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CAIR-Chicago's Annual Event Set for February 4th!

Our Annual Event is set to take place Inshallah on Saturday, February 4th, 2006 at The Sabre Room in Hickory Hills. Please mark your calendars and show your support by attending that day. Reserve your ticket today by going to: http://www.cairchicago.org/fundraiser2006.php. Tickets are $45 bought in advance, or $75 at the door.

We are still recruiting volunteers to help with this event. If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please contact Shyema Azam at .

Be part of helping a chapter of the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group in the country!





In the News
  • Chicago Tribune: Activist Theater - Silk Road's Goal: To Give a Voice to the Voiceless
  • December 22, 2005

  • Chicago Suntimes: Disagree But Don't Muzzle
  • December 15, 2005

  • Chicago Tribune: Dangers of Profiling
  • December 09,2005

  • Religion News Services: Muslim Leaders Praise Acquittal of High-Profile Professor
  • December 07, 2005

Media Response System [visit center]
  • Welcome Response (Letter to the Chicago Tribune)
  • December 19, 2005

  • Peace Partner? (Response to Sun-Times Article)
  • December 13, 2005

  • Mourn All the Innocent (Letter to the Chicago Sun-Times)
  • December 11, 2005

  • What is an American? (Response to Chicago Tribune Article)
  • December 11, 2005

  • Is Terrorism Debatable? (Response to Chicago Sun-Times' Article)
  • December 09, 2005

Press Center
  • Press Release: CAIR Files FOIA Request on Radiation Monitoring of Muslim Sites
    December 27, 2005

  • Press Release: Local Muslim Reaction: US Monitors Mosques for Nuclear Bombs
    December 23, 2005

  • Press Release: CAIR Files FOIA Request on Secret Wiretaps
    December 22, 2005

  • Press Release: CAIR Issues Travel Advisory fo U.S. Muslims
    December 20, 2005





  • CAIR-Chicago Participates CPD Officer Recruitment Efforts
  • December 21, 2005

  • CAIR-Chicago Attends Press-Conference in Response to Passage of HR 4437 in the House
  • December 21, 2005

  • CAIR-Chicago Attends Leadership Strategy Planning Meeting
  • December 21, 2005

  • CAIR-Chicago Amicably Resolves Incident Between Area Public School and Muslim Employee
  • December 20, 2005

  • CAIR-Chicago Conducts Citizenship Delay Information Session at the Islamic Community Center of Des Plaines
  • December 20, 2005




RECENT CASES:

Civil Rights Update – 12/30/05

The Civil Rights Department at CAIR-Chicago currently has 282 cases documented in which 112 cases are active and are being pursued by department personnel. Below are the cases that were reported to CAIR-Chicago within the last two weeks.

Government:

  • Five more Muslims have reported delays in their citizenship process, having applied for their citizenship and passing all necessary USCIS requirements, but have been waiting for citizenship status due to pending background checks. CAIR-Chicago is incorporating these two cases into the Citizenship Delay Project. For more information on the Citizenship Delay Project, please see the action alert below, as well as the current update in the “Progress Report” section.
  • A Muslim man reported a delay in the process of obtaining his Green Card for Permanent Residency. CAIR-Chicago is assisting the man in having his case moved to the Chicago District so that he may pursue administrative and legal options in Chicago where he resides.
  • A Muslim man reported misconduct by local area police officers when he reported the theft of his car. CAIR-Chicago will investigate the incident and take whatever action deemed appropriate to resolve the matter.
  • A Muslim man reported consistent delays whenever traveling internationally. CAIR-Chicago is incorporating this case into the Airport Profiling Project, and will seek to assist the man in being safe-listed by the TSA and exploring the legal options available to him.

Employment:
  • A Muslim called for legal advice on an employment discrimination case pending in federal court. CAIR-Chicago explained to the man the different types of monetary recovery that he is entitled to ask for and advised the man to discuss the issue in more detail with his attorney.
  • An Iraqi woman contacted CAIR-Chicago after having been passed up for a promotion on several occasions where an employee with less experience was given the promotion. CAIR-Chicago is contacting the company regarding the complaint and will seek to resolve the incident amicably.
Prison:
  • A Muslim family reported that a family member being detained by immigration was physically attacked by another inmate while in prison. CAIR-Chicago is investigating the incident with the victim’s family and take whatever action deemed appropriate to rectify the situation.

ONGOING PROGRESS:

View reports of ongoing progress for cases with the Civil Rights Department in the “Progress Report” section.

ACTION ALERTS:

Religious Discrimination Delays Citizenship Process:

As a joint effort with the Arab American Action Network (AAAN), CAIR-Chicago is asking individuals who passed a citizenship examination and have been waiting for over 90 days, or have been waiting for a Green Card for permanent residence for over 90 days to contact us at either or .

Muslim Americans Detained and Questioned When Traveling Outside of the U.S.:

As part of a potential class action law suit, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and CAIR-Chicago is asking anyone who has been detained and questioned at the U.S./Canadian border to please contact . It is important for Muslims who have faced this type of treatment to join the lawsuit so as to show that it is not an isolated case. The more people that join the case the more strength it will have to force positive changes in how Muslim Americans are treated in the future at our borders.

The facts of the above case are as follows:

A Muslim American man says he has been searched and questioned four times while trying to re-enter the country from trips abroad, even though he had proper identification. The man was held for six hours last month as officials at a U.S. checkpoint in Canada questioned him about the September 11th terrorist attacks. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is representing the man and says they have heard similar complaints from other Muslim Americans.

