The following is a partial list of the cases CAIR-Chicago's Civil Rights Department worked to resolve during

June 2012:

Airport Profiling

• A Muslim Egyptian woman, her children and Muslim Egyptian male friend were denied service at airline counter at O’Hare International Airport. CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take all necessary action.

General

• Palestinian Muslim woman was called “terrorista” by a Dunkin Donuts employee as she was pulling away from the drive thru window. CAIR-Chicago issued a letter to the corporation in an attempt to resolve the matter.
• Muslim man and his family reported being harassed by a woman at a public park while watching fireworks. CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take all appropriate action.

Employment

• An Algerian Muslim man reported being refused a promotion at work, while other less experienced and less qualified coworkers receive promotions above him. The man also has not been accommodated to attend Friday prayers. CAIR-Chicago is investigating the situation and will take all appropriate action.

Government Agency

• 3 Muslim men and 1 Muslim woman, whose national origins include Yemen, Egypt, and Jordan, contacted CAIR-Chicago with complaints that their naturalization applications were being delayed. CAIR-Chicago incorporated the cases into our Citizenship Delay Project.
• CAIR-Chicago received 2 complaints from Muslim individuals who were contacted by FBI agents. CAIR-Chicago’s FBI Project ensures that clients are advised of their rights when faced with law enforcement inquiries, and at times represents them during voluntary interviews.

Public Accommodation

• A Palestinian man had his business bank account shut down, without any reason given by the financial institution. CAIR-Chicago has issued a letter to the institution in hopes of resolving the matter.

May 2012:

General

• An African American Muslim woman was denied a fee adjustment by a car rental manager and was verbally harassed when she attempted to obtain this adjustment. CAIR-Chicago issued a demand letter to the car rental agency and has advised the woman of her options.

Airport Profiling

• A Muslim man travelling from his family to Morocco was prevented from boarding a plane at O’Hare International Airport because the airline contended that his family’s passports did not “clear.” TSA, however, expressed no issue with his family’s passports, and the family was forced to spend a night at a nearby hotel. When they returned the next day, the man’s family was allowed to fly but the airline contended that the man’s passport was no longer cleared. The man was forced to return home in Seattle away from his family and subsequently flew to Morocco via another airport. CAIR-Chicago issued a demand letter to the airline and has advised the man of his options.

Employment

• A Hispanic male who converted to Islam one year ago has faced discriminatory comments by the new Human Resources manager at a cargo handling company, such as asking why he cared about people in Syria, that his religion “got him confused” about the issue, and “nobody likes Muslims.” CAIR-Chicago issued a demand letter to the company and is seeking to resolve the issue.

Government Agency

• 4 Muslim individuals reported facing delays in receiving their U.S. citizenship, whose national origins include Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, and Yemen. CAIR-Chicago incorporated these cases into the Citizenship Delay project.
• A Muslim woman born in the United States reports facing delays in securing permanent residency for her husband, who was born and resides in Yemen. CAIR-Chicago is investigating the issue and will take all appropriate action to attempt to resolve the issue.
• A Palestinian Muslim taxi driver was harassed at a police station following his arrest for allegedly soliciting customers at O’Hare International Airport. CAIR-Chicago incorporated the case into the Taxicab project and has advised the man of his options.

Prison

• A Jordanian Muslim man incarcerated at a detention facility requested a Qur’an and prayer rug. CAIR-Chicago referred the man to an organization that provides these services.
• A Muslim man claims that he was assaulted and denied his First Amendment rights by the dietary supervisor at a correctional center. CAIR-Chicago is reviewing the matter and will advise the man of his options.
• A Muslim Latino man called seeking assistance in revising a religion guidebook for Muslim inmates in Illinois Department of Corrections. CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will work with the man to obtain necessary revisions to the IDOC guidebook.
• A Muslim man has been denied his requests to receive halal trays at a correctional center even though Jewish inmates receive Kosher meals. CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take all appropriate actions to resolve the situation.
• A Muslim woman called on behalf of an inmate at a correctional center stating that two officers tore out pages of the Qur’an. CAIR-Chicago incorporated this matter into the Prison Project and has advised the inmate of his options.

School

• A Muslim girl was harassed and targeted at school because she wears a hijab, compelling her parents to withdraw her from the school. CAIR-Chicago is investigating the situation and will take all appropriate action to resolve the matter.

April 2012:

General

• Muslim man is not receiving proper accommodation for MCAT test and feels he is being discriminated against because he is disabled. CAIR-Chicago referred the man to Equip for Equality, and the situation was subsequently resolved.
• A Palestinian Muslim woman and her daughter were denied service at a bank when they sought to perform a wire transfer overseas to Palestine. CAIR-Chicago advised the woman of her options and the bank subsequently resolved the issue.

Employment

• A Pakistani Muslim man has been suspended from work and believes he is being discriminated against by a coworker at an airline. CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will advise the man of his options.
• An Indian Muslim man feels he was unfairly terminated from his job at a gas station. After CAIR-Chicago began advising the man of his options, his employer modified its decision to transfer him to another location, and the situation was resolved.
• An Indian Muslim woman who filed an EEOC charge against her employer in January 2009 reported being discharged for a false reason. CAIR-Chicago assisted the woman in filing another EEOC charge against her former employer and will represent her during this process.

Government Agency

• 6 Muslim individuals reported facing delays in receiving their U.S. citizenship, whose national origins include Algeria, Palestine, and Yemen. CAIR-Chicago incorporated these cases into the Citizenship Delay project.
• CAIR-Chicago received 2 complaints from Muslim individuals who were contacted by FBI agents. CAIR-Chicago’s FBI Project ensures that clients are advised of their rights when faced with law enforcement inquiries, and at times represents them during voluntary interviews.

March 2012:

General

• A Palestinian man has stopped receiving Social Security Insurance payments because the Social Security Administration claimed that he owns a home in Palestine and therefore the “excess resources” make him ineligible for SSI. CAIR-Chicago referred the man to an attorney specializing in this area.

Employment

• A woman who recently converted to Islam began to wear the hijab to work, resulting in her manager making Islamophobic remarks. She was subsequently laid off by the financial services company purportedly due to lack of work, which was contrary to the company’s representations that business was very good. CAIR-Chicago has been advising the woman of her options.
• A Muslim man was injured on the job but refused compensation even though he followed the proper procedures to reporting his injuries. CAIR-Chicago referred the man to an attorney specializing in workers compensation litigation.
• A Palestinian truck driver reported being called terrorist by a coworker. CAIR-Chicago advised the man of his options.

Government Agency

• A Middle Eastern Muslim woman called on behalf of her son and herself, stating that police officers subjected them to an unjustified search of their house, physical abuse, an officer pulling off her hijab, and false arrest. CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take all appropriate action.
• An Iranian woman called seeking assistance in obtaining the return of her naturalization certification from the Chicago Passport Agency. CAIR-Chicago assisted the woman in resolving this matter with the U.S. State Department.
• A Muslim woman alleged religious discrimination against a Homecare officer during a meeting where the woman was attempting to become a preferred worker for her mother. CAIR-Chicago is assisting the woman and attempting to resolve the situation.

Prison

• A Muslim inmate’s wife called because her husband is allegedly being harassed by corrections officers and not being afforded a proper diet due to his diabetic condition. CAIR-Chicago is assisting the inmate to address the situation.

School

• A Muslim African American mother complained of discrimination and mistreatment at her daughter’s elementary school. CAIR-Chicago is assisting the woman in resolving the matter.
• A Middle Eastern high school student was harassed by her substitute teacher who made Islamophobic remarks about her wearing a hijab. CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and advising the student of her options.
• A Muslim mother called alleging that the principal of her son’s school stereotyped him on the basis of their religion and other students bullied him, resulting in the need for the mother to home school her son. CAIR-Chicago advised the woman of her options.

February 2012:

Employment

• A Middle Eastern Muslim male was recently fired from his job, after being a victim of ongoing harassment from coworkers and a supervisor based on his nationality and religion. CAIR-Chicago is representing the man during the EEOC’s investigation into the allegations.
• An Egyptian Muslim woman who is student teaching at a middle school claimed the teacher she was assisting harassed her based on her religion. CAIR-Chicago represented the woman during the Department of Education’s mediation process and reached an amicable resolution to the matter.
• A Muslim female nurse reported being subjected to biased remarks based on her religion by a doctor at the hospital where she works. CAIR-Chicago advised the woman to fully report the issue to her Human Resources representative, resulting in the situation being resolved.

Government Agency

• CAIR-Chicago received 4 complaints from Middle Eastern and South Asian individuals experiencing delays in obtaining their U.S. citizenship. CAIR-Chicago incorporated these cases into the Citizenship Delay project.
• CAIR-Chicago received 2 complaints from Muslim individuals who were contacted by FBI agents. CAIR-Chicago’s FBI Project ensures that clients are advised of their rights when faced with law enforcement inquiries, and at times represents them during voluntary interviews.

School

• A Muslim teacher at a charter high school reported that the principal made very offensive comments about Islam at a morning meeting. CAIR-Chicago has contacted the school and is attempting to reach a resolution to the matter.
• A Jordanian Muslim male student was targeted by a teacher who questioned his religion after he completed a family tree project. CAIR-Chicago is representing the student during the Department of Education’s investigation in hopes of reaching a resolution to the matter.

January 2012:

Airport Profiling

• An Imam based in Florida experienced discriminatory behavior from airline employees while attempting to board a flight at O’Hare International Airport. CAIR-Chicago filed an Aviation Consumer Protection complaint on his behalf and is monitoring the situation.

Employment

• An Egyptian Muslim man was terminated from work, escorted out by police officers, and feels he was treated unfairly due to his ethnicity. CAIR-Chicago assisted the man in filing a charge with the IDHR and is representing him through this process.
• A Middle Eastern Muslim police officer experienced religious discrimination and harassment from one of his supervising officers. CAIR-Chicago is representing the man during the EEOC’s investigation into the allegations.

