"I do believe that there are special places on Earth that should have a zone of solemnity around them," Quinn told reporters when asked about the issue. "I would strongly urge those who are thinking of putting a mosque within that zone to rethink their position." "The 9/11 attacks were caused by terrorists. Terrorists shouldn't build a mosque in proximity to ground zero, or America for that matter," said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of Chicago's Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Ahmed Rehab discusses the ground zero mosque controversy and clears misconceptions about Islam and Muslims.

Ahmed Rehab discusses the ground zero mosque controversy and clears misconceptions about Islam and Muslims.

Ahmed Rehab talks to MSNBC's Tamron Hall about the Islamophobia that is at the heart of the "Ground Zero Mosque" controversy. Rehab also discusses the growing anti-Muslim network in the United States which seeks to delegitimize American Muslims.

Ahmed Rehab talks to MSNBC's Tamron Hall about the Islamophobia that is at the heart of the "Ground Zero Mosque" controversy. Rehab also discusses the growing anti-Muslim network in the United States which seeks to delegitimize American Muslims.

Ahmed Rehab debates anti-Muslim bigot Pamela Geller regarding the "Ground Zero Mosque" and calls her out on her Islamophobia. Geller, founder of atlasshrugs.com and the Islamophobic hate-group Stop the Islamization of America (SOIA), attempts to associates all Muslims with 9/11 and terrorism.

Ahmed Rehab debates anti-Muslim bigot Pamela Geller regarding the "Ground Zero Mosque" and calls her out on her Islamophobia. Geller, founder of atlasshrugs.com and the Islamophobic hate-group Stop the Islamization of America (SOIA), attempts to associates all Muslims with 9/11 and terrorism.

CAIR-Chicago's Ahmed Rehab debates Fox News' John Gibson on the right of New York Muslims to build a mosque in lower Manhattan, a few blocks away from Ground Zero.

"Ahmed Rehab, CAIR’s spokesman, said anti-Muslim groups are raising money and campaigning against construction of the centre. 'The backlash you are seeing is from this organized group of campaigners rather than a public reaction, which is what they would have you believe,' he said. 'Most people are genuinely open to the multicultural nature of this country.'”

CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab talks to Fox Radio's Alan Colmes about the recent decision in New York to permit the “Ground Zero mosque” to be built. Rehab also warns of the growing anti-Muslim network in the United States which seeks to delegitimize American Muslims.

CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab talks to Fox Radio's Alan Colmes about the recent decision in New York to permit the “Ground Zero mosque” to be built. Rehab also warns of the growing anti-Muslim network in the United States which seeks to delegitimize American Muslims.

Ahmed Rehab discusses misconceptions about Islam and American Muslims, specifically addressing the “Ground Zero Mosque” controversy, and reacts to recent Sarah Palin twitter comments about the issue.

Ahmed Rehab discusses misconceptions about Islam and American Muslims, specifically addressing the "Ground Zero Mosque" controversy, and reacts to recent Sarah Palin twitter comments about the issue.

Ahmed Rehab talks to John Williams on CBS Radio about the fallacies surrounding the "Ground Zero Mosque" by reminding listeners that Islam as a religion is not terrorism.

Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Council for American-Islamic Relations, said he doesn't agree with the principles of Hizb ut-Tahrir, but believes the group is entitled to freedom of speech and assembly like any other group in the U.S. "They are a minority group among Muslims and their ideology is considered sensational by mainstream communities," Rehab said. "Despite their best efforts, they are neither persuasive nor effective."

"The survey will be asking about 3,000 respondents how Islamophobia has affected them and to identify where they see the most examples of it," Amina Sharif, Chicago spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Thursday. "Chicago is a diverse metropolis, but that doesn't mean we're exempt from racial and ethic tensions."

CAIR-Chicago Staff Attorney Kevin Vodak talks to the Naperville Sun about recent developments in the Irshad Learning Center's lawsuit against Dupage County.

"It's disappointing that things should come to this, that the Illinois State Police has succumbed to the defamatory rantings of bigoted individuals who, while in the name of protecting American values, do nothing more than undermine and degrade the very principles this country was founded upon," said Abraham.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations filed a discrimination claim with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Wednesday, the precursor to a lawsuit against Illinois State Police, after it rescinded its first appointment of a Muslim cleric as chaplain.

Kifah Mustapha, a well-known Chicago-area imam, was appointed chaplain in December. The Council on American-Islamic Relations is representing him and said Mustapha was told by a state police official his appointment was put on hold after criticism by the Investigative Project on Terrorism, a think-tank.