Religious Discrimination at Standardized Testing Centers:

As part of a potential class action law suit, CAIR-Chicago is asking for anyone who has experienced any form of religious discrimination at a testing center to please contact us at . An example of a possible form of religious discrimination includes requiring or requesting the removal of a headscarf for searches, or discriminatory remarks made by employees about Muslims or Islam.

The facts of the above case are as follows:

A Muslim student was asked to remove her headscarf on two separate occasions at a testing center before she began a standardized test required for graduate school. The supervisor and employees of the testing center refused to show her a written copy of the policy requiring Muslim women wearing a headscarf to be searched. A witness at the testing center also observed the employees making discriminatory remarks about Muslims while the victim was taking the test.

Please let us know if you or someone you know have experienced a similar incident and would like to take action to prevent such forms of religious discrimination at standardized testing centers in the future.







  • CAIR Pocket Guide: Your Rights as an Airline Passenger

    December 19, 2005

  • U.S. Congress to Vote on Patriot Act, Anti-Torture Legislation, & Immigration Policy

    December 14, 2005

  • CAIR: More Sponsors Needed for Quran Requests

    December 02, 2005

  • Incitement Watch: Complaints Follow Talk on Islam

    December 02, 2005







  • CAIR-Chicago at local Chicagoland Area Mosques in January 2006

    January 2006

  • CAIR-Chicago's Annual Event

    February 04, 2006










Take the Challenge! Become a Chicago Police Officer

The City of Chicago will be offering the Police Examination in February 2006. To be eligible for the exam, you must apply between November 28, 2005 and January 9, 2006.

Applications can be submitted online at: www.ccdopapplication.com OR at the following locations:

  • Daley College - 7500 S. Pulaski Rd.

  • Malcolm X College - 1900 W. Van Buren St.

  • Wright College - 4300 N. Narragansett Ave.


  • Locations are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

    For more information on eligibility requirements for the exam, call 311 or visit the City's website at www.cityofchicpago.org/personnel


CAIR-Chicago Recruits New Operations Intern


Fahad Khan is a junior in Pre-med, psychology major at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Fahad is interning in the Operations Department at CAIR-Chicago. Fahad has been involved with numerous organizations, and is also the Assistant to the Director of Convention for ISNA. Fahad is assisting the Operations Department with office related tasks and is also volunteering his time with preparing for CAIR-Chicago's Annual Event.


Are you a Law Student Looking to Earn Credit While Externing at CAIR?
 
Extern will work closely with CAIR-Chicago's Executive Director and Civil Rights Coordinator on the following:

  • Assist in documenting incidents of religious discrimination by counseling and interviewing complainants regarding their incidents

  • Research laws and policies on employment, student conduct, and immigration procedures, as well as criminal offenses and other areas as seen fit

  • Legal writing: drafting arguments, memos and complaints

  • Participate in representing complainants in dispute resolution, EEOC mediation, filing complaints and law suits

  • Assist in maintaining the Civil Rights Online Center

  • Updating databases containing information about abuses reported to CAIR-Chicago The ideal candidate should be organized and demonstrate the ability to follow through the various on-going and newly assigned tasks. The ideal candidate will possess excellent written communication skills and a commitment to serving the community.


  • This is an unpaid externship. Open to all law students.
     
    Are you an Undergraduate or Graduate Student Looking to Earn College Credit While Interning at CAIR-Chicago?
     
    CAIR-Chicago is currently offering 11 internship opportunities. All internships are unpaid, but students may receive college credit. Applicants need to email a resume and cover letter to Dina Rehab, Outreach Coordinator, at: .

    CAIR-Chicago is offering the following positions for internships:

  • Civil Rights Intern
  • Communications Intern
  • Community Service Intern
  • Governmental Relations Intern
  • Grant Research Intern
  • Marketing Intern
  • Operations Intern
  • Public Education Intern
  • Public Relations Intern
  • Church Project Intern
  • Faith Core Online Magazine Intern


  • Please Contact the Outreach Coordinator for more information on the tasks and duties of specific internships. Call Dina Rehab at 312-212-1520 or at
     










Executive Director
Yaser Tabbara

Director of Communications
Ahmed Rehab

Civil Rights Coordinator
Christina Abraham

Governmental Relations Coordinator
Sadiya Ahmed

Outreach Coordinator
Dina Rehab

Operations Coordinator
Shyema Azam

Board of Directors
Alim Elliott Khan
Mazen Kudaimi, MD
Alif Muhammad
Ahmed Rehab
Zaher Sahloul, MD
Hina Sodha, Esq.
Yaser Tabbara, Esq. - Secretary
Safaa Zarzour, Esq. - President




    

For more information, please contact:

CAIR-Chicago (A Chapter of The Council On American-Islamic Relations)
28 E. Jackson Blvd, Suite 405, Chicago IL 60604
Phone: 312-212-1520, Fax: 312-212-1530
Email: , Website: www.cairchicago.org


Please email your comments and suggestions to If you have received this email directly from
CAIR-Chicago and wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, you may go to www.cairchicago.org , or simply reply to this
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The Chicago Activist is a publication of CAIR-Chicago
17 N. State St., Suite 1500, Chicago IL 60602
Phone: 312-212-1520, Fax: 312-212-1530
Email: , Website: www.cairchicago.org