Government Agency

• 2 Yemeni Muslim men reported delays in obtaining U.S. citizenship. CAIR-Chicago incorporated these cases into our Citizenship Delay project.
• CAIR-Chicago received 3 complaints from Muslim individuals who were contacted by FBI agents. CAIR-Chicago’s FBI Project ensures that clients are advised of their rights when faced with law enforcement inquiries, and at times represents them during voluntary interviews.
• A Muslim woman was denied a passport due to her wearing a hijab in her photograph. CAIR-Chicago advised the woman of how to assert her right to wear the hijab for government-issued IDs.
• Shahrazad Ghusain, a Muslim female high school student, was denied the ability to wear her hijab by the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps based on uniform requirements. CAIR-Chicago monitored the ROTC’s decision on Ghusain’s request for a religious waiver to the uniform policy, which was ultimately accepted. CAIR-Chicago is continuing to monitor the grades issued to Ghusain to ensure that she is not penalized for her decision to wear her hijab.

Prison

• A Muslim inmate seeks assistance in addressing requests for religious accommodation and other Arabic materials at a federal penitentiary. CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and incorporated the matter into the Prison project.

November and December 2011:

Airport Profiling

• An airline denied a Muslim man to fly even after having TSA officials approve his boarding pass twice. CAIR-Chicago assisted the man in filing a complaint with the Department of Transportation and is monitoring the situation.

General

• A Muslim woman was told she was not permitted to pray in the general area of a women’s exercise club. CAIR-Chicago advised the woman of her options.

Employment

• A Muslim woman wrote note at work holiday party stating she does not eat pork, resulting in the store manager telling her that she could not accommodate “you people.” CAIR-Chicago advised the woman of her options.
• An African-American Muslim man’s supervisor repeatedly denies him the opportunity to attend Friday Jumu’ah services during his lunch break. CAIR-Chicago advised the man of his options.
• A Muslim man was being denied Friday Jumu’ah prayer accommodation even though he was told in job interview it would not be a problem. CAIR-Chicago assisted the man in working out an arrangement with his employer to attend his weekly prayers.

Government Agency

• CAIR-Chicago received 2 complaints from Middle Eastern Muslims facing delays in their citizenship applications. CAIR-Chicago has been assisting these individuals through the naturalization process, and one of the individuals has attained his citizenship.
• CAIR-Chicago received 5 complaints from Muslim individuals who were contacted by FBI agents. CAIR-Chicago’s FBI Project ensures that clients are advised of their rights when faced with law enforcement inquiries, and at times represents them during voluntary interviews.

Prison

• An inmate who recently converted to Islam faced issues with changing his religious status in time for Ramadan and wants to prevent it from happening to others. CAIR-Chicago is monitoring the situation and has advised the inmate of his options.
• A Muslim man claims that Muslims at his prison are denied Kosher/halal meals and feels endangered for making the request to receive halal meals. CAIR-incorporated the case into its Prison Project and has advised the inmate of his options.

School

• A student at a university feels threatened by a professor who made derogatory comments about Muslims during class and posted hurtful comments on Facebook. CAIR-Chicago is aiding the student in resolving this matter.

Public Accommodation

• A Muslim man of Indian origin believes employees at a hospital treated him unfairly because of his race and religion. CAIR-Chicago assisted the man in communicating his concerns to the hospital, which ultimately resulted in the hospital issuing an apology letter.

September and October 2011:

Child Custody

• A Jordanian woman seeking help for her child custody issue. CAIR-Chicago referred the woman to attorneys specializing in this area.

Criminal Offense

• A former Palestinian-American police officer was pulled over, arrested, and charged with impersonating a police officer. CAIR-Chicago referred the man to attorneys specializing in this area.

General

• A man involved in a local election has a suit against his opponent for defamation for calling him a terrorist in multiple public forums and is seeking assistance. CAIR-Chicago is monitoring the situation through his private attorney.

Employment

• A woman believes she is being harassed during her employment for an airline. CAIR-Chicago advised the woman of her rights in the workplace.
• A Middle Eastern Muslim man feels that he was discriminated against and stereotyped in the workplace, resulting in his discharge. CAIR-Chicago assisted the man in filing an EEOC charge and is representing him through this process.
• A Muslim man believes he was not rehired for his teaching job because of his religion. CAIR-Chicago assisted the man in filing an EEOC charge and is now representing the man during the mediation process.
• A Muslim man experienced harassment at work at a department store. CAIR-Chicago assisted the man in filing an EEOC charge and is representing him through this process.
• A Muslim man’s pay was docked because he attended weekly Jumu’ah prayer. CAIR-Chicago advised him of his rights in the workplace.
• A Muslim man was fired from his job by a supervisor for job abandonment when the supervisor was the person who told him he could take time off to assist in providing medical care for his mother. CAIR-Chicago referred the man to attorneys specializing in this area.
• A Muslim woman who works as a bank teller was harassed by her co-workers who were making derogatory comments about Islam and the Qur’an in connection with the upcoming 9/11 ten-year anniversary. CAIR-Chicago monitored the situation, advised the woman of her options, and subsequently her work environment improved.
• A Muslim paramedic was harassed by his fellow employees and supervisors who made fun of his name and called him a terrorist on a regular basis. CAIR-Chicago assisted the man in filing an EEOC charge and ultimately the matter was resolved.

Government Agency

• An Iranian man is experiencing delays in his naturalization process. CAIR-Chicago incorporated his case into our Citizenship Delay Project.
• A Muslim man was harassed by a suburban police officer and charged with a misdemeanor for faulty gas station transaction even though the gas station pump does not work properly at times. CAIR-Chicago provided referrals to criminal defense attorneys who could assist him.
• A Palestinian limousine driver was arrested at O’Hare International Airport, which he believes occurred because of his ethnicity. CAIR-Chicago incorporated the case into the Taxicab project and has advised the man of his options.
• An African-American taxi driver faced harassment by workers at the O’Hare International Airport staging area and was handcuffed by a police officer. CAIR-Chicago incorporated the case into the Taxicab project and has advised the man of his options.
• A Muslim man was harassed by a suburban police officer and charged with a misdemeanor for faulty gas station transaction even though the gas station pump does not work properly at times. CAIR-Chicago provided referrals to criminal defense attorneys who could assist him.
• CAIR-Chicago received 10 complaints from Muslim individuals who were contacted by FBI agents. CAIR-Chicago’s FBI Project ensures that clients are advised of their rights when faced with law enforcement inquiries, and at times represents them during voluntary interviews.

Prison

• A prisoner at a correctional center called complaining of a lack of services and different requirements for prayer services than Christians. CAIR-Chicago incorporated the case into its Prison Project and is monitoring the situation.
• A prisoner was denied Iftar during Ramadan. CAIR-Chicago incorporated the case into the Prison Project and has advised the man of his options.

School

• A Muslim student alleges discrimination by her professor which resulted in her failing to complete her program. CAIR-Chicago has been advising the student of her options and attempting to resolve the matter with the university.
• A Muslim student feels her school violated her and other students’ privacy rights by allowing students and TAs to view their ID pictures on the Blackboard class rosters without the students’ consent. CAIR-Chicago resolved this issue with the school.

July and August 2011:

Employment

• South Asian Muslim woman with a good employment record of 12 years faced harassment upon arrival of new boss. CAIR-Chicago successfully resolved the matter with assistance of the EEOC.
• Middle Eastern Muslim employee reported being subjected to racist remarks by his supervisor and denied brief leave of absence, while non-Muslim coworkers granted extensive leaves. CAIR-Chicago advised the man of his options.
• African-American Muslim man reported being denied an accommodation to attend Friday prayers and subsequently discharged for false reasons. CAIR-Chicago assisted the man in resolving the matter.
• A Middle Eastern Muslim man applied to become a corrections officer and was asked questions about his religious and ethnic background during his psychological screening. He was subsequently advised that he would not be hired as a result of failing this screening. CAIR-Chicago assisted the man in filing an EEOC charge and is now representing the man during this process.

Government Agency

• A Palestinian man who became a US citizen in 2008 successfully brought over his entire family on visas in 2010, except for his 17 year-old son who was the only family member still waiting for a visa. CAIR-Chicago successfully aided the family in obtaining a visa for the 17-year old boy.
• A Muslim female born in Libya reported that she had filed an application for naturalization in December 2005, had passed her examination in April 2006, but still had not received a decision on her application. CAIR-Chicago incorporated the case into our Citizenship Delay Project and filed a complaint in federal court requesting judicial intervention into the matter.
• Muslim man reported being tackled to the ground and arrested by police officers for lighting a firework during 4th of July weekend. A taser was also used on him, and he believes that he was singled out because he was with his family and many of his family members were wearing hijabs. CAIR-Chicago has advised the man of his options and is working to determine an appropriate resolution to the matter.
• A Middle Eastern Muslim limousine driver reported facing discrimination at O’Hare International Airport for years. CAIR-Chicago incorporated the case into the Taxicab project and has advised the man of his options.

Prison

• A Muslim inmate reported having trouble at his prison receiving prayer oils and enrolling in a theology class that he claims is open only to Christians. CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take all appropriate action.
• 3 Muslim inmates contacted CAIR-Chicago with complaints that they were not being properly accommodated for halal meals. CAIR-Chicago advised the inmates of their options.

October 22, 2010 - November 12, 2010:

Criminal

• The garage of a Muslim man’s home was painted with graffiti and a window of his vehicle was broken. CAIR-Chicago advised the man to contact law enforcement and will continue to monitor the situation.
• A Muslim man’s car was shot at as he was backing out of the driveway of a family member’s home. CAIR-Chicago advised the man to contact law enforcement and will continue to monitor the situation.

