It is fair to say that women in many parts of the Muslim world have been prevented from receiving equal rights with men. But it is not fair to say that the rights of women in Iraq have somehow gotten better because of the presence of American troops in the country, an idea Karen Hughes tried to sell to Muslim women who oppose the war in Iraq.

Christina Abraham, CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Coordinator, represented a Muslim man in a mediation session with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The Arab American Action Network (AAAN) also played an invaluable role in the mediation session by having intern Menna Khalil serve as an interpreter for the Muslim man being represented.

After CAIR-Chicago contacted the head of the company of a Muslim woman who experienced retaliation in the work place after having informed her supervisor of a need for certain accommodations related to a medical condition and her practice of wearing the headscarf (hijab), the head of the company terminated the woman’s supervisor and granted the Muslim woman’s request to work from home.

CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Department assisted in creating better conditions for a nearby county jail. An individual working closely with the chaplain of a prison facility contacted CAIR-Chicago with what was observed to be unequal treatment of Muslim inmates and unequal representation of Islam.

CAIR-Chicago's Executive Director and Director of Communications met today, along with a number of the Arab community leadership in the Northwest side of Chicago (Muslim Community Center (MCC) area), with Mr. Vance Henry, Director of the Chicago's CAPS program. The meeting took place at the Islamic and Arab Community Service Office directed by Mr. Yousif Marei.

Dina Rehab, Outreach Coordinator at CAIR-Chicago, met with both the principals of Islamic Foundation School and the College Preparatory School of America on September 29th, 2005. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the possibility of providing students the opportunity to intern at CAIR-Chicago, while receiving school credit.

http://www.cairchicago.org/films/cairilmedia2.wmv

http://www.cairchicago.org/films/mosque_foundation_garden11132006.mpg

http://www.cairchicago.org/films/cairpromo1.wmv

The lack of understanding towards Islam and the Middle East among Americans was displayed openly in the efforts of Karen Hughes to urge Saudi women to demand more “freedoms” that allow them to “fully participate in society” like women in the United States do (“Saudi women give Hughes as earful,” Sept. 28).

Reading about how 74 percent of Americans do not believe “the goal of overthrowing Iraq’s authoritarian government and establishing a democracy was by itself a good enough reason to go to war” should make all Americans wonder if describing their beloved country as a democracy is still appropriate (“55% reject using force to spread democracy,” Sept. 30).

CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Coordinator, Christina Abraham, accompanied a Muslim man to an interview with the EEOC. The man filed a charge with the EEOC for discrimination based on national origin, religion and retaliation.

For many years now, the Presbyterian Women of the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Joliet have kept a hearty tradition they call the “Bread & Soup Supper.” In each of these gatherings, which are part of their uniform circle meetings, a different member is delegated the task of making the soup and baking the bread. This time it was Marlene Jones.

TOPIC - Soup & Bread Supper - "Understanding the Teachings of the Qur'an"

As the U.N. Security Council prepares to hear Iran’s violations of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, it would be useful to remind them of what happened in Iraq when sanctions were imposed (“Nuclear agency votes to report Iran to UN council,” Sept. 25).

The newest reports of abuse in Iraq by American soldiers is just one more reason why we need to bring our troops home now (“GIs: Beating of prisoners was routine,” Sept. 24).

CAIR-Chicago sponsored an informational session on “The Right to Travel After 9/11” on Saturday evening, September 22, 2005 at the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview, IL. Speakers presented on the different experiences and issues that have arisen for Muslim travelers after 9/11, and the rights of passengers when traveling.

CHICAGO, Ill. – The Mosque Cares sponsored Annual Islamic Convention of 2005, recently held over the Labor Day Weekend in Chicago, was a resounding success.

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/23/05) The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today urged American Muslims and other people of conscience to call their elected representatives and ask that they sign on to a House resolution recognizing the upcoming Islamic fast of Ramadan. (Calls are best because of time constraints.)

In the Chicago Tribune article, Terrorists keep the chaos going in Gaza, Victor Davis Hanson does nothing more than point fingers and demonize the Palestinian people. It is true that the Palestinian Authority has seriously lacked in making progress in peace and solidarity with Israel. But the Israeli government is far from “welcoming a democratic Palestinian state” as Hanson claims in his article. The mere removal of Jewish settlements in the occupied territory is not a grand step for peace on Israeli side when there is many innocent Palestinians that die daily at the hands of the Israeli government.