"Constitutionally a person can only be held responsible for their own activities, their own conduct," said CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham."And if Imam Kifah has never committed a crime - then what is he being denied for? That's an answer we never received from the Illinois State Police."

"Constitutionally a person can only be held responsible for their own activities, their own conduct," said CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham."And if Imam Kifah has never committed a crime - then what is he being denied for? That's an answer we never received from the Illinois State Police."

In December, community and religious groups hailed Mustapha's appointment as a nod to the growing diversity among the agency's nearly 2,000 officers. Since 2002, Mustapha has been an imam and director at the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview, one of the Chicago area's oldest and largest mosques. He also served as a designated chaplain with the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, helping to counsel Hurricane Katrina victims.

The lawsuit filed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations' Chicago chapter alleges discrimination based on race, religion and national origin. The suit also says Mustapha was denied his First Amendment right to freedom of association, which bars the government from imposing guilt by association. It calls for Mustapha's immediate reinstatement.

“Imam Kifah [Mustapha] is an upstanding citizen who has served this country and his community time and again,” Christina Abraham, civil rights director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Chicago, said in a release. “It is time to put an end to the fear-mongering and anti-Muslim rhetoric that has senselessly engulfed our nation,” she said.

CAIR-Chicago filed a discrimination complaint in federal court today against the Illinois State Police (ISP) on behalf of Kifah Mustapha, a leading Muslim religious leader (Imam) based in Chicago. The ISP had previously hired Imam Kifah as the first and only Muslim chaplain for its workforce after the completion of a thorough background check. Shortly after news of Imam Kifah’s hiring, the ISP revoked its decision citing a dubious Internet report attacking Imam Kifah. The report was written and distributed by Steven Emerson, an anti-Muslim blogger notorious for fighting against American Muslim civic participation.

Ahmed Rehab talks to Fox Business' Eric Bolling, along with other panelists, about a proposed mosque in Chicago whose zoning permit was rejected. Rehab compares and contrasts this mosque's situation to that of Park51, the proposed Islamic community center in lower Manhattan.

Mosque debates are taking place across the county, from New York City to Chicago to the surrounding suburbs. They are not all about zoning, but for the most part they are very heated. Ahmed Rehab says "islamophobia" is sweeping America. The leader of the Council on American-Islamic Relations describes the status of America's Relationship with its Muslim citizens.

Mosque debates are taking place across the county, from New York City to Chicago to the surrounding suburbs. They are not all about zoning, but for the most part they are very heated. Ahmed Rehab says "islamophobia" is sweeping America. The leader of the Council on American-Islamic Relations describes the status of America's Relationship with its Muslim citizens.

"Organizations that are not only Islamophobic but that incite violence, whether directly or indirectly, are a reality," said Ahmed Rehab.

"In the public sphere, leaders of the opposition groups to the Not-At-Ground-Zero-Muslim-Center can't seem to decide on an argument. They have thrown everything and the kitchen sink at us in the way of fabricated reasons," writes Ahmed Rehab.

Ahmed Rehab, CAIR-Chicago Executive Director, discusses the stabbing of a Muslim cab driver in NYC whose attacker first asked "are you Muslim?". Rehab also talks about the danger of anti-Muslim propaganda driven by Islamophobes opposed to Park 51, the proposed Muslim community center near Ground Zero.

DuPage County zoning officials are proposing amendments to the Zoning Ordinance which would ban any new religious institutions in residential areas.This proposal follows CAIR-Chicago’s lawsuit on behalf of Irshad Learning Center (ILC), which was denied a special use permit to conduct religious educational classes and worship services at a property previously owned by a private day care center.

Yellow Cab Chicago requested Tuesday that a fleet of taxis remove controversial anti-Islam ads. The ads, sponsored by the group Stop Islamization of America, appeared on 25 Chicago cabs this summer. Michael Levine, CEO of Yellow Cab Chicago, said the signs were offensive to the city’s taxi drivers, an estimated half of whom are Muslim.

Ahmed Rehab talks to the O'Reilly Factor's Laura Ingraham about Imam Feisal Rauf's sound reputation for interfaith cooperation and religious tolerance, and refutes lies that the Imam is a "radical".

Ahmed Rehab talks to the O'Reilly Factor's Laura Ingraham about Imam Feisal Rauf's sound reputation for interfaith cooperation and religious tolerance, and refutes lies that the Imam is a "radical".

CAIR-Chicago, CIOGC are asking the Illinois Muslim community and all Illinois citizens to thank IL Senator Dick Durbin for taking a bold and uncompromising stance supporting the core principles of this country. Yesterday, Senator Durbin issued a statement in support of Park51, the proposed mosque in lower Manhattan. Durbin said that politicians like Palin and Gingrich who are opposed to the mosque are trying to divide the country with fear and hate.

CAIR-Chicago invites you to join us Thursday, August 26 for our annual Iftar and Cook-off, at our office. Meals will be made by CAIR-Chicago staff members in a potluck competition, and you - our guests - will vote on the best dish!

CAIR-Chicago invites you to join us Thursday, August 26 for our annual Iftar and Cook-off, at our office. Meals will be made by CAIR-Chicago staff members in a potluck competition, and you - our guests - will vote on the best dish!

CAIR-Chicago representatives and local Muslim leaders, at a press conference on Friday, discussed their disappointment in IL Gov. Pat Quinn's comments regarding the New York mosque controversy. They also shared examples of other mosques around the country that are facing opposition, including one in Naperville which CAIR-Chicago is currently litigating on behalf of. See Media Coverage HERE