Employment

• A Muslim woman was suspended without pay for fifteen days after allegedly making racial comments and assaulting a student when she disciplined her for misbehaving in class. The client believes that she is being targeted for her Middle Eastern background and senior position. CAIR-Chicago is closely monitoring the situation and will take whatever action deemed necessary.
• A Muslim teacher is being subjected to unfair treatment by the principal of the school. The principal unnecessarily imposed additional rules and regulations that other senior teachers are not required to follow. CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary.
• A Muslim man failed to be considered for a job after employers found out about his Middle-Eastern background. CAIR-Chicago advised him on possible legal options and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
• A Muslim man had a job offer rescinded after he was asked about his beard and country of origin. CAIR-Chicago advised him on possible legal options.
• A Muslim college instructor was denied tenure based on his religious background. CAIR-Chicago contacted his employer to resolve the issue and will continue to closely monitor the situation.

Government

• A Muslim man was denied citizenship because of issues with his marriage during the process of applying. CAIR-Chicago is looking into the matter and will advise the man of his legal options.
• A Muslim organization was contacted by the FBI for questioning. CAIR-Chicago advised the organization and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
• A Muslim man was questioned by the FBI about his wife’s interfaith efforts. The Agent tried to use his pending immigration status as leverage. CAIR-Chicago is representing him in both matters.
• A Muslim man on a student visa was arrested and the arresting ICE agent allegedly sexually harassed the man’s wife. CAIR-Chicago advised the man and his wife on possible legal options and referred them to an expert immigration attorney.
• A Muslim woman’s immigration status came under question and she is at risk of being deported. CAIR-Chicago advised her on her legal options and referred her to an expert immigration attorney.

School

• A Muslim father called CAIR-Chicago to seek advice on how to exempt his daughter from music class. CAIR-Chicago advised him of possible options to address the situation amicably.
• A Muslim college student was assaulted by a security guard on a bus. CAIR-Chicago has advised him of his legal options.

Prison

• Muslim man was prevented from praying daily prayer, attending Friday prayer, leading Friday prayer, and fasting during Ramadan while in Prison. CAIR-Chicago is advising him in his lawsuit against the prison.

General

• A Muslim family was harassed by their landlords who refused to fix a sink leakage and made demeaning remarks about the family’s ethnicity in multiple confrontations. The police remain unresponsive in the matter. CAIR-Chicago has advised the family on possible legal options and will take whatever action necessary to resolve the situation.
• A Muslim woman was unable to transfer funds from her bank account to her sister’s account in Abu Dhabi for pilgrimage (Hajj). She was questioned by the bank administrative staff, who asked whether her middle initial “M” stands for “Mohammad.” CAIR- Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary.

October 2, 2010- October 21, 2010:

Employment

• A Muslim man failed to get compensated by his company for his work. CAIR-Chicago is looking into the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary.
• A Muslim female employee was sent home after refusing to remove her headscarf (hijab). Her employer reportedly said, “Either take it off or go home.”  CAIR-Chicago contacted her employer to mediate the situation.
• A Muslim woman was harassed at work and was told that she would be a better employee if she were Christian. She has also been reprimanded on several occasions for various allegations of misconduct. CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary.
• A non-Muslim employee began wearing the headscarf (hijab) to work to support her daughter who recently converted to Islam and received hostile remarks from a co-worker. She is now afraid that she will lose her job. CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary.
• A Muslim male employee was allegedly fired because he was a practicing Muslim. Prior to his termination, he was harassed at work for attending Friday congregational prayers (Jummah) and questioned by his manager about his beard and his trip to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage (Umrah). Workers have also encouraged him to eat while fasting, offering him pork and reportedly making comments such as, “God’s not looking, eat it.” CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary.
• A Muslim employee’s job was threatened to be terminated despite approval from HR to book a flight to make pilgrimage (Hajj). CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary.
• A Muslim employee’s job was threatened to be terminated, despite the worker’s positive reviews. The employee reported that her company is firing her on the basis of religion. CAIR-Chicago will look into the matter and take whatever action deemed necessary.
• A Muslim physician was put on indefinite suspension without pay after making two routine errors in the course of standard treatment. He reported that his boss’ discriminatory attitude is the reason for his harsh punishment. CAIR-Chicago will look into the matter and take whatever action deemed necessary.
• A Muslim school teacher requested to take an hour off from work to attend Friday congregational prayers (Jummah). He asked CAIR-Chicago to help him seek the school’s permission. CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary.

Government

• An Islamic center was not required to obtain a special use permit by their local zoning department four years ago due to a lack of attendees. The center’s attendance has increased in recent years and the zoning department is enforcing stricter rules. CAIR-Chicago is monitoring the situation and providing council to assist in the permit process.
• A Muslim man was interviewed three times at the U.S Embassy in Islamabad and was asked to show additional documentation while attempting to obtain a visa to visit his wife in the US. CAIR-Chicago is monitoring the situation and will take whatever action deemed necessary.
• A Muslim man was stopped and searched by two police officers in a public plaza while he was praying. The officers told him he was doing something suspicious and searched his belongings. The man turned to CAIR-Chicago to ask the police for an apology. CAIR-Chicago will look into the matter and take whatever action deemed necessary.
• A Muslim man’s naturalization process was interrupted by a solicitation charge that was ultimately dismissed. He asked CAIR-Chicago to help him schedule another naturalization interview. CAIR-Chicago will investigate the matter and take whatever action deemed necessary.

School

• A Muslim student was harassed in school by students and staff who made demeaning remarks about the student’s ethnicity and accent. CAIR-Chicago has advised the family on the matter.
• A Muslim student was suspended from school after being provoked by another student to fight. The student called Muslims “terrorists” and initiated the fight by choking the Muslim boy. Both students were subsequently suspended from school for three days. CAIR-Chicago has advised the family on the matter.

General

• A Muslim man received death threats on his YouTube channel after posting a video in response to Islamophobic comments posted by another YouTube video blogger. Supporters of the video blogger made comments about finding the Muslim man’s place of residence. CAIR-Chicago informed the FBI of the case and will continue to closely monitor the situation.
• A Muslim female feels targeted by the management team of her new apartment because she wears the headscarf (hijab). The building manager sent a notification with additional restrictions that apply only to her and four other tenants. She looked to CAIR-Chicago to seek advice on how to prevent and deal with future incidents. CAIR-Chicago will closely monitor the situation and take whatever action deemed necessary.

September 18, 2010- October 1, 2010:

Employment

• A Muslim employee sent an e-mail inviting his co-workers to a free lunch in celebration of the Islamic holiday, Eid-Al-Fitr, and was reprimanded because the e-mail was deemed “inappropriate,” despite being approved by Human Resources (HR). CAIR-Chicago contacted his employer and is working to resolve the matter.
• A Muslim employee was harassed by his supervisor at work who continuously made derogatory remarks such as "Do you hate my shoes because they are from Israel?  Do you hate Israel?" and "Do you think I discriminate against you because I'm Jewish and you're Arab?" CAIR- Chicago advised the employee of possible legal options.
• A Muslim woman reported that she was sexually harassed and discriminated at her workplace. She contacted CAIR-Chicago to seek counsel. CAIR-Chicago will look into the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary.
• A Muslim female employee was fired from her job after talking with her manager about moving her sister, another store employee, to another department. Her manager claimed that she used “offensive language.” CAIR-Chicago advised the employee of possible legal options.

Prison

• A Muslim inmate filed a grievance report because he was denied halal meals in prison and not allowed to perform his regular prayers. CAIR-Chicago will contact the prison’s administration on the inmate’s behalf.
• A Muslim inmate contacted CAIR-Chicago in order to obtain an Imam to facilitate weekly prayer services (Jummah). CAIR-Chicago is working with the prison and a Chicago Imam to set up appropriate services.

School

• A Muslim student was beaten at his middle-school by another student and suffered injuries to his eye, cheek, jaw, back, and hands. CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary.
• A Muslim student was harassed by a group of students on his school bus on the way to school and called “terrorist” by his peers. CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary.

Government

• A Muslim man who is a green card holder was denied entry into Canada and detained for questioning by the FBI. He was taking a female friend that was six months pregnant to visit her brother-in-law. CAIR-Chicago is closely monitoring the situation to make sure the case is dealt with appropriately.
• A Muslim man was sent a letter by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denying his application for citizenship after his green card expired and his wife divorced him. CAIR-Chicago will investigate the matter and take whatever action deemed necessary.
• A Muslim man was denied a certificate of citizenship by the USCIS after failing to receive a notice by them asking for a photo. CAIR-Chicago advised the man of possible legal options to redress the situation.
• A Muslim man was interrogated by the FBI because of his frequent trips abroad. CAIR-Chicago recommended filing a Freedom of Information Act/ Privacy Act with the FBI or a TRIP request with the U.S. Department Homeland Security (DHS) as an initial step.
• A Muslim man was stopped at the airport and questioned arbitrarily. CAIR-Chicago filed a TRIP complaint with DHS and will help him with his naturalization application.

August 7, 2010- September 17, 2010:

A Muslim woman reported facing harassment and discrimination at her place of employment.  The woman’s supervisor has treated her poorly compared to other employees, made comments about her religion, and referred to her as “scarf lady.”  CAIR-Chicago has advised the woman of her legal options.

A Muslim woman reported discriminatory treatment by her employer.  Her employer would not compensate a worker’s compensation claim she filed for an injury she incurred while on the job.  CAIR-Chicago has advised the woman of her legal options.

A Muslim man attempted to take a lunch break after sunset so that he could properly break his fast during the month of Ramadan, but his supervisor would not permit him to take a break at that time.  CAIR-Chicago advised the man of his legal options and will continue to monitor the situation.

A Muslim woman was terminated after her involvement in a religious debate with another co-worker, although the co-worker was not terminated for her involvement.  CAIR-Chicago has advised the woman of her legal options.

