"Given the situation with ground zero (in New York), there's a growing trend by various right-wing organizations to vilify Islamic organizations, and I don't think we can take that away from what's happening in DuPage County," said Kevin Vodak, an attorney for the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

The whole brouhaha about the "Mosque at Ground Zero" is frankly bogus. It has little to do with sacred ground, or sensitive hearts. It does however have everything to do with the exploitation of the sacred and the sensitive for the furtherance of the sacrilegious and the insensitive: the phenomenon of Muslim-bashing that is ravaging our nation today.

The whole brouhaha about the "Mosque at Ground Zero" is frankly bogus. It has little to do with sacred ground, or sensitive hearts. It does however have everything to do with the exploitation of the sacred and the sensitive for the furtherance of the sacrilegious and the insensitive: the phenomenon of Muslim-bashing that is ravaging our nation today.

CAIR-Chicago representatives and local Muslim leaders, at a press conference on Friday, discussed their disappointment in IL Gov. Pat Quinn's comments regarding the New York mosque controversy. They also shared examples of other mosques around the country that are facing opposition, including one in Naperville which CAIR-Chicago is currently litigating on behalf of.

CAIR-Chicago representatives and local Muslim leaders, at a press conference on Friday, discussed their disappointment in IL Gov. Pat Quinn's comments regarding the New York mosque controversy. They also shared examples of other mosques around the country that are facing opposition, including one in Naperville which CAIR-Chicago is currently litigating on behalf of.

CAIR-Chicago representatives along with other local leaders held a press conference to discuss their disappointment with recent comments by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn regarding the "Ground Zero" mosque controversy.

CAIR-Chicago representatives along with other local leaders held a press conference to discuss their disappointment with recent comments by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn regarding the "Ground Zero" mosque controversy.

Earlier this week, Gov. Pat Quinn stepped into the controversy, saying he was against the mosque being built near the site of the 9/11 terror attack. Christina Abraham, of CAIR, believes Quinn's stand will cost him votes in November.

"The 400,000 Muslims in the Chicago area know about this issue. They're concerned about this issue and it will affect how they make their decision come election time. He's lost my vote," said Abraham.

CAIR-Chicago representatives and local Muslim leaders discussed their disappointment in IL Gov. Pat Quinn's comments regarding the New York mosque controversy and their concern that a growing anti-Muslim network is spreading Islamophobia through fear mongering. They also shared examples of other mosques around the country that are facing opposition, including one in Naperville which CAIR-Chicago is currently litigating on behalf of.

CAIR-Chicago representatives and local Muslim leaders discussed their disappointment in IL Gov. Pat Quinn's comments regarding the New York mosque controversy and their concern that a growing anti-Muslim network is spreading Islamophobia through fear mongering. They also shared examples of other mosques around the country that are facing opposition, including one in Naperville which CAIR-Chicago is currently litigating on behalf of.

"I do believe that there are special places on Earth that should have a zone of solemnity around them," Quinn told reporters when asked about the issue. "I would strongly urge those who are thinking of putting a mosque within that zone to rethink their position." "The 9/11 attacks were caused by terrorists. Terrorists shouldn't build a mosque in proximity to ground zero, or America for that matter," said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of Chicago's Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Ahmed Rehab discusses the ground zero mosque controversy and clears misconceptions about Islam and Muslims.

Ahmed Rehab discusses the ground zero mosque controversy and clears misconceptions about Islam and Muslims.

Ahmed Rehab talks to MSNBC's Tamron Hall about the Islamophobia that is at the heart of the "Ground Zero Mosque" controversy. Rehab also discusses the growing anti-Muslim network in the United States which seeks to delegitimize American Muslims.

Ahmed Rehab talks to MSNBC's Tamron Hall about the Islamophobia that is at the heart of the "Ground Zero Mosque" controversy. Rehab also discusses the growing anti-Muslim network in the United States which seeks to delegitimize American Muslims.

Ahmed Rehab debates anti-Muslim bigot Pamela Geller regarding the "Ground Zero Mosque" and calls her out on her Islamophobia. Geller, founder of atlasshrugs.com and the Islamophobic hate-group Stop the Islamization of America (SOIA), attempts to associates all Muslims with 9/11 and terrorism.

Ahmed Rehab debates anti-Muslim bigot Pamela Geller regarding the "Ground Zero Mosque" and calls her out on her Islamophobia. Geller, founder of atlasshrugs.com and the Islamophobic hate-group Stop the Islamization of America (SOIA), attempts to associates all Muslims with 9/11 and terrorism.

CAIR-Chicago's Ahmed Rehab debates Fox News' John Gibson on the right of New York Muslims to build a mosque in lower Manhattan, a few blocks away from Ground Zero.