Who We Are And What We Do
CAIR-Chicago is a relatively young chapter of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) - the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group.
Our work centers around three major areas: civil rights advocacy, political participation and empowerment, and media watch and outreach.
We work to challenge discrimination and all types of harassment leveled against Muslims in America. We strive to mobilize and educate our community about the political process, local and national. And we challenge inaccurate or bigoted media reports via published letters as well as direct contact with the offending reporter and their organization's editorial board.
Interacting With Us
As first time visitors, we would like to walk you through the sections of our website so that you may know where to find what you want when you want it.
 Action Alerts bring the attention of our subscribers to relevant developments and issues in the news as they affect Muslim Americans.
Our Press Center is a repository for all our current and archived press correspondence, including press statements, press releases, and media advisories.
Our Events and Workshop section lists information about upcoming engagements that CAIR-Chicago expects to administer, partake in, or sponsor. This section will also announce other events concerning our community.
Our News section archives our latest developments and happenings. The News Briefs section collects news items that are relevant to American Muslims. Our CAIR-Chicago in the news section showcases media coverage of CAIR-Chicago's work and comments.
Our Proud to be Muslim section was designed to reaffirm our unique identity while reminding ourselves that diversity makes us stronger and that we are part of a larger group of people who themselves belong to various religious and racial backgrounds.
It is very important in our line of work, that our web visitors actively participate. Therefore our website was aptly optimized to accommodate your full participation. Via forms on our website, you can (1) file an incident Report alerting us to a case of discrimination requiring legal counsel. (2) You can file a Media Bias Report alerting us of a negative or unfair comment in the media about Islam. (3) You can Support CAIR-Chicago via donating on our secure site server. (4) If you are a member of the press you can use our Press Inquiry form to request information on any given story or topic. (5) If you are an organization looking for a Muslim speaker, you can fill our Request a Speaker form. (6) If you have any general questions or comments, you can reach us via our Contact Us form.
It is important that you are fully aware of your Rights; through our Resource Center, you can obtain the contact information of any of your represented officials or media outlet news desk editors.
On our website there is a link that enables you to Join CAIR if you are not already a member, and a link which displays information on how to become one of our official Partners.
CAIR-Chicago is a staunch believer in the talent, skill, and manpower of our volunteer base. Please visit our Volunteer Center for volunteer news and information on how to become a new volunteer.
Lastly, you can subscribe to our bi-weekly Newsletter for all the latest news, alerts, and events information.
There is much more to see and do, so please surf away and make sure to drop us a note if you think of ways in which we can improve our website or services. Click here to learn more About Us.
CAIR-Chicago's Recent News
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CAIR-Chicago Official Launch
Januaury 15, 2005
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CAIR-Chicago Co-Sponsors "Eid Meat Project"
Januaury 13, 2005
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CAIR-Chicago Organizing Lectures On Islam
December 28, 2004
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CAIR-Chicago Participates In Peace Concert At The Fourth Presbyterian Church In Chicago
December 16, 2004
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ACLU Files A Federal Freedom Of Information Act Request
December 2, 2004
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CAIR-Chicago Meets With DePaul University Vice-President
November 17, 2004
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CAIR-Chicago Seeks Improved Judeo-Muslim Relations
November 14, 2004
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CAIR-Chicago Directors Meet With Mayor Daley
October 20, 2004
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Panel Brings Regional Perspective To The Presidential Election And Diversity
October 13, 2004
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Director of Governmental Affairs Mobilizes Muslim Community
October 3, 2004
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Communications Director Joins Panel Event
September 30, 2004
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CAIR-Chicago on Northwestern University Panel
September 28, 2004
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CAIR-Chicago On The Civil Rights Restoration Act
September 16, 2004
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CAIR-Chicago Reopens With New Downtown Location
September 7, 2004
CAIR-Chicago Recent Press Coverage
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Daily Southtown: Orland Park's Mosque Begins to Take Shape
January 16, 2005
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Daily Herald: Man Says Discrimination Was Behind Firing
January 5, 2005
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Official Wire: Illinois Muslim Worker Files Bias Lawsuit
January 4, 2005
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Chicago Tribune: Prayers, Pledges From Chicago
January 1, 2005
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Al-Jazeera: Muslim Charities Fined Over Colony Killing
December 9, 2004
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World Peace Daily: Analysis - More Terror Lawsuits Likely
December 9, 2004