A Muslim man was reprimanded by manager after employees complained that they were offended by an email he sent the staff explaining the Islamic month Ramadan and inviting the 90 staff members to join him for lunch in honor of the Islamic holiday, Eid ul-Fitr.  The email had been pre-approved by an HR representative but three staff members complained that the email was “inappropriate,” “religious and political in context,” and “too close to 9/11.”  CAIR-Chicago is contacting the company and will seek a positive resolution to the matter.

A Muslim man working at a Chicago university laboratory reported that he has been continuously harassed by a doctor in his lab.  The doctor has asked questions  such as “Do you hate Israel?” and “Are you going to bomb a plane?”  and has attacked his work performance.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action necessary to seek a positive resolution.

Public Accommodation

• A Muslim woman was kicked out of a religious homeless shelter after a member of the staff told the woman that she did not like Muslims.  CAIR-Chicago contacted the shelter regarding the incident.

Government

• A Muslim woman was stopped at the U.S./Canadian border and heavily questioned by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary to assist her.
• A Muslim man was detained by local police and physically assaulted without reason or provocation.  The man was not charged or arrested.  CAIR-Chicago advised the man of his legal options.
• A Muslim man was approached by the FBI at his home for questioning.  CAIR-Chicago advised the man of what to do if he is approached by the FBI in the future.
• A Muslim man reported problems he faced while trying to travel.  CAIR-Chicago is assisting the man in going through the Department of Homeland Security’s Traveler Redress program.
• A Muslim man reported facing harassment by local police.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed appropriate.
• Two Muslims reported experiencing delays in obtaining citizenship.  CAIR-Chicago is incorporating these cases into its Citizenship Delay Project.
• A Muslim man enrolled in a boot camp was not permitted to perform his daily prayers.  The man was only allowed to pray among Protestant participants in a Protestant Church.  CAIR-Chicago has advised the man of his legal options.

Prison

• A Muslim inmate reported retaliation from prison administrators after filing grievances regarding his treatment.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed appropriate.

Crime

• A Muslim charitable organization reported receiving several threatening and racist phone calls from an identified number.  CAIR-Chicago contacted the FBI regarding the threats.
• A Muslim woman was followed to her local mosque where her follower shouted bigoted obscenities at her.  CAIR-Chicago has contacted the FBI regarding the incident and local police are investigating.
• A Muslim woman was harassed by a man at a local grocery store who yelled defamatory comments at her and swerved his car into her while exiting the parking lot.  CAIR-Chicago advised the woman to contact law enforcement and will continue to monitor the case.
• A Muslim man had garbage thrown on him by a white neighbor who stated, “I want you Arabs out of this neighborhood.”  CAIR-Chicago advised the man regarding the matter and will provide whatever assistance necessary to come to a positive resolution.
• A mosque reported finding a burnt copy of the Quran on their property.  CAIR-Chicago advised the mosque’s board to contact law enforcement authorities and contacted the FBI on behalf of the mosque.

Housing

• A Muslim man is being fined excessively by his Condo Association for a sign he has posted in Arabic on his door.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary to resolve the situation.

June 30, 2010- August 6, 2010:

Employment

• A Muslim man has been continuously harassed by his manager who has made comments such as, “We’re going to bomb you guys.”  One day his manager physically attacked him when he failed to produce a note proving that he had missed work for a legitimate dentist appointment.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary.
• A Muslim man who has worked as a supervisor for seven years is being demoted for much less pay by a new director.  Though the director claims it is for performance reasons, the man believes there are underlying racist motivations.  The man has never been written up, has received many monthly awards, and had previously been named  supervisor of the year. The new director also recently declined hiring a new, qualified Muslim employee because he “didn’t want to hire a Middle Easterner”.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the situation and will take whatever action deemed necessary to resolve the matter.

Public Accommodation

• A Muslim woman wearing a headscarf (hijab) was prevented from donating plasma because she refused to take a picture with her hair showing.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the incident and will take whatever action deemed necessary to resolve the matter.

Prison

• A Muslim inmate contacted CAIR-Chicago after a Chaplain passed out an offensive, biased Christian magazine as “religious reading material”.  The magazine had an article called “Christianity or Islam” that explained why Christianity is superior to Islam.  CAIR-Chicago contacted the prison’s administration on the inmate’s behalf.

Government

• A Muslim man attempted to enter the U.S. on his B1 visa to set up a trade booth at a recent convention, but was denied on the grounds that his visit exceeded the scope of his visa and he was forced to return to India.  CAIR-Chicago is looking into the situation and will take whatever action deemed necessary to resolve the matter.
• A Muslim man was contacted by an FBI agent who wanted to schedule a meeting to ask him some questions.  CAIR-Chicago represented the man in his meeting with the FBI.
• Three Muslims reported experiencing a lengthy delay in obtaining citizenship.  CAIR-Chicago has incorporated these cases into its Citizenship Delay Project and continues to represent individuals subjected to such delays.
• A Muslim student and U.S. citizen who has been studying abroad in Jordan for the last year and a half was recently prevented from returning to the United States.  He has been placed on a government “no fly” list with no justification given.  CAIR-Chicago has referred the matter to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who have filed a class action in response to the growing issue.
• A Muslim woman reported being falsely arrested after she pulled into the parking lot of a church because her car ran out of gas.  The woman stated that several police officers frantically entered the parking lot, placed her and her friend under arrest, handcuffed them together, and ripped off the woman’s headscarf (hijab).  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary.
• A Muslim man reported waiting 10 years for a decision on an application for permanent residency.  CAIR-Chicago is inquiring into the matter in hopes to obtain a decision from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
• A Muslim woman reported that her child was physically and sexually abused while under the care of foster parents in another state.  The woman was being held in immigration detention at the time.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will advise the woman of the options available to her.
• A Muslim man reported problems every time he attempts to board a flight.  CAIR-Chicago recommended the man follow the Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP) through the Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) as an initial step.

General

• A Muslim woman was physically assaulted when a random woman on the street tried to pull off her headscarf (hijab).  CAIR-Chicago is monitoring this situation to ensure the case is prosecuted appropriately.
• The family of a Muslim man who was recently abducted and murdered received hate mail saying, “The only good Arab is a dead Arab,” and, “The only good Muslim is a dead Muslim.”  There have also been hate messages written in blog posts.  Both the police and the FBI have been notified and CAIR-Chicago will continue to monitor the situation.
• An Arab family has faced harassment and discrimination by their Condo Association.  After a dispute arose about a leak, a unit owner below them said he would “get them sent back to their own country.”  The board has since attempted to evict the family.  CAIR-Chicago is monitoring the situation and will take whatever action deemed necessary to resolve the matter.
• A Muslim family is being harassed by their Homeowners Association to take down their perimeter fence.  After many residents signed a petition to allow the fencing, members of the Homeowner’s Association board sent around a newsletter to neighbors that contained false information and asked them not to sign anything.  CAIR-Chicago is looking into the matter.

May 25, 2010- June 29, 2010:

Employment

• A Muslim woman believes she may have been fired for choosing to wear the headscarf (hijab).  When she was initially being considered for employment, she was told the general manager had to “see her” first.  Later the general manager told her it was because “I thought you would be wearing that thing around your head.”  One day, shortly after she decided to start wearing the hijab, the general manager accused her of skipping work and fired her, when really he had told her a few days ago that she did not need to come in that day.  CAIR-Chicago is monitoring the situation and will take whatever action deemed necessary to resolve the manner.
• A Muslim man complained on behalf of his father who is being forced to complete tasks at work that he is not able to do because of his disability.  Although the man had a doctor’s note, his employer asked him to produce a new one because his current one expired a few months ago.  CAIR-Chicago is monitoring the situation.
• A Muslim man’s new employer required a letter verifying that he must wear a beard to comply with Islam’s practices, due to the employer’s strict facial hair policy.  CAIR-Chicago provided the man with a letter of accommodation in an effort to secure his new employment.

Government

• CAIR-Chicago continues to receive complaints that United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) delays applications for permanent residency and citizenship for Muslim individuals.  CAIR-Chicago’s Citizenship Delay Project remains in place to address these complaints through informal inquiries and litigation.
• A Jordanian man was detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for eight hours at the airport with his wife and daughter.  He came to the U.S. on a tourist visa to meet with a doctor and discuss his daughter’s medical condition, but CBP accused him of coming to the U.S. to stay and work rather than for the medical purpose.  CBP cancelled their return flights and ordered them to leave in ten days.  CAIR-Chicago referred the man to an attorney specialized in this area.
• A Muslim woman was rear-ended by a Caucasian individual.  When the police officer arrived on the scene, he was very rude towards the Muslim woman and her family and denied them a copy of the police report, while he was very friendly towards the person who had rear-ended her.  CAIR-Chicago advised the woman on how to obtain the necessary information for her insurance company.
• CAIR-Chicago has received a larger number of reports recently regarding the FBI seeking to interview Muslim individuals.  CAIR-Chicago represents those who desire to have an attorney present at any such interviews.

Prison

• A Muslim man was assaulted in front of 30 inmates by a corrections officer who allegedly had great hatred for Islam and was vocal about it.  Afterwards, the assaulting officer wrote up a complaint accusing the inmate of assault.  CAIR-Chicago has asked the complainant to relay more information regarding the incident and will continue to monitor the situation.
• A Muslim man was denied medication and extra mattresses to sleep on after slipping and sustaining a back injury while in prison.  He is also treated rudely by officers and was once denied dinner because he was asleep and missed his call to eat.  CAIR-Chicago referred the man to an organization that monitors physical abuse in prisons.

Public Accommodation

• A Muslim man was engaged in an argument with other patrons in line at a store in Indiana when he was shoved by a store manager, and the manager failed to address the couple who argued with the man.  The complainant also reported that the police arrived were very rude toward him and laughed when he asked for the police report number.  CAIR-Chicago is monitoring the situation and will take whatever action deemed necessary to resolve the matter.

