Tawfiq Ali
Public Interest Law Initiative Fellow
Tawfiq Ali is CAIR-Chicago's Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Fellow. Tawfiq is a graduate of Harvard University with a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and received his law degree from Harvard Law School in June 2007. He is an alumnus of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, where he provided pro bono legal assistance, representation, and advocacy for indigent clients suffering sexual harassment, domestic violence, termination of benefits, and potential eviction from their homes. He now resides in Chicago, where following his fellowship, he will work as an associate with the law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
Bitta Mostofi
Staff Attorney
Bitta Mostofi is a Staff Attorney at CAIR-Chicago. She is a graduate of the DePaul University College of Law with a certificate in International and Comparative Law. Bitta has worked with the DePaul University Immigration and Asylum Clinic, providing assistance to asylum seekers and immigrant survivors of violence. Additionally, she has worked with the Legal Assistance Foundation in Chicago where she provided legal representation for women seeking assistance with family law cases. Bitta is on the Electronic Iraq editorial board and has written and spoken extensively on United States foreign policy.
Shahzeen Karim
Government Affairs Coordinator
Shahzeen Karim is CAIR-Chicago’s Interim Government Affairs Coordinator. She graduated with honors from the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) with a degree in Criminal Justice and Philosophy and minors in Law and Society and Political Science. At UIC, she has served on the executive board of the Muslim Student Association, the Alpha Phi Sigma, and the Honors College Leadership Council. This is Shahzeen’s third and final year as the co-captain of UIC’s nationally ranked Mock Trial team. Shahzeen has served as the Chair and Editor-in-Chief for the Islamic Society of North America’s newsletter for the past five years and plans to attend law school in Fall 2008.
Amir Siddiqui
Youth Coordinator
Amir Siddiqui is CAIR-Chicago's Youth Coordinator. He is currently working on developing the Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium Program and is excited at its potential to motivate and facilitate civic engagement. He is a recent graduate of Northwestern University and majored in Biological Science. He served as President of the Northwestern University Muslim Cultural Students Association and helped lead the organization to the 2007 Northwestern Outstanding Group of the Year Award. His future plans include medical school and a continued commitment to the non-profit world.
Tricia Kemling
Staff Attorney
Tricia Kemling is a staff attorney at CAIR-Chicago. She has a Juris Doctor degree from the DePaul University College of Law and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Previously. Tricia worked as an intern at Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic where she provided legal assistance to low income clients on issues including family law and domestic violence and at the Center on Children, Families and the Law where she researched the outcomes of alternative dispute resolution.
Elisa K. Jillson
PILI Fellow
Elisa K. Jillson is a PILI Fellow at CAIR-Chicago. She graduated with honors from the University of Chicago Law School, where she received the Edwin F. Mandel Award for Exceptional Service at the Mandel Legal Aid Clinic's Employment Discrimination Project. Elisa graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Cornell University in 2003 with a Bachelor's degree in English and French. Elisa is from New Castle, PA and will be practicing in the fall at Sidley Austin LLP in Washington, D.C.
Munsoor Hussain
PILI Fellow
Munsoor Hussain is CAIR-Chicago's Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Fellow. Munsoor is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor's degree in Finance. He also received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in May 2008. He is a former executive editor of the Georgetown Law Journal's Annual Review of Criminal Procedure where he researched and edited multiple areas of criminal law for publication. Munsoor has been actively involved with the Muslim Student's Association and the American Constitutional Society. He is from and currently resides in Chicago, though he has lived in Washington, D.C., Texas and Michigan. Following his fellowship at CAIR, he will work as an associate with the law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
Sadiya Ahmed
Governmental Relations Coordinator
Sadiya Ahmed is CAIR-Chicago’s governmental relations coordinator. She is a graduate from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a degree in Political Science and Gender & Women's Studies. A lifelong activist and organizer, Sadiya co-founded the Muslim Student Action Network (MSAN), a student organization focused on social and political activism from an Islamic perspective. She also has a background in journalism, serving as Editor-in-Chief and contributor for both the Islamic Society of North America Conference Bulletin and the UIC Women's Studies Newsletter. Currently, Sadiya plans to continue bridging the gap between activism and academia through grassroots organizing and eventually by pursuing graduate studies in comparative Muslim women's social movements and contemporary social theory.
Daniah Elharezi
Operations Coordinator
Daniah Elharezi is CