The Fast-A-Thon calls on students and faculty to abstain from all food and drink from sunrise to sunset that Tuesday in order to show support and solidarity for those who suffer from hunger around the world. Join CAIR-Chicago and Loyola University for free food and giveaways!

The success of the recent CAIR-Chicago 2012 banquet has been roundly positive from almost everyone: the speakers, awardees, guests, and even the media. But the success of the Chicago Muslim community has left one man agonizing and lashing out in bitter disappointment and desperation. Anti-Muslim, self-styled "terrorism expert" Steven Emerson has published a hysterical piece on IPT, his controversial blog, throwing everything and the kitchen sink at pretty much everyone: CAIR-Chicago, its Executive Director Ahmed Rehab, Chicago police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, Professor John Esposito, Sheikh Kifah Mustapha, and others.

CAIR-Chicago's Executive Director, Ahmed Rehab, wants Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy to clarify his position on the NYPD spying program and also to assure Muslims that a spying operation has not been implemented in Chicago.

For Muslim Americans... Sunday wasn't just the anniversary of a terrorist attack on their country. It was also the anniversary of the day public opinion of the community changed. The Council of American-Islamic Relations in Chicago wants to erase the link between the Muslim faith and the terrorist attacks. CAIR-Chicago's Amina Sharif spoke with WDCB News reporter Brian O'Keefe.

With the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy, the United States has been concerned about its image and its relations with the Muslim world.

On Wednesday, August 17th 2011, CAIR-Chicago staff attorney, Rabya Khan, and communications intern, Becky Fogel, attended a public hearing held by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to discuss the Secure Communities program. The event ended in civil disobedience led by local youth and the arrest of six attendees.

"I wish it would have happened sooner, so as to save trillions of dollars and thousands of lives. But nonetheless justice delayed is better than justice denied. We're very thankful for the fact that this man has been apprehended and eliminated," said Ahmed Rehab of CAIR-Chicago.

At the press conference, the speakers echoed President Obama’s assertion that Osama Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader, and in fact was a mass-murderer of Muslims. CAIR-Chicago’s Communication Coordinator, Amina Sharif, stated “Bin Laden never represented Islam and was never seen as a Muslim leader, but unfortunately many people’s understanding of Islam was distorted by the actions of Bin Laden.”

“A particular concern would be women who wear the hijab because obviously their standards of modesty are probably higher than most people and so they are more concerned about the groping, they are more concerned about the invasion of privacy,” said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Council on Islamic Relations in Chicago.

CAIR-Chicago communications Coordinator Amina Sharif and Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson gave a presentation to students at St. Ignatius Catholic school Wednesday, December 1st about the sociological and theological background of Islam.

When the topic was brought up, yet again, that America has been attacked by Muslims, Ahmed Rehab responds: "Here's also a pattern that you need to be aware of. In almost every one of those cases it was Muslims who helped foil these terrorists plots. In the case of the "underwear bomber" it was his own father, a Muslim, who reported him. In the case of the "time square bomber" it was a Muslim who saw the smoke from the car who reported him. Even in this case Saudia Arabia was actually the country that tipped us off about this plot."

CAIR-Chicago staff attorney Kevin Vodak will speak at the Muslim Bar Association "Lunch & Learn" meeting. His presentation will focus on the requirements and challenges of proving religious discrimination against Muslims in the workplace.

On Wednesday, June 23, the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) together with an interfaith and community coalition will hold a press conference responding to a recent decision by the Illinois State Police (ISP) to revoke a chaplaincy position previously extended and confirmed for Imam Kifah Mustafa, a leading Chicago Muslim cleric.

In light of the IL-GOP press release asking ICIRR to disengage from CAIR-Chicago based on baseless accusations, the CIOGC asks community members to respond to this smear tactic by following three simple actions:

"There are some seven million Muslims in America who are all peaceful, patriotic and support our troops so along with being deeply saddened and horrified by these events we are also concerned that people might call into question our patriotism and loyalty to this country," said Amina Sharif, Council On American Islamic Relations.

Our Annual Event is set to take place on Saturday, March 7, 2009, 6:00PM at the Drury Lane Banquet Hall in Oak Brook Terrace, IL. Please mark your calendars and show your support by attending that day.