April 20, 2010- May 24, 2010:

Employment

• A Muslim taxi driver’s supervisor threatened to shoot him and accused him of stealing.  CAIR-Chicago advised the man to pursue administrative remedies first by filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
• A Muslim woman was verbally harassed by her managers with comments such as “why don’t they put up a naked picture of Muhammad too” and “I’m afraid to fly because I might sit next to a Muslim with a bomb.”  She also asked for time off for the Eid holiday and a shorter work week during Ramadan, but the managers did not accommodate her request.  The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is investigating the matter.  CAIR-Chicago is monitoring the situation and will take whatever action deemed necessary to resolve the matter.
• A truck driver was accused of making a late delivery by his manager.  An argument ensued, at which point the manager pushed him and told him to go back to his (profane) country.  CAIR-Chicago is reviewing the case, and a police report has been filed.
• A Muslim woman was discriminated against by her supervisor for wearing her headscarf (hijab).  Her supervisor ordered her to take off her headscarf while at work, but she refused.  He made further comments in the course of her employment, regarding her as his slave and calling her “Ms. Vicky” because her real name was too hard for him to pronounce.  The woman protested against her supervisor’s actions, especially after he allegedly pushed her, causing her to faint and go to the hospital.  CAIR-Chicago is evaluating the case and collaborating with the woman’s attorney to facilitate a resolution.
• A  Muslim worker came from India on a H1B Visa in 2001, but his company cancelled the visa in 2010 without his knowledge.  CAIR-Chicago referred the man to an immigration attorney.
• A Muslim man reported being subjected to derogatory and discriminatory treatment by co-workers and his manager.  Co-worker’s allegedly called the man “terrorist”, “Al-Qaida” and accused him of making “napalm” and “anthrax” in the presence of his supervisor.  After complaining to his supervisor and higher-ups, the man’s work hours were reduced and he was not given work for which he could earn commission.  CAIR-Chicago is preparing a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
• A woman who works as teacher at a high school reported discrimination after she was suspended without pay for false allegations submitted by students.  The students raised complaints regarding the teacher’s alleged behavior in class, but were not students in her class.  Additionally, the school took no action when the teacher was assaulted in her classroom, when hate mail was placed in the teacher’s mailbox, when her car was vandalized, or when students ripped up a copy of the Quran in the presence of the Assistant-Principal.  The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a right to sue to the woman, and CAIR-Chicago is preparing a federal complaint on her behalf.
• A Muslim man was harassed by his co-workers and was called a “Muslim terrorist” by co-workers.  He complained to the union, but the problem was not resolved.  He was eventually terminated from his employment based on false allegations that he violated the company’s anti-harassment policy.  The man believes the termination was religiously motivated because the employees who raised the allegations were employees that were previously harassing him.  CAIR-Chicago is monitoring the situation and will take whatever action it deems necessary to resolve the matter.

General

• A bank closed the account of a Muslim man for no stated reason.  He received no information from the bank branch or customer service.  CAIR-Chicago is monitoring the situation and will take whatever action it deems necessary to resolve the matter.
• A Muslim man attended a seminar wherein a consultant group misrepresented Islam and Muslims to attendees.  CAIR-Chicago is contacting the consultant group to address the matter.

Government

• A Muslim woman was questioned by police regarding her husband’s travel plans, after her husband had posted a planned trip on a social networking site.   CAIR-Chicago is advising the couple of their legal rights.
• Two Muslims have been waiting for decisions on their applications for permanent residency.  CAIR-Chicago is inquiring into the status of their applications.
• A Muslim man who petitioned to bring his wife from abroad has been waiting for unreasonable amount of time for a visa to be issued.  CAIR-Chicago is inquiring in to the matter.
• A Muslim man and his American fiancé have had housing issues with their city.  His fiancé believes that the mayor and other city officials are committed to condemning their property for personal reasons.  CAIR-Chicago is communicating with the clients and working towards a reasonable solution.
• A woman’s application for adjustment of status (I-485) was denied because of her husband’s failure to appear at the interview.  Her husband has been in prison in Florida and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was informed of this in advance.  CAIR-Chicago filed a motion to reopen on her behalf.
• A Muslim woman was at a courthouse trying to obtain a marriage certificate when she was verbally harassed.  The woman was waiting in line with her husband when a female Cook County Sheriff began to yell at her, saying things like “hurry up” and “get your damn keys out of your pocket.” CAIR-Chicago has contacted the Cook County Sheriff regarding the incident.
• A Muslim woman has not been permitted to operate her organization for disabled children, presumably due to discriminatory treatment by a local police officer.  The officer lured her to the police station to discuss ways in which her organization could work with the village, but instead met her with an FBI agent and began asking her questions about her opinions on world events.  CAIR-Chicago is contacting the village on the woman’s behalf.
• A Muslim man’s application for citizenship was denied.  CAIR-Chicago is reviewing the matter and will take whatever action deemed appropriate.
• A woman’s daughter came home from school with a safety alert issued at school that advised the community to be aware of the arrest of two men, one Arab and another Caucasian.  The safety alert was issued after the two men had been arrested, but both were Caucasian.  Neither of the men even had an Arab-sounding name.  CAIR-Chicago is reviewing the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary.
• The Sheriff of a community called a Muslim man a “terrorist” and also claimed that the man might be on a terrorist watch list.  The man’s family members have continually been a target of harassment and have been called names such as “camel jockey” and “sand nigger.”  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will advise him accordingly.
• A Muslim man was contacted by FBI on behalf of his employer.  CAIR-Chicago advised the man of his legal rights.
• A man from Kenya was questioned by FBI agents at an airport.  Some of the questions regarded whether or not he was a terrorist and whether he supports terrorism.  In a few instances, FBI agents also went to the building where he lives and his friends were also contacted by FBI agents.  CAIR-Chicago has advised the man of his legal rights.
• A Muslim man was on a student visa but later dropped out of school because of financial problems.  CAIR-Chicago referred the matter to an immigration attorney.
• A Muslim family sought help applying for travel documents as refugees.  CAIR-Chicago assisted the family in filing the relevant applications.
• A Muslim man reported experiencing a lengthy delay in obtaining citizenship.  CAIR-Chicago has incorporated this case into its Citizenship Delay Project and continues to represent individuals subjected to these delays.

Public Accommodation

• A woman complained on behalf of a Muslim patient who was not properly taken care of at a hospital.  When she asked a nurse why her patient was not being adequately cared for, the nurse responded, “how am I supposed to clean her with that thing on her head,” referring to her headscarf (hijab).  CAIR-Chicago will investigate the matter and take whatever action deemed appropriate.

February 11, 2010- April 19, 2010:

Employment

• A Muslim man was terminated from a contracted position after he used his lunch break to attend Friday Congregational Prayer (jummah).  CAIR-Chicago has contacted the employer and is attempting to reach a resolution to the matter.

• An Arab man who worked at a local car dealership for over 20 years was terminated after being subjected to derogatory comments by a supervisor.  CAIR-Chicago is representing the man in the matter and has filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

• Two Palestinian males working in St. Louis, Missouri complained of discrimination at their work place.  The men reported that their supervisor directed offensive comments regarding their race and religion at them.  CAIR-Chicago referred the matter to a civil rights attorney in Missouri.

• A Muslim car dealership employee was terminated despite his good performance and was replaced by a Caucasian employee.  The employee had overheard supervisors in the past make comments such as “at least when we get mad we don’t blow ourselves up,” and on another occasion a supervisor commented on the man’s dietary restrictions with regard to pork.  CAIR-Chicago has filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

• A Muslim student teacher was terminated after a parent complained about the teacher discussing Iraq war veterans who were now against the war.  The teacher discussed these issues with her class, which is comprised of mostly Arab or Muslim students, after she was required to read the students an article which she felt made the Muslim students in class feel uncomfortable and depicted Islam in a poor light.  CAIR-Chicago has contacted the school on behalf of the teacher and will take whatever action deemed necessary to resolve the matter.

• A Muslim woman reported being subjected to poor treatment by a new supervisor and feels that her job is at threat because of the supervisor’s hostile attitude toward her.  CAIR-Chicago advised the woman to follow through with her complaint to her employer in hopes that her employer would take corrective action to address the matter.

• A Muslim employee at a car dealership was terminated from his job despite his good performance.  The employee believes the reason to be that he overheard disparaging comments made to another Muslim employee who was also fired.  CAIR-Chicago is representing the employee in the matter and is preparing to file a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

• A Muslim man working at a store that sells auto parts and provides car maintenance services reported being subjected to discriminatory treatment by his employer.  Among other things, the man stated that when he would pray during work hours, other employees would throw things at him and make comments towards him regarding his religion.  On other occasions, other employees would threaten his safety.  When the man complained about this treatment to supervisors, no action was taken.  CAIR-Chicago advised the man of his legal options and will assist the man in whatever way deemed appropriate.

• A Muslim employee of a restaurant chain was terminated for using his cellular phone while on duty.  The man stated that he had previously requested and received permission to answer his phone while on duty because his wife was expecting to give birth.  CAIR-Chicago has contacted the employer on the man’s behalf.

• A Muslim employee of a local community college reported harassment and poor treatment by supervisors and employees working under her after she began wearing the Muslim headscarf (hijab).  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary to resolve the problem.

Government

• Five Muslims reported experiencing lengthy delays in obtaining citizenship.  CAIR-Chicago has incorporated these cases into its Citizenship Delay Project and continues to represent individuals subjected to these delays.

• Four young Muslim men returned home from the movie theater when they were approached by local police and questioned regarding a theft at a drugstore.  When it became apparent that the boys were not connected to the crime, the police advised the boys to meet with FBI agents who had a “special task” for them.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will advise the young men accordingly.

• A Muslim man living in a local Chicago suburb reported harassment by police.  He believes that a neighbor has been contacting the police and filing false reports against him.  He also reported that local police made disparaging comments about his religion.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed appropriate.

