DePaul's Center for Interreligious Engagement (CIE) is hosting a panel discussion that will assess how academia shapes discourse on race and religion.

Olmert was prime minister during Operation Cast Lead in which Israel Defense Forces killed more than 1,400 Palestinians and wounded more than 5,300. Olmert is also responsible for implementing the siege on Gaza, now well into its third year. The siege has plunged more than 80 percent of the population into abject poverty.

Communications Coordinator Amina Sharif will speak to a journalism class at Loyola University about stereotypes of Muslims in the media.

Listen to CAIR-Chicago's Civil Rights Director, Christina Abraham, on the Matt and Perri Show. Abraham discuss the discrimination complaint filed this week against Columbia College on behalf of a Muslim Instructor who was unjustly fired.

CAIR-Chicago filed action in federal court this week against Columbia College on behalf of a Palestinian Muslim Instructor, Sue Smiley, who was unfairly fired after a student falsely reported that she made an anti-Semitic comment in class. Read all media coverage of the case here:

"Amina Sharif of the Chicago branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations also praised Obama's approach. 'A lot of Muslims felt hurt under Bush, and Obama's healing some of those wounds.' However, she said, Muslims in the U.S. and abroad are losing patience for him to fulfill some promises in the Middle East, including pressuring Israel to end settlement building in the West Bank."

"'Although we are always proud when one of our leaders is recognized for their commitment toward peace, it is important to remember that this award is being given to President Obama for the promise he displays, and not for his achievements thus far.' -- Christina Abraham, a director at the Chicago's Council on American-Islamic Relations."

"'Although we are always proud when one of our leaders is recognized for their commitment toward peace, it is important to remember that this award is being given to President Obama for the promise he displays, and not for his achievements thus far.' -- Christina Abraham, a director at the Chicago's Council on American-Islamic Relations."

Gerald Hankerson, CAIR-Chicago's Outreach Coordinator, will travel with a dozen Chicago area community leaders involved in interfaith to Turkey.

CAIR-Chicago will participate in the 3rd Annual “In Good Faith Series”, a trilateral Abrahamic interfaith dialogue hosted by the Catholic Theological Union.

CAIR-Chicago congratulates President Obama for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. "The award acknowledges the noticeable shift in U.S. diplomacy under the Obama administration as seen by his efforts to reach out to Muslims around the world and to increase cooperation with the international community," said Amina Sharif, Communications Coordinator.

"Surely Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) did not intend on peeling the scab off of a healing wound when he spoke last Thursday at a conference in Washington D.C., but his comment, drawing a contrast between being Muslim and being 'good,' has done just that." -Gov. Affairs Coordinator Reema Ahmad. Read the rest of Reema's article on her blog, The Mobilizer.

The Pew Research Center released a comprehensive demographic study of more than 200 countries this week. It found that there are 1.57 billion Muslims living in the world today, representing 23% of an estimated world population of 6.8 billion. It also found that many Muslim populations live in places they had not expected.

A Palestinian Muslim instructor fired from a Chicago college sued for discrimination. Suriya Smiley sued Columbia College Chicago Monday in federal court after she was fired in January when a student accused her of making anti-Semitic remarks in class.

The suit [filed by CAIR-Chicago] alleges Smiley was treated less favorably than similarly situated employees who were not Palestinian or Arab when accused of "false allegations of misconduct."

The suit [filed by CAIR-Chicago] alleges Smiley was treated less favorably than similarly situated employees who were not Palestinian or Arab when accused of "false allegations of misconduct."

"The unsubstantiated allegation against, and subsequent firing of, Sue Smiley reeks of racism," said Kevin Vodak, an attorney for the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which filed the suit on Smiley's behalf.

"According to the suit [filed by CAIR-Chicago], a teacher's assistant and eight other students were present in class at the time and confirmed that Smiley never made the remark or any anti-Semitic statements. Despite no evidence, the college refused to conduct an investigation into the allegations and swiftly fired Smiley, the suit said. No witnesses were contacted or questioned." Also see related stories in the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times

CAIR-Chicago's Executive Director today attended a private reception for Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed at DePaul University in advance of the Somali President's speech at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. About 20 academics and civic leaders were in attendance.

"The three-count federal suit (filed by CAIR-Chicago) -- which claims one count of national origin discrimination and two counts of race discrimination -- seeks all wages and benefits she would have received, in addition to compensatory and punitive damages. It also seeks an order mandating Smiley be returned to her former position or receive pay in lieu of reinstatement."