Ahmed Rehab, CAIR-Chicago Executive Director, discusses the Juan Williams controversy with conservative political commentator Michael Medved.

Ahmed Rehab, CAIR-Chicago Executive Director, discusses the Juan Williams controversy with conservative political commentator Michael Medved.

“I thought that NPR did the right thing,” Ahmed Rehab said. “They have a reputation to protect, and clearly his unobjective and sensational characterizations were not a good fit for their objective standards of journalism.” Rehab says comments like those made by Williams encourage the stereotypes that generate fear of Muslims.

“There seems to be a refusal and willful ignorance when it comes to the simple notion that Muslims are not one in the same with terrorists,” he said.

"American Muslims are not a threat to this nation," said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "The threat to this nation is those who would divide us based on race, faith or ethnicity because those are the ones who undermine our values."

On Sunday, October 24, join CAIR-Chicago at the CIOGC-MPAC Conference.

While Obama’s rhetoric has been encouraging, Muslims want to see more done, Amina Sharif, communications coordinator of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Thursday. “Words are nice but action would be better,” she said.

There has been too little progress on a resolution between Israel and Palestine and Muslims are concerned about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Sharif said.

The Anti-Defamation League, which describes itself as the premier civil rights organization fighting anti-Semitism, recently published list of the "top ten most influential anti-Israel groups in America." Ahmed Rehab discusses what this move says about the real mission of the organization. "The ADL is slowly but surely shifting its focus from fighting real bigotry to doing public relations work for the government of Israel, including shilling for its illegal occupation of Palestinian territories," says Rehab.Read more

The Anti-Defamation League, which describes itself as the premier civil rights organization fighting anti-Semitism, recently published list of the "top ten most influential anti-Israel groups in America." Ahmed Rehab discusses what this move says about the real mission of the organization. "The ADL is slowly but surely shifting its focus from fighting real bigotry to doing public relations work for the government of Israel, including shilling for its illegal occupation of Palestinian territories," says Rehab.Read more

A Muslim family was wrongly denied access to an aquatic center in Lyons last summer when employees told them their clothing violated the facility's rules, state officials said Friday. "This incident is a blatant example of anti-Muslim discrimination," Christina Abraham, civil rights director for the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said in a statement. "Everyone is entitled to the equal enjoyment of public places."

CAIR-Chicago would like to treat you to a day of fellowship and fun. Join us for the Fall 2010 MYLS Conference "Jump Start Your Future- Commit to Activism!"

CAIR-Chicago would like to treat you to a day of fellowship and fun. Join us for the Fall 2010 MYLS Conference "Jump Start Your Future- Commit to Activism!"

On Monday, Oct. 4th, CAIR-Chicago Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson met with an international envoy from Israel and Palestine to share ideas on how to improve Jewish-Muslim relations through art.

The immigrant community is at a crucial crossroads in Illinois. This year we will elect a new Governor and Senator to our state- two offices that have very important authority over immigration and fiscal resources for the immigrant community. Join us for Immigrant Democracy Day and cast your early vote!

CAIR-Chicago proudly congratulates Sufyan Sohel, a CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Law Clerk, on receiving recognition by the prestigious PSLawNet Pro Bono Publico Award. Sohel, a third year student at DePaul University College of Law, was nominated by DePaul and placed second in the national competition.

A group of 25 DePaul students and staff visited the CAIR-Chicago office last month to learn about the organization’s civil rights activism on behalf of immigrants. The students were part of a class that focuses on young people from diverse cultural backgrounds and teaches about the realities of life for immigrant youth and the organizations that facilitate and incorporate them into Chicago’s wider community.

"We know people don't vote in midterm elections like they do for presidential elections," said Ali Malik, American Democracy Project fellow at CAIR-Chicago. "But I'm telling people that for us in the Muslim community it goes far beyond the controversy over the proposed New York City Ground Zero mosque. There is serious Islamophobia going on and we need to vote for people who will represent all voters equally."

On September 11th, CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham spoke to first year Law School students at Kent Law School about the divisive rhetoric surrounding Muslims in America. She was joined by esteemed Northwestern law professor Joseph Marguilez.

ICIRR representatives, including board member and CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab, took the stage alongside Senator Dick Durbin, Congressman Luis Gutierrez, Congressman Danny Davis, and State Treasurer and Senate Candidate Alexi Giannoulias to rally support for comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act.

"We're tired of candidates who take us for granted -- or worse yet, insult our intelligence -- instead of doing the leg work to earn our votes on the merit of their character and track record," said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Chicago.

CAIR-Chicago attended a protest outside FBI headquarters where Executive Director Ahmed Rehab spoke out against intimidation tactics used by the government against anti-war activists. Rehab also talked to CBS and the Chicago Tribune about the need to speak out against such tactics.