• A Muslim man was contacted by the FBI for random questioning.  CAIR-Chicago represented the man in his communications with the FBI.

• A Muslim man reported problems every time he attempts to board a flight.  CAIR-Chicago recommended the man follow the Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP) through the Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) as an initial step.

• A Muslim man of Palestinian descent was approached by FBI agents after exiting a train he travels on everyday to commute to work.  CAIR-Chicago advised the man of his rights when interacting with law enforcement and encouraged him to exercise these rights in the future.

• A Muslim man of Somali descent was approached by the FBI for a random interview.  CAIR-Chicago advised the man of his rights when interacting with law enforcement and encouraged him to exercise these rights in the future.

• A young Muslim girl with physical disabilities was beaten by police of a local suburb after the police were responding to a complaint about teenagers causing problems at a park.  The Muslim girl was not involved with those teenagers, but happened to be at the park at the time.  The police continued beating the girl even after her younger sister tried to explain to them that she was not involved and that she was disabled and had just had major surgery.  The girl was hospitalized as a result of the beating.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will advise the family of the options available to them.

• A Muslim family reported that several I-130 petitions to bring members of their immediate family had been rejected by USCIS improperly.  CAIR-Chicago is reviewing their case and will assist the family in addressing the matter.

• A Muslim African American male reported being arrested at gunpoint and physically assaulted by police.  The reason purported by the police for stopping the man was his failure to wear a safety belt.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will advise the man of the options available to him.

• Three Muslim men have been waiting for over two years for decisions on their applications for permanent residency and to obtain travel documents.  CAIR-Chicago is inquiring into the status of their applications for travel documents.

• A Muslim woman reported being falsely arrested after she pulled into the parking lot of a church because her car ran out of gas.  The woman stated that several police officers frantically entered the parking lot, placed her and her friend under arrest and handcuffed them together, and ripped off the woman’s Muslim headscarf (hijab).  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary.

• A Muslim man reported waiting 10 years for a decision on an application for permanent residency.  CAIR-Chicago is inquiring into the matter in hopes to obtain a decision from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

• A Muslim woman reported that her child was physically and sexually abused while under the care of foster parents in another state.  The woman was being held in immigration detention at the time.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will advise the woman of the options available to her.

Prison

• A Muslim inmate at a correctional center in Illinois complained of not being able to receive religious materials he ordered.  CAIR-Chicago is reviewing the matter and will contact that Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) regarding the issue.

• A Muslim inmate at a correctional center in Milwaukee complained of not being given access to religious materials and not being able to congregate for Friday prayers (jummah), notwithstanding the fact that Christian inmates are able to gather and receive their religious materials from the prison.  CAIR-Chicago is reviewing the complaint and will contact prison administrators to resolve the matter.

• A Muslim inmate at a correctional center in Indiana complained that Friday Congregational Prayer Services (jummah) was pushed to a time in which the afternoon prayer could not be prayed.  CAIR-Chicago is reviewing the complaint and will advise the inmate of the options available to him.

• A Muslim inmate at a correctional center in Illinois reported receiving different treatment than other non-Muslim inmates in regards to work he has been assigned.  CAIR-Chicago is reviewing the matter and will advise the inmate of the options available to him.

• A Muslim inmate in immigration detention reported being prevented from praying in Friday Congregational Prayer (jummah) services.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary.

• A Muslim inmate reported that his Quran was ripped up by prison guards.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will advise the man of the options available to him.

Public Accommodation

• A Muslim family reported being subjected to discriminatory treatment at a local fast food chain.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will advise the family of the options available to them.

School

• A Muslim man reported problems his 15 year old son was facing at his high school.  CAIR-Chicago gave the man some preliminary advice and asked that the man keep CAIR-Chicago apprised of any developments in his communications with the school administration.

• A Muslim woman reported that her young son was being harassed and bullied everyday at school.  The woman stated that when she approached the school administration about the problems her son was facing, they stated that the boy was “at an age” where the behavior by the bullies was expected.  CAIR-Chicago has advised the woman of her options and will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that it is resolved appropriately.

• A non-Muslim college student received a low grade on a paper she had written for a humanities course.  The professor criticized her paper and made comments about Islam that were ignorant and derogatory.  CAIR-Chicago encouraged the student to address the issue with the head of the Humanities Department and will monitor the situation to ensure that the issue is resolved favorably.

• A Muslim woman reported that her daughter’s gym teacher called her daughter the “Uni-bomber” during class on several occasions.  This has encouraged other students to also start calling the girl “Uni-bomber.”  CAIR-Chicago advised the woman to complain about this to the school administration.  CAIR-Chicago is monitoring the situation to ensure that the issues is properly resolved.

January 16, 2010- February 10, 2010:

Airport/Airline Profiling

• Three Muslim men travelling together reported being taken aside for extra security checks while in transit.  The men also reported rude treatment by the airline employees enforcing the checks.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will advise the men of their legal options.

Criminal

• A Muslim family in a local suburb woke up to find their home had been vandalized with racist epithets.  The family discovered a small fire on their lawn with an empty gas container that had been left behind; a swastika that had been spray-painted on their wall; a “joker” that had been spray-painted on another wall of their property; profanity that had been spray-painted on their window; and toilet paper that had been thrown onto their bushes.  Law enforcement officials have been contacted about the case and CAIR-Chicago is monitoring the situation to ensure that a full investigation is conducted on the matter.

Employment

• A Muslim woman began experiencing poor treatment at work after she converted to Islam and began wearing a headscarf (hijab).  The woman was mocked by another employee, who often referred to her hijab as a “rag.”  CAIR-Chicago is contacting the woman’s employer to attempt to amicably resolve the matter.

• A Muslim man applied and was accepted to become a chaplain with a state agency.  The man was later told that additional background checks were required.  CAIR-Chicago is in contact with the state agency to resolve the matter.

• Several Middle Eastern employees of a local car dealership were terminated from their jobs at various points throughout 2009 despite the fact that they had been performing well.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary to address the issue.

• A Muslim man contacted CAIR-Chicago because he feels he was terminated from his employment on discriminatory grounds due to his religion and Nigerian national origin.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action necessary to address the issue.

• A Muslim man with a pending federal complaint for employment discrimination contacted CAIR-Chicago to seek advice on his case.  CAIR-Chicago has advised the man on the matter and is reviewing his case.

• A Muslim woman reported concern that she may have been discriminated against in her search for employment.  CAIR-Chicago has advised the woman of her legal options.

• A Muslim woman reported mistreatment at her place of employment.  She stated that co-workers consistently treat her badly and supervisors do not take action when she informs them of the mistreatment.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the woman’s complaint and will advise her of her legal options.

Government

• A Palestinian man went to his local police station to file a police report for a missing passport and felt that the officer taking down his complaint was unnecessarily rude toward him.  CAIR-Chicago advised the man to report the officer’s behavior to his superiors and will monitor the situation to ensure that the man’s rights have not been violated.

• A Muslim man reported a delay in obtaining his citizenship after having passed the exam and fulfilling all necessary requirements.  CAIR-Chicago incorporated the case into its Citizenship Delay Project and filed a complaint on behalf of the man.  As a result, the man was issued a notice to take the oath, which has been scheduled for next week.

• A small Muslim community in a local suburb was experiencing issues with their county in allowing them to use a home as prayer space for Friday Congregational Prayers (Jummah).  CAIR-Chicago has advised the community’s leaders on how to proceed and is in contact with county officials regarding the matter.

• A Muslim man reported experiencing a delay in obtaining his green card for permanent residency.  CAIR-Chicago is looking into the matter and will advise the man of his legal options.

• A Palestinian man contacted CAIR-Chicago for information about applying for citizenship.  CAIR-Chicago is looking into the man’s case and will advise him on how best to proceed.

• A Muslim man reported being arrested and detained for 73 days without having been charged.  CAIR-Chicago investigated the matter and advised the man.

• A Muslim man contacted CAIR-Chicago for help in preparing for his interview for citizenship.  CAIR-Chicago will represent the man in his interview for citizenship.

• A Muslim man was detained by immigration officials.  CAIR-Chicago referred the man to a private immigration attorney and contacted his friends and family to inform him of the matter.

• A Muslim woman came to the United States on a valid visitor’s visa, but was told by agents that she would have to leave the country within five days.  CAIR-Chicago referred the woman to an immigration attorney.

Prison

• A Muslim inmate detained in a county jail in Kentucky reported harassment and denial of religious accommodation by prison administrators.  CAIR-Chicago has advised the man of his legal options and will attempt to secure local representation on his behalf.

• A Muslim inmate detained in a local prison reported denial of religious accommodation because his non-pork meals are cooked in the same pots as pork meals.  CAIR-Chicago is reviewing the matter and will advise the man of his options.

Public Accommodation

• A Muslim man was made to leave a night club he had visited.  The man was told that he could not be served because he wore a Muslim head covering (kufi) and had cornrows in his hair.  The man filed a charge of discrimination for denial of public accommodation on the basis of his religion and race with the Illinois Department of Human Rights.  CAIR-Chicago is reviewing the matter in order to aid the man in resolving his case.

School

• A young Muslim student had been harassed by fellow students at school throughout the school year.  Recently, after an altercation with the bullies, the student was suspended from school by the principal.  CAIR-Chicago has advised the child’s family on the matter.

• A Muslim university student reported discrimination by a professor.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will advise the student of what steps she should take.

December 23, 2010- January 15, 2010:

Criminal

• Several Muslims attending prayer at a local mosque were harassed by a neighbor of the mosque.  The neighbor blocked one of the congregant’s car from leaving the mosque, falsely claimed to be a police officer, and made threatening comments at several congregants.  The neighbor also pushed another congregant.  Police were called to the scene and arrested the man for impersonating a police officer.  CAIR-Chicago is following up with law enforcement regarding their investigation.