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NBC 5: Muslim Groups Claim Injustice In Boim Trial
December 6, 2004
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NBC 5: ACLU Accuses FBI, Police of Spying on Peaceful Groups
December 2, 2004
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ACLU: Prominent Chicago Area Organizations and Social Justice Activists Ask FBI to Make Spy Files Public
December 2, 2004
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ACLU: FBI Spy Files Project: ACLU Client List
November 28, 2004
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Chicago Tribune: New Network Hopes To Bridge Culture Gaps
November 30, 2004
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The Phoenix: Fight Spurs Controversy
November 10, 2004
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Daily Vidette: Study Reveals Prevalent Anti-Muslim Stereotypes
October 29, 2004
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Beacon News: That's Osama At The End Of Rope
October 28, 2004
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Daily Southtown: Local Muslims Denied List of 'Safe' Charities
October 21, 2004
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Daily Herald: Tolerance Takes A Hit
October 20, 2004
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The Jewish Week: Muslim-Jewish Relations
October 18, 2004
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Chicago Tribune: Muslim Children Eager to Join Fast of Ramadan
October 15, 2004
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Chicago Public Radio: Muslim American Voter Drive
October 5, 2004
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Chicago Sun-Times: Muslims Protest Candidate OK With Spies in Mosques
October 2, 2004
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Daily Herald: Muslims Denounce Candidate's Remarks
October 2, 2004
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Daily Northwestern: Speakers Call for Expansion of Cross-Cultural Dialogue, Efforts to Dispel Stereotypes
September 29, 2004
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Daily Herald: Chicago Muslim and Immigrant Communities Protest Hateful Remarks
September 28, 2004
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Chicago Sun-Times: Letter - The True Muslim Spirit
September 20, 2004
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Chicago Tribune: Demonization Incites Hate Crimes - Offensive Cartoon
September 19, 2004
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Southwest News-Herald: Polling Places Removed From Ashburn Church
September 9, 2004
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Chicago Sun-Times: Pastor's Remarks Spur Relocation of Voting Sites
September 4, 2004
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Chicago Sun-Times: Pastor Rips Muslims, Loses Polling Sites
September 2, 2004
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Pakistan Link: Illinois Muslim Worker Files Bias Suit
August 27, 2004
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Daily Southtown: IL Muslims Suspicious Of Charges
August 23, 2004
JAN - FEB: CAIR-Chicago Organizing Lecture Series on Islam
CAIR-Chicago is organizing a series of introductory level lectures on Islam with Elderhostel on a program titled "Building Bridges to Islam". The goal of this series is to offer close to 500 citizens of the Chicagoland area an opportunity to enhance their knowledge of Islam, as well as to interact with members of their local Muslim communities.
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FEB 26: CAIR-Chicago Annual Dinner at the Islamic Foundation
of Villa Park
CAIR-Chicago will be hosting its Annual Event at the Islamic Foundation of Villa Park on February 26th, 2005. We strongly encourage you to attend. Professor M. Cherif Bassiouni will be the keynote Speaker. Click here to RSVP online, or call us at 312 212-1520.
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A Word From
CAIR-Chicago's President
Dear Friends,
In the first month of this new year, CAIR-Chicago is proud to officially re-launch its services and renew its commitment to our community with a new downtown office, new online center, and full-time professional staff.
Throughout the past 4 months, our new staff has been working hard to lay the foundation and build the infrastructure necessary to poise us to take on new heights. As we emerge from this painstaking, yet crucial incubation phase, and enter into the full throttle engagement and services phase, we invite you to hop aboard, and bring your talent, expertise, and passion to our table.
We are excited about the work that lies ahead, and with your help - after the grace of God and with his permission - we are confident we can rise to it.
Safaa Zarzour
President of the Board
   
This issue is a special inductory issue. Subsequent issues will follow a specific section format:
Act Today!
This section will hold general correspondence - on what you can do - such as alerts and letter writing campaign instructions.
Media Review
This section will highlight some of the media stories and CAIR-Chicago's responses to them.
Progress Report
This section summarizes what has happened in the past two weeks in terms of projects, events, and achievements.
Upcoming Events
This section lists all the upcoming events/workshops and other relevant announcements.
Volunteer News
This is a corner of the newsletter dedicated to our volunteers and their work.
Join In
This is a hot button section with links to interactive web forms which you can fill out.
Team CAIR-Chicago
A quick link to the staff.
Executive Director
Yaser Tabbara
Director of Communications
Ahmed Rehab
Director of Governmental Relations Fadi Farhan
Operations Coordinator
Ahmed Zedan
Resident Intern
Nosherwan Yasin
Board of Directors
Susan Janaan Hashim - Treasurer
Dr. Shakeela Hassan
Alim Elliott Khan
Kamran Memon
Ahmed Rehab
Dr. Zaher Sahloul
Abdullah Salah - Vice President
Yaser Tabbara - Secretary
Safaa Zarzour - President
Click on the logo above to RSVP online.
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