CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator, Aymen Abdel Halim, comments on the cancellation of Hizb ut-Tahrir's conference in Rolling Meadows, Ill.

CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator, Aymen Abdel Halim, responds to the Hizb ut-Tahrir conference which was scheduled to be in Rolling Meadows, Ill. this coming weekend.

CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator, Leena Saleh, comments on Hizb ut-Tahrir's goals and philosophy and the recent cancellation of their event.

While CAIR-Chicago believes that Hizb ut-Tahrir has a right to their views that Muslim's shouldn't vote, the organization says that American Muslims must be civically engaged, from voting to running for office. Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson specifically objected to the organizations point that even though Muslims have voted in the United States and around the world, it’s done them little good.

Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Council for American-Islamic Relations, said he doesn't agree with the principles of Hizb ut-Tahrir, but believes the group is entitled to freedom of speech and assembly like any other group in the U.S. "They are a minority group among Muslims and their ideology is considered sensational by mainstream communities," Rehab said. "Despite their best efforts, they are neither persuasive nor effective."

On July 19, a controversial conference organized by a group called Hizb ut-Tahrir took place in Oak Lawn, titled "The Fall of Capitalism and Rise of Islam," the conference received media attention that mostly featured opinions of people who were afraid of a terrorist group convening in a Chicago suburb and concerns about yet another Muslim "threat" to our democracy.

Reacting to a controversial Islamic group's meeting in their back yard, protesters clad in red, white and blue decried Sunday's meeting by the group Hizb-ut Tahrir at Oak Lawn's Hilton hotel.