Government

• A Muslim man is experiencing a nine-year delay in obtaining his green card for permanent residency.  The Iraqi refugee applied for permanent residency in 2001 and has been waiting ever since.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will advise the man of his legal options.

• A Muslim woman and her 10-year-old child are experiencing delays in obtaining citizenship.  The child applied for citizenship under his father, who is already a U.S. citizen.  CAIR-Chicago is incorporating these cases into its Citizenship Delay Project and will take whatever action necessary to resolve the matter.

• A Muslim woman’s petition to bring her husband to the United States from Yemen was rejected even though she believes she complied with all of the necessary requirements for approval.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will advise the woman of her legal options.

• A Muslim man was approached by the FBI for a voluntary interview.  CAIR-Chicago is representing the man in the interview.

Public Accommodation

• A Muslim man was shopping at a Wal-Mart store when a security guard stopped him and accused him of stealing.  After the man denied stealing anything, the security guard had the man empty his pockets and lift up his shirt in order to verify that he had no stolen items in his possession.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will advise the man accordingly.

School

• A Muslim boy was called a terrorist and attacked by a fellow student, first on the school bus and later at the park.  The school suspended both students for the altercation.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the incident and has advised the family on how to proceed.

• A Muslim man requested accommodation for Friday Congregational Prayers with the dean of his graduate school.  The dean advised the student that he would not be accommodated and threatened disciplinary action as a result of missing class if the student chose to pray.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the incident and will take whatever action necessary to resolve the matter.

November 19, 2009- December 22, 2009:

Citizenship

• A woman is seeking a fiancé visa for her significant other and the matter is being unjustifiably delayed.  She came in contact with the senator’s office but no help is forthcoming.  CAIR-Chicago will assist her in obtaining answers to the delay.

• Five Muslims reported experiencing unreasonable delays in obtaining citizenship.  CAIR-Chicago is incorporating these cases into its Citizenship Delay Project and will take whatever legal action necessary to push forth the adjudication of these applications.

Public Accommodation

• A Muslim woman trying to complete a transaction at a bank was told by the bank’s security guard that she had to remove her religious head covering (hijab), even though the woman tried to explain to the guard that the head covering was worn for religious purposes.  CAIR-Chicago has advised the woman of her legal options and has contacted the bank’s management on her behalf.

• Two Muslim men had their bank accounts with the same bank closed for no stated reason.  CAIR-Chicago attempted to obtain the reason from the bank, but the bank would not give one.  CAIR-Chicago took action to promptly have the men’s funds released and is further investigating the matter to explore the legal options available to both men.

Prison

• A Muslim inmate filed grievances stating that he did not receive fair and equal accommodations with respect to his religious dietary restrictions and congregational prayer services.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action deemed necessary.

Employment

• Several Muslim salesmen were subjected to anti-Muslim comments by their general manager and were then fired without cause or explanation.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will advise the men of their legal options.

School

• A Muslim high school student was asked to remove her hijab and wear "normal clothes" during her physical education class. CAIR-Chicago wrote a letter seeking religious accommodation on behalf of the student.

October 19, 2009- November 19, 2009:

Employment

• Former Muslim client claims that his manager failed to comply with settlement agreement, in which case, client alleges he was terminated from company in retaliation for prior discrimination claim.

• Muslim man was laid off by City of Chicago. He feels he is targeted and discriminated against as a Muslim, specifically because he wears traditional Islamic clothing.

• A Muslim man was demoted and later terminated from his job.  The man believes that his employer’s actions were discriminatory because the reasons they gave him were false and other Muslim employees experienced similar mistreatment.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will advise the man of his legal options.

• A Muslim man was fired from his job shortly after complaining of discrimination, even though just two months prior he had received a good employee evaluation.  CAIR-Chicago is preparing a federal complaint on behalf of the man.

• A Middle-Eastern woman claims to have been discriminated against by her coworkers and supervisor.  After reporting the issue to the Vice President of Human Resources, retaliatory measures were taken, leading to her termination.  CAIR-Chicago is advising her to correspond with the Vice President of Human Resources in a detailed manner regarding her unjustified termination and will take whatever action necessary to resolve the matter.

• A Muslim man was terminated from his job for allegedly taking an unauthorized leave of absence.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will inform him of his legal options.

• A Muslim man who teaches at a local school is seeking religious accommodations for Friday prayers.  CAIR-Chicago is working with him to establish accommodations through his employment.

Government

• A Muslim man was denied citizenship because of an extended trip he took abroad, even though he maintained his residence and business in the United States while abroad.  CAIR-Chicago filed an appeal on the man’s behalf.

• A Muslim couple contacted CAIR-Chicago for questions regarding their citizenship application because they fear it will be unnecessarily delayed.  CAIR-Chicago advised the couple of the naturalization process and will take further action on their behalf if necessary.

• A Muslim man reported discrimination by local police and identity theft.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will advise the man of his legal options.

• A Muslim woman, while inquiring about her tax forms, was rudely mistreated by a female employee.  CAIR will assess the discriminatory conduct and inform her of her legal options.

• A Muslim man, who passed the citizenship test, is being investigated for marriage fraud in connection this is green card.  CAIR-Chicago will take whatever action necessary to resolve the matter.

• A Muslim man was denied citizenship based on his no longer living with his wife.  CAIR-Chicago is filing an appeal on the man’s behalf.

• A police officer made off-color racial comments to a 17 year old boy after being pulled over and ticketed.  CAIR-Chicago will gather more information regarding his case and inform him of his legal options.

General

• A Muslim man feels discriminated against by a company who denied him a sale of a product because he is on a “Denied Person List”.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating the matter and will take whatever action necessary.

• An Arab-Muslim man is facing discrimination by his neighbors in his new home.  CAIR-Chicago is investigating any legal remedy that may be available for him.

Criminal

• A Muslim woman was attacked while at a grocery store.  Her attacker had made anti-Arab and anti-Muslim comments prior to the attack.  After CAIR-Chicago became involved, hate crime charges were filed against the perpetrator.  CAIR-Chicago will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Public Accommodation

• A Muslim woman is being denied the opportunity to lease her chosen location for business.  CAIR is investigating the matter and will advise her of her legal options.

September 25, 2009 - October 19, 2009:

Government

• Two Muslim women in hijab were driving and honked horn at a slow walking pedestrian. The pedestrian turned and hit the car with her bag containing heavy contents. Police Dept refused to allow the Muslim Women to file a police report.

Prison

• A Muslim man and around 20 other inmates want to establish Friday Jumma prayer in the county jail, but they have been denied this request.
• A doctor is seeking a written copy from CAIR-Illinois regarding a request made by inmate concerning Islamic dietary rules.

General

A Muslim Taxi driver received a ticket after being accused of not wearing a seatbelt. He contested the allegations and one of the officers affirmed their disbelief in him while using derogatory rhetoric.

Criminal

• A Muslim man was battered and his daughter was physically harassed. He was charged with battery. All criminal charges against client and opposing counsel were dismissed.

Employment

• A Muslim man has been unwarrantedly harassed and terminated up by his supervisor for inefficient work. He feels this harassment is due to his Muslim faith.

September 5, 2009 - September 25, 2009:

Government

• A Muslim scholar who lives in Canada is being denied entry to the US. He has been invited to speak at a conference in Chicago.

• A Muslim man was denied a US Passport to travel to Yemen.

• A Muslim man reported an unauthorized search of his apartment by the Police Department. The man and several others were charged with obstruction of the peace and resisting arrest. CAIR-Chicago referred the man to a criminal defense attorney and will assist with any civil matters once the criminal issue is resolved.

• A Muslim woman reported a raid of her apartment and threat of deportation. The woman is pregnant and suffers health problems.

• CAIR-Chicago continues to receive complaints from the Muslim community regarding the delay in obtaining U.S. citizenship. We received three such complaints during the past three weeks. Our Citizenship Delay project remains active and continues to assist those in the USCIS process.

Employment

• A Muslim man was discharged from his place of employment. Prior to his discharge, the man reported racist comments made by fellow employees to the union and to management. He believes he was discharged in retaliation.

• A Muslim man developed a software program for a major corporation, but the company has now refused to compensate him or do business with him due to the man previously filing a Title VII discrimination claim. The claim, however, was resolved prior to the agreement to develop the software program.

General

• A Muslim man attempted to purchase a vehicle from a private owner. The man inquired about the vehicle, but the owner accused him of being a terrorist and refused to do business with him.

• A Muslim man was evicted from his apartment and alleges that the landlord wrongfully searched his belongings.

August 22, 2009 - September 4, 2009:

Government

• A Muslim man who owns a hookah lounge in Worth, Illinois reported to CAIR-Chicago that the village was attempting to close his business based on manufactured complaints about his customers. The man believed that the village was treating him unfairly, seeking to rid the community of Middle Eastern owned businesses.

• A Muslim man reported a delay in obtaining citizenship. The man applied for citizenship and passed all necessary requirements, but has been waiting for a decision since 2007.

• A Muslim boy reported being targeted by local police after police stopped the boy’s cousin for an alleged traffic violation. The boy was not in the car with his cousin when at the time he was stopped, but noticed the police questioning his cousin from across the street. When the boy told police that the man they were questioning was his cousin, they physically attacked him, arrested him, and took him to the police station. While at the police station, officers further abused the boy but did not question him. Two hours later, police called the boy’s parents to pick him up. The boy’s cousin was not arrested.

• A Muslim man was approached by the FBI for questioning. CAIR-Chicago is representing the man in his meeting with the FBI.

Employment

• A Muslim man who complained of harassment during his employment and obtained an amicable settlement through the efforts of CAIR-Chicago two years ago was recently discharged after taking a medical leave of absence for one week. The man believes that the company retaliated against him for his prior complaint as well as for taking the leave of absence.

