on-going ”voluntary interviews” of Chicago Muslims. FBI officials were quick to assure the attendees of the absolute voluntary nature of the interviews. The community representatives in attendance responded that they encourage members of their communities to fully cooperate with the FBI and other governmental officials.

Other issues, which were presented to the DHS representatives, included a raid by immigration officials on a Chicago Pakistani family, the delay of approving naturalization applications, and other specific incidents that were experienced by a number of Muslim immigrants at O’Hare international airport. DHS officials agreed to address each of the specific concerns and offered to follow-up with a number of them.

Yaser Tabbara emphasized the need for Muslim Americans to exercise their legal rights and stressed the need for open channels of communication and dialogue between the Muslim community and the governmental agencies represented. The meeting concluded with an open ended invitation by CAIR-Chicago and others present for more outreach by the government to the Chicago Muslim community.

copyright © 2005, cairchicago.org