Jinan Chehade
Law Clerk - Winter 2022
Jinan Chehade is a 3L at Georgetown University Law Center. She was born and raised in Chicago and graduated from DePaul University with a Bachelor’s in Public Policy in 2020. Prior to law school, Jinan worked at an Immigration Law Firm in Chicago and founded a national non-profit campaign that has fundraised over $500,000 for humanitarian causes around the world. During her 1L summer, she worked as a legal intern for the ACLU of Illinois. As a 2L, Jinan worked at the Department of Justice Civil Rights Special Litigation Division and as a student attorney at the Georgetown Center of Applied Legal Studies Clinic. She enjoys learning about new developing areas in the legal field and challenging herself to refine her skills. Jinan loves, biking, painting, and having Harry Potter Marathons with friends. She also comes from a very diverse background and enjoys learning about new cultures and exploring different cuisines.
Abir Khan
Law Clerk - Summer 2022
Abir is a rising 2L at Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she is an associate editor in the Chicago Kent Journal of IP and a member of the First-Generation Law Students Association. Abir graduated magna cum laude from DePaul University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in User Experience Design. Abir chose CAIR because she is interested in learning about the intersection of civil rights work within the legal field and wants to be more involved with and represent the Muslim community of Chicago and its surrounding areas. In her free time, Abir enjoys watching basketball, biking, and exploring the city with family and friends.
Benjamin Ginzky
Law Clerk - Summer 2022
Ben is a 3L at Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he is on the board of National Lawyers Guild and in his second semester of work in the Criminal Litigation Clinic. Since before starting law school, Benjamin has worked as a legal researcher on criminal cases brought under the national security laws. Benjamin is excited to learn the civil rights side of defending the constitutional interests of minorities and all people facing state repression and societal discrimination. He also is also a student of language and literature, and, in addition to contributing to local and alternative news and cultural journals, hopes to improve his Arabic, Spanish, Urdu, and Esperanto this summer.
Maryam Hafiz
Communications Intern - Summer 2022
Maryam is a junior at Arizona State University with a major in Graphic Design with an interest in UX/UI design and animation. She chose to work at CAIR-Chicago because she would like to be in an organization that cares about Muslims. She is looking forward to enhancing her graphic design skills and gaining a professional experience. In her free time, Maryam likes crafting, drawing, cooking, baking, and photography.
Jawad Farooqui
Government Affairs Intern - Summer 2022
Jawaad is a Political Science student at DePaul University. A member of DePaul’s UMMA, which stands for United Muslims Moving Ahead, Jawaad is involved in Muslim-related activities at DePaul University while also studying for his degree. He chose CAIR-Chicago because he thought it would be a good fit for him as his first internship. It represents an opportunity to help the Muslim community while providing networking and mentorship opportunities for him. He is also a Journalism minor, and has experience with video making/editing software, and is an amateur author and script writer.
Zoya Farooqui
Government Affairs/Outreach Intern - Summer 2022
Zoya is a high school senior currently attending Islamic Foundation School, where she is a member of The National Honor Society. She will be graduating in 2023 and is looking to expand her horizons in the field of law. Having advocated for non-profit organizations in the past, she is looking forward to improving her skills in outreach and civic engagement. Through work at CAIR-Chicago, she also hopes to shine a new light on underrepresented communities and to gain experience of social activism. She has participated in several competitions with her school, including the Academic Challenge (ACES), the National Science Bowl, and State Science Fair contest. She hopes to use this same competitive and goal-driven spirit to make an impact in her community. In her free time, she enjoys reading, journaling, and biking
James Fleming
Law Clerk - Summer 2022
James is a student at DePaul University College of Law, where he is treasurer of the Society for Asylum and Immigration law and treasurer of the university chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. James graduated from Oberlin College in 2018 with majors in Linguistics and Religion with a concentration in Islam. James is from Albuquerque, New Mexico, but also spent a year living in Meknes, Morocco after graduating. His experience teaching a computer use class for refugees while studying abroad in Amman, Jordan motivated him to pursue a career in immigration law and civil rights. His interests include language learning, reading, rugby, and collecting records.
Nuveria Syeda Tajammul
Government Affairs - Winter/Spring 2022
Nuveria Tajammul was born in Texas and raised in Chicago. She is a freshman in the Driehaus College of Business at DePaul University and is pursuing a BSB in Management and a double minor in Public Policy and Nonprofit. As a Government Affairs Intern, she hopes to develop her skills in policy analysis and social justice activism to narrow her professional goals. Nuveria has been a long-standing volunteer in CAIR Chicago and looks forward to continuing with the organization. In addition to volunteering, she enjoys lobbying, community service, and exploring different cultures. In high school, she competed in debate and qualified for the national NSDA tournament, becoming her school's first qualifier. CAIR Chicago will provide Nuveria with the opportunity to hone her skills and step out into the world.
Raneem Qassem
Government Affairs Intern - Winter/Spring 2022
Raneem is a freshman at DePaul University, where she is studying Economics with minors in Public Law/Political Thought and Applied Diplomacy. She is originally from Rockford, but is enjoying living in the bustling city of Chicago while she goes to school. Raneem joined CAIR-Chicago because she was moved by the work that they have done in protecting civil rights and is excited to join their efforts to advocate for the Muslim community and beyond. She hopes to go to law school to become an attorney and continue to be an advocate for marginalized groups, especially in the fields of civil and human rights. She also wants to run for public office in the future. In her free time, she enjoys working out, crocheting, reading, and eating fries.
Aysemine Tary
Government Affairs Extern – Winter/Spring 2022
Aysemine Tary is a recent Master’s graduate in Human Rights from the School of Advanced Study, University of London where she received the Albie Sachs Award for Best Dissertation. Based in London, Aysemine has also lived in Spain and most recently Cambodia where she taught English at an all-girls’ NGO school promoting the educational rights of women. Her professional interests include international human rights and civil rights, with particular focus on the rights of women and girls and post-conflict reconciliation between government and civil society. Aysemine is keen to make a positive contribution to CAIR-Chicago’s holistic work of defending and promoting the rights of Muslim Americans and believes she will gain valuable experience in activism and civic engagement during her externship.
Sara Hubaishi
Law Clerk - Winter/Spring 2022
Sara is a student at Washington University in St. Louis, where she serves as a member of the Honor Council and an Executive Editor of the Washington University Law Review. Sara graduated from Brenau University Woman College in 2017 with a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts, with an English and History concentration. She later attended Brenau University for a Master's degree in Communication and Media Studies, writing her thesis on media representation of Arab terrorists versus White terrorists. Sara is originally from Toronto, Canada, but spent half her life in Atlanta, Georgia. Sara is interested in advocating for religious minorities and wants to give back to her community. She is excited to work with CAIR-Chicago in the Civil Rights Department to make a difference.
Sumayya Ali
Government Affairs Intern - Winter/Spring 2022
Sumayya Ali is a native to the greater Chicagoland area and graduated from North Central College in Naperville with a bachelors in Political Science. Her future careerial plans are to work toward becoming a Government Affairs Director for an organization. Sumayya joined CAIR Chicago because of this unique opportunity to intern for a position she has always wanted to while working toward things she is passionate about. Sumayya also joined CAIR Chicago because of the resourceful work they have done for the Muslim community in Chicago and is eager to assist CAIR in continuing it’s mission. In her free time, Sumayya enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family and traveling.