• A Muslim doctor was discharged from his place of employment, but was not given a reason for the discharge. The doctor has never had problems with or complaints from his employer before.

Prison

• A Muslim inmate’s wife reported to CAIR-Chicago that the Cook County Jail was failing to accommodate the inmate’s religious practices by regularly serving him meals that contained pork, despite their continual requests for a pork-free diet. The inmate has lost substantial weight during his detention of more than three months. CAIR-Chicago’s staff attorney visited the inmate, who recently began receiving alternative meals with less pork. CAIR-Chicago will continue to monitor the conditions for Muslim inmates at Cook County Jail and other correctional facilities.

• A Muslim inmate from a county jail reported problems with the jail in accommodating Muslim inmates during the month of Ramadan. CAIR-Chicago contacted the jailor and addressed the matter with him. The jailor contacted responsible administrators and assured CAIR-Chicago that the matter had been resolved.

Airline

• A Muslim man reported having trouble trying to check in for flights with a particular airline.

The following is a partial list of the cases CAIR-Chicago's Civil Rights Department worked to resolve from

August 1, 2009 - August 21, 2009:

Government

•A Muslim man has been attempting to obtain a special use permit to conduct prayer services in a building in West Chicago for at least a year, to no avail.

• CAIR-Chicago continues to receive complaints from the Muslim community regarding the delay in obtaining U.S. citizenship. Our Citizenship Delay project remains active and continues to assist those in the USCIS process.

• A Muslim man who originally came to the US on a student visa in 1996 was granted permanent residency in 2002. After applying for citizenship in March 2007, he was interviewed by an officer who requested that he recite the oath of alliance. Apparently based on his inability to recite the full oath, the officer stated that he failed the English language test. When the man attended a re-interview with an attorney in February 2009, he passed the English and Civics test after three minutes. He has not yet received a decision on his application.

• A Muslim woman believes she is being investigated by law enforcement agents because of her past association with her Lebanese ex-husband and an email she wrote. She has recently sent FOIA requests to the Illinois State Police and Governors State University Police. CAIR-Chicago is determining what action to take in the event of denials of the FOIA requests.

• An Iraqi Muslim chiropractor alleges that the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation pursued false and baseless accusations against him based on race and religion. The Department of Financial & Professional Regulation presented allegations against him stating he was engaged in unlawful practices, but these allegations changed over time.

Employment

• A Muslim man sought CAIR-Chicago’s assistance in obtaining religious accommodations in the work place. He has been working as a pharmacist at a hospital for many years but was recently denied the right to attend tarawee prayer (nightly prayers in Ramadan) under a new director. CAIR-Chicago provided the man with materials citing federal law so that he could address the wrongful denial of an accommodation with his employer.

General

•The homes of Pakistanis and other minorities in Vernon Hills were spray painted with racist graffiti such as "n****rs live here" and "white power." The homeowners contacted the police who are now investigating. CAIR-Chicago is monitoring the police’s response to the incident.

• A Muslim woman was offered an apartment for rent by a landlord pursuant to a public aid program. After the landlord learned that she was a Muslim with a mental disability she was refused the residence, despite meeting income criteria.

The following is a partial list of the cases CAIR-Chicago's Civil Rights Department worked to resolve from

July 11, 2009 - July 31, 2009:

Employment

• A Muslim man believes his employer is treating him and other Muslim co- workers unfairly due to their religious practices. The employer refuses to allow Muslim employees to attend prayer meetings on Friday afternoons. Friday afternoons are usually reserved for additional hours needed to supplement weekly work quotas. The employees have requested that the make up sessions be moved to another day or time to accommodate their prayers. Their requests have been denied.

• A Muslim woman who works for an outplacement consulting organization advised her supervisor that she needed to refrain from eating during Ramadan. Her supervisor claimed that the woman would not be able to perform her job responsibility of training clients during lunch meetings if the woman did not eat during the meetings. After asserting her need to fast during Ramadan, the woman was ultimately terminated from her employment.

Government

• A Muslim man has waited eight years for a green card. In 2001 his application was approved, however a pending background investigation has hindered the completion of the process.

• An American citizen has been trying to obtain a visa for her husband. The husband currently resides in Algeria. The couple was interviewed shortly after their marriage and has been waiting for a response for over a year. After contacting her congressman the woman was advised to submit additional documents demonstrating her marital unity. The woman complied with the request but has yet to receive a response.

• A Muslim woman was delayed during her travels to Israel at airports located in Illinois, London, and Tel Aviv. The woman was wearing a hijab and believes she was targeted because of her religion.

Prison

• CAIR-Chicago continues to receive complaints from inmates housed at different correctional facilities throughout Illinois who are being denied the right to Halal meals. CAIR-Chicago is researching the possibility of filing a class action on behalf of Muslim inmates.

Miscellaneous

• A Muslim business owner in the Oak Lawn area has been the target of repeated harassment from an Oak Lawn supervisor. Last week the man’s business was allegedly closed by the supervisor based on erroneous accusations. After questioning the unjust treatment, the business owner, his wife, and his seventeen year old son were arrested. Oak Lawn’s supervisor and police staff have a history of racial and ethnic discrimination. CAIR-Chicago is working along side another Illinois Law firm to address the claims of the business owner and other similarly situated Arab individuals residing in Oak Lawn.

Government

•A Muslim man has been attempting to obtain a special use permit to conduct prayer services in a building in West Chicago for at least a year, to no avail.

• CAIR-Chicago continues to receive complaints from the Muslim community regarding the delay in obtaining U.S. citizenship. Our Citizenship Delay project remains active and continues to assist those in the USCIS process.

• A Muslim man who originally came to the US on a student visa in 1996 was granted permanent residency in 2002. After applying for citizenship in March 2007, he was interviewed by an officer who requested that he recite the oath of alliance. Apparently based on his inability to recite the full oath, the officer stated that he failed the English language test. When the man attended a re-interview with an attorney in February 2009, he passed the English and Civics test after three minutes. He has not yet received a decision on his application.

• A Muslim woman believes she is being investigated by law enforcement agents because of her past association with her Lebanese ex-husband and an email she wrote. She has recently sent FOIA requests to the Illinois State Police and Governors State University Police. CAIR-Chicago is determining what action to take in the event of denials of the FOIA requests.

• An Iraqi Muslim chiropractor alleges that the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation pursued false and baseless accusations against him based on race and religion. The Department of Financial & Professional Regulation presented allegations against him stating he was engaged in unlawful practices, but these allegations changed over time.

Employment

• A Muslim man sought CAIR-Chicago’s assistance in obtaining religious accommodations in the work place. He has been working as a pharmacist at a hospital for many years but was recently denied the right to attend tarawee prayer (nightly prayers in Ramadan) under a new director. CAIR-Chicago provided the man with materials citing federal law so that he could address the wrongful denial of an accommodation with his employer.

General

•The homes of Pakistanis and other minorities in Vernon Hills were spray painted with racist graffiti such as "n****rs live here" and "white power." The homeowners contacted the police who are now investigating. CAIR-Chicago is monitoring the police’s response to the incident.

• A Muslim woman was offered an apartment for rent by a landlord pursuant to a public aid program. After the landlord learned that she was a Muslim with a mental disability she was refused the residence, despite meeting income criteria.

The following is a partial list of the cases CAIR-Chicago's Civil Rights Department worked to resolve from

June 27, 2009 - July 10, 2009:

Government

• A Muslim U.S. citizen believes that he is being unfairly targeted and harassed by Transportation Safety Authority (TSA) at O’Hare International Airport. Each time he enters the country he is detained for several hours and interrogated, and customs personnel go through his luggage. He filed a complaint with The Department of Homeland Security's Travel Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP) over a year ago but has yet to receive an answer.

• A permanent U.S. resident was detained at the border while returning from Canada. He was handcuffed, taken into a cell, and interrogated. Customs and Border officials made copies of all of his documents. The detention lasted for approximately four hours and he was given no explanation upon his release, except that his Muslim name caught the officer’s attention.

• A Muslim man was interrogated by TSA personnel when returning from a trip abroad and he was given no explanation for the incident. Days later, the FBI showed up at his residence requesting an interview but he was not home at the time. The FBI continued to contact him in an attempt to set up an interview without providing any explanation.

• A Muslim man was arrested and harassed by a police officer who claimed the man was suspected of attempted murder. The officer kept the man in a police car with the windows closed in 94 degree heat. As a result, he suffered a panic attack and was taken to the hospital. The man was ultimately charged with a misdemeanor. He believes the officer mistreated him because he is Muslim. CAIR-Chicago logged the complaint and referred the man to a criminal defense attorney.

• CAIR-Chicago continues to receive complaints from the Muslim community regarding the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) failure to grant applications for naturalized citizenship in a timely manner. CAIR-Chicago continues to represent clients to ensure that those who meet the requirements receive citizenship.

Prison

• CAIR-Chicago continues to receive complaints from inmates housed at different correctional facilities throughout Illinois who are being denied the right to Halal meals. CAIR-Chicago is researching the possibility of filing a class action on behalf of Muslim inmates in order to grant them access to Halal meals.

• CAIR-Chicago was contacted by the Chaplain at Menard Correctional Center who stated that the institution is in need of literature about Islam but lacks the resources to obtain such materials. CAIR-Chicago referred the request to ICNA and CIOGC.

Employment

• A Muslim man allegedly suffered harassment at his workplace. He was not allowed to take breaks for prayer; he was denied reasonable accommodation for a health condition; and he was disciplined more severely than other employees for a delay which occurred through no fault of his own.

• A Muslim woman was harassed at her shop by a security officer who works in her building. The officer made offensive remarks about her to customers entering the shop and is known to have displayed signs of prejudice toward Muslims in the past.

Public Accommodation

• A Muslim woman reported that she has received citations from her townhouse management for purported violations. She believes she is being discriminated against since non-Muslim owners commit such alleged violations without consequence.