"The irony is not lost on me that Israel would argue self-defense in a situation where it attacks peace activists in international waters," said Ahmed Rehab, of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "The United States should recognize, as Israel's ally, that it must demand that Israel plays by our standards of respect for human rights and international law."

"Israel is often dubbed “the Jewish State” by its supporters, so it is not out of left field to question whether its actions should be taken as a reflection of Jewish values," writes Ahmed Rehab.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today urged President Obama to condemn what the Muslim civil rights group called an Israeli "massacre" of civilians on a flotilla of ships in international waters seeking to bring humanitarian aid to the people of the Gaza Strip. Israeli commandos killed at least 10 civilians in a pre-dawn raid on the flotilla. Israel's attack on the flotilla has already been condemned by the international community.

“There may be differences in political viewpoint and cultural viewpoint, but there’s often far more similarities,” said Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson. “We really cultivate the idea that we should be proactive based on our faith traditions to make a better society here in Chicago.”

On Thursday May 20th, Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson and Communication Coordinator Amina Sharif visited St. Ignatius College Preparatory School to give students a firsthand look into Islam and how it is practiced by Muslims in America.

"What are we Muslims to do about this? Rather than concern ourselves too much with the actions of others, let’s put our own values to action. If someone wishes to offend, let them knock themselves out trying. Let us instead take the higher ground and appreciate the mercy, love, and other teachings our prophet brought us by making a prayer for him on a day when others go out of their way to ridicule him," writes Ahmed Rehab.

"What are we Muslims to do about this? Rather than concern ourselves too much with the actions of others, let’s put our own values to action. If someone wishes to offend, let them knock themselves out trying. Let us instead take the higher ground and appreciate the mercy, love, and other teachings our prophet brought us by making a prayer for him on a day when others go out of their way to ridicule him," writes Ahmed Rehab.

Why must a Muslim person’s faith come up the moment that person breaks through the mainstream in any conceivable way - regardless of relevance or context? And why does it invariably end up linking that person through multiple degrees of separation to terrorism?

The fact that even a Miss USA could not be spared this exercise in futility puts away any remaining doubt that there is a segment of America that is suffering from a bizarre and unhealthy obsession with Islam.

CAIR-Chicago Executive Director discusses our news media's double standards when it comes to covering different acts of terrorism. Rehab compares the media's response to the May 10th bombing of a Florida mosque, an act of domestic terrorism, and the attempted bombing in Times Square.

Vandals defaced an exhibit by Muslim graduate student Anida Yoeu Ali at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) on Tuesday. The exhibit, which addressed racial profiling and the rise of violence and hate directed at Muslims in the post-9/11 era, was defaced with large caricatures and a word bubble highlighting the text “Kill all Arabs.” CAIR-Chicago is advocating on behalf of Ali. Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham accompanied Ali yesterday in a meeting with the deans of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

See media coverage of the incident HERE

CAIR-Chicago announced today that vandals defaced an exhibit by Muslim graduate student Anida Yoeu Ali at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). The exhibit, which addressed racial profiling and the rise of violence and hate directed at Muslims in the post-9/11 era, was vandalized with large caricatures and a word bubble highlighting the text “Kill all Arabs.”

CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham discusses recent Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on Khatib v. County of Orange. Abraham argues that the court of appeals decision violates free exercise rights.

CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham discusses recent Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on Khatib v. County of Orange. Abraham argues that the court of appeals decision violates free exercise rights.

CAIR-Chicago’s Communications Coordinator, Amina Sharif, spoke to a journalism class at Columbia College today about media coverage of Muslims and how to report on culturally sensitive issues.

Join us for an exciting and thought-provoking discussion about Criminal Justice!Speakers will be Imam Al-Deen and Rabbi Larry Edwards.

When: Tuesday, May 11th 2010, 6:00–7:30 Where: Noble Tree Coffee & Tea, 2444 N Clark St, Chicago

CAIR-Chicago's Ahmed Rehab and Yaser Tabbara talk to Worldview's Jerome McDonnell as part of NPR's week-long series "Islamic Reform: Towards a Global Reformation Movement" The two discuss what Islamic Reform means to them, and how CAIR draws on lessons learned from the Civil Rights Movement.

Listen HERE

CAIR-Chicago's Ahmed Rehab and Yaser Tabbara talk to Worldview's Jerome McDonnell as part of NPR's week-long series "Islamic Reform: Towards a Global Reformation Movement" The two discuss what Islamic Reform means to them, and how CAIR draws on lessons learned from the Civil Rights Movement.

Listen HERE

CAIR-Chicago is indebted to the hard work and dedication of our dynamic team of interns and law clerks. Read about them HERE

“RefugeeOne welcomes those who were dispossessed and displaced under life-threatening circumstances home to Chicago,” said Ahmed Rehab, RefugeeOne Vice-Chairman. “It’s a multi-faith, diverse organization that seeks to put our common values into action: respect and dignity for all human beings, and service to those most in need of our help.”

“RefugeeOne welcomes those who were dispossessed and displaced under life-threatening circumstances home to Chicago,” said Ahmed Rehab, RefugeeOne Vice-Chairman. “It’s a multi-faith, diverse organization that seeks to put our common values into action: respect and dignity for all human beings, and service to those most in need of our help.”