Photo by Mikhail Nilov

(Chicago, IL, 4/18/2023) - The Chicago Office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) strongly condemns the recent incident in which a local town official was subjected to derogatory and hateful comments, including being referred to as a 'suicide bomber', after residents learned of her Muslim faith. 

According to reports, Reem Townsend, a local trustee of DuPage Township, Illinois was subjected to verbal abuse during a town hall meeting, where residents mocked her for her religious beliefs and even made Islamophobic statements, highlighting the Islamophobia that still persists in our communities. 

SEE: Local residents mock town official as a 'suicide bomber' after learning of her Muslim faith 

In response to the incident, Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago, stated:

"We stand in solidarity with Reem Townsend, the Muslim town official subjected to hate speech and bigotry. It is deeply disturbing that anyone in our society would be subjected to such abuse because of their faith, and we condemn this unacceptable behavior in the strongest possible terms." 

"Islamophobia and Bigotry has no place in our society, and we urge local officials to take appropriate action to address and prevent such incidents from happening in the future. We also encourage the community to come together in support of our Muslim neighbors and to work towards building a more inclusive and welcoming society for all." 

CAIR-Chicago calls on local authorities to take swift action to investigate the incident and to hold those responsible accountable for their actions. We also encourage community members to report any incidents of hate or discrimination to CAIR-Chicago, and we stand ready to offer support and assistance to those affected by such incidents. 

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. 

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Contact: Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago, 312-212-1520, arehab@cair.com; Erin Davis, Communications Coordinator of CAIR-Chicago, 773-802-8786, epdavis@cair.com