Join Jewish and Muslims groups for the critically acclaimed play "Unveiled" on Sunday, March 7 at the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston. This compelling one-woman show about Muslim women in a post-9/11 world beautifully interweaves the topics of racism, hate crimes, love, Islam, tea, culture, language, life, and hope. Facilitated discussions will take place afterward.

Amina Sharif writes, "The conflict in Israel and Palestine is political, not religious. It is not between Jews and Muslims; it is between the government of Israel and the people of Palestine (who are Muslim and Christian). "In reality, many Jews -- even in Israel -- sympathize with the Palestinians and criticize their own government's policies toward Gaza and the West Bank."

Communications Coordinator Amina Sharif presented to a DePaul University class on multiculturalism and democracy. Sharif’s presentation aimed to give students a broad understanding of the Muslim-American community in terms of its ethnic diversity, socioeconomic levels and political beliefs.

Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson presented a workshop to a Jewish Youth Group at Beth Emet the Free Synagogue in Evanston. Hankerson provided and introduction to the concepts of Islam and a profile of the Muslim-American community. The workshop served as the kick off to an educational and interfaith program between the synagogue and the Muslim Educational Center (MEC) in Morton Grove.

CAIR-Chicago is pleased to announce that Professor Tariq Ramadan will be the keynote speaker at our 6th Annual Banquet. This will be his first event in the U.S. in nearly six years, since the Bush Administration's ban. Ramadan was chosen as one of the world's 100 most influential human beings by TIME magazine and currently teaches at Oxford University.

"Critics argue when you think about it, for the most part, all of the people who try to blow airliners out of the sky look alike," Doocy said. "False," replied Ahmed Rehab. "False information. Not true. I mean, we don't have to go far. The last guy that tried to take down a plane was a young African. And in the past, prior to that incident, we were looking for Middle eastern-looking men. Next time it could be an Asian guy. So no, they don't always look alike."

On February 4 CAIR-Chicago co-hosted Cafe Finjan, an interfaith arts and culture event coordinated by the Jewish-Muslim Community Building Initiative (JMCBI). The event aims to bring together Jews and Muslims from across Chicago. Outreach Coordinator, Gerald Hankerson, performed spoken word poetry and facilitated group discussions on religion and identity. Watch Gerald's Performance HERE

Singling people out because of their ethnicity or religion is wrong. Racial profiling contradicts our Constitutional values and has been proven ineffective as research shows it hasn't kept Americans any safer.

In his op-ed Nasatir highlights the amazing efforts by Jews in America and Israel in the humanitarian crisis in Haiti and for this, I truly commend them. But what about the humanitarian crisis in Palestine? Israeli checkpoints violate Palestinians' basic human rights by denying medical vehicles and services. This contrasts sharply with Israel generously building a hospital in Haiti.

CAIR-Chicago is a grassroots organization; therefore, it makes full sense for its work to be funded through a grassroots support network. This new initiative is a simple partnership between us that will cost you just $1/day and will make all the difference in the world for the future of the Muslim community in Chicago.

Due to the high number of Muslim constituents in Bridgeview, the Police Department is working to develop more cultural sensitivity by gaining a better understanding of Islam and Muslims. CAIR-Chicago believes more training like this will serve to eliminate racial profiling and future injustices directed towards Muslims in Chicago and across the country.

CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham gave a "Know Your Rights" presentation to members of the Islamic Society of the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago (ISNS).

CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham gave a "Know Your Rights" presentation to members of the Islamic Society of the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago (ISNS).

In a panel discussion hosted by the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration(SSA), CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator, Amina Sharif, talked to masters students about CAIR-Chicago’s advocacy work and the services it provides to the Muslim-American community.

Tuesday, February 2nd, is your chance to have your voice heard by our representatives. Click here to read a lists of some of the candidates running for office. If you are in need of a ride to your polling site contact CAIR-Chicago to coordinate transportation.

“If you enter any Islamic mosque or center and talk to Muslims there, almost every single one has been a victim of discrimination or harassment of some kind,” Sharif said. A Gallup Poll released last week showed that 53 percent of Americans view Islam negatively and more than four out of 10 admit to being at least a little prejudiced against Muslims.

CAIR-Chicago would like to announce that Dr. Mazen Kudaimi has accepted the position of Chairman of CAIR-Chicago's Board of Directors. Read more about Dr. Kudaimi HERE. CAIR-Chicago also says goodbye to its former Chairman, Safaa Zarzour, who will now be serving as the Secretary General of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). He will be missed.

According to Gallup, more than 4 in 10 Americans (43%) admit to feeling at least "a little" prejudice toward Muslims. This is more than twice the number who say the same about Christians (18%), and almost three times more than that of Jews (15%) and Buddhists (14%). The poll questioned Americans about knowledge of Islam, to which 63% of Americans said they have "very little" knowledge or "none at all."

"In the interest of national security I don't mind [being searched]. American Muslims are also concerned about remaining safe. But we should not be singled out because of our religious beliefs," said Amina Sharif, CAIR-Chicago's Communications Coordinator.

"The real question is not whether we should use the term "war" or not, but who is this war against. And that is what Obama and others have been struggling to articulate.... In the past we've heard that we are at war with "Radical Islam", but "Radical Islam" is a concept, and you cannot go to war with a concept. You can go to war against a people or an entity and that is where Al-Qaeda comes in. President Obama was correct in stating that we are at war with Al Qaeda," said Ahmed Rehab.