On Friday, September 9, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will host an interfaith candlelight vigil at the Capitol Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., to mark the fourth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.

As the most intensely affected group by some of the unconstitutional provisions in the USA PATRIOT Act, Muslim Americans in general and Illinois Muslims in particular have repeatedly affirmed their support for balanced legislation that makes our country safer yet does not jeopardize our American civil liberties. As the local chapter of the largest national civil rights organization representing Muslim Americans, CAIR-Chicago has been documenting a number of incidents that range in severity that were the direct result of Section 213 of the USA PATRIOT Act and other sections.

The Chicago chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), in conjunction with the Civil Liberties Coalition of Illinois (CLCI) and Representative Danny K. Davis will hold a press conference to discuss the new threat to civil liberties due to the recent passage of the Patriot Act's sunset provisions in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Chicago Chapter today called on Chicago mosques and Islamic centers to offer prayers for rain in the draught-stricken African nation of Niger during this week's Friday congregational services, or “jummah.”

A number of leading Chicago Muslim organizations today publicly endorsed the fatwa (Islamic religious ruling) against terrorism and extremism during a news conference held this morning at the Downtown Islamic Center. The fatwa, recently issued by the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA), is endorsed by more than 150 U.S. Muslim groups, leaders and institutions.

CAIR-Chicago, the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), applauds the US Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Illinois, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) for their respective roles in bringing federal charges against a man who firebombed a Burbank Muslim family’s van in March of 2003.

The Chicago chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), in participation with the Civil Liberties Coalition of Illinois (CLCI), will hold a town hall meeting with guest speaker, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, to encourage Illinois’ elected representatives to vote “NO” to the reauthorization of the expiring provisions of the Patriot Act.

The Chicago chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), in participation with the Civil Liberties Coalition of Illinois (CLCI), held a town hall meeting today with guest speaker, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, to encourage Illinois’ elected representatives to vote “NO” to the reauthorization of the expiring provisions of the Patriot Act.

On Friday, July 29, The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) – an umbrella organization representing 54 Chicago area Mosques & Islamic Organizations - and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Chicago Chapter (CAIR-Chicago) will hold a news conference at the Downtown Islamic Center, 231 S. State Street, to officially endorse the recently issued national fatwa (Islamic religious ruling) against terrorism and extremism.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today reported that the FBI is investigating a number of racist phone threats made against a Chicago Ridge Muslim family.

In today's post 9/11 America, much attention is being given to Islam and Muslims. More often than not, coverage of Islam and Muslims is limited to the sensational and the extreme. Moreover, commentators on cable and radio stations often approach the subject with an emotional bias rather than a comprehensive objective analysis. This, coupled with the limited accessibility of outspoken moderate Muslims, leaves the average American gravely misinformed about Islam and Muslims.

CAIR Chicago, a local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), is launching its new online center on January 20th, 2005 at 8:00am.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today announced that a Muslim worker of Pakistani origin in Illinois has filed a religious and national origin discrimination lawsuit against AFI Industries.

On Friday, December 31, Muslims in Chicago will offer prayers for those who died as a result of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Asia. The prayers, called salat al-ghaib (sa-laat-all-guy-ib), or "prayers for those who have died in a distant place," will be held following the regular Friday Jum'ah prayers at the Islamic Cultural Center and the Mosque Foundation, as well as other area mosques.

We are not here to pass judgment of guilt or innocence - that is to be determined by a court of law. What we are here to do is draw attention to the fact that the Quranic Literacy Institute is not receiving a fair trial, nor a just due process. This is a case of justice being catered to the wealthy and powerful, and denied for the disenfranchised.

Citing a need for public accountability and to guard against the wholesale surveillance of religious and political organizations, a diverse group of Chicago-area associations and individuals sharing a commitment to social justice and community service today filed federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) asking that agency to release surveillance files about those groups and individuals that were opened and maintained by FBI agents.

On November 13th or 14th (exact date depends on sighting of the new moon), the Muslim community in America will celebrate the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan with communal prayers around the country.

Today, we are standing together against the growing use of race, religion, and immigrant bashing in the political discourse of our nation. It is Important that we stand united against all forms of bigotry. An attack on one is an attack on all.