Press Release: Chicago Muslims to Mark Ramadan with Neighbors, Homeless

(Chicago, IL, 10/04/05) – The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced today that a prominent local Chicago Mosque will mark the month of Ramadan with daily open house meals, or iftars, for neighbors and the homeless. WHAT: Ramadan Open House Meal

WHEN: Sunset, October 4th-November 2nd.

WHERE: Downtown Islamic Center, 231 S State, Chicago, IL. 60604

“Ramadan is a time of giving and sharing,” said Ahmed Rehab, CAIR-Chicago Director of Communications. “It is not just food that we wish to share, but ourselves as well. One of the reasons why we fast is to think of those who are deprived by partially sharing in their deprivation. It is therefore perfectly befitting of this great season of charity and human camaraderie that we welcome into God’s house not only our neighbors, but also those who don’t have a home.”

Ramadan is the month on the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims abstain from food, drink and other sensual pleasures from break of dawn to sunset. It is scheduled to begin in the US on October 5th.

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 31 regional offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.

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CONTACT: Ahmed Rehab, 312 212-1520, 847 971-3963;communications@cairchicago.org; Yaser Tabbara, 312 718-3725;director@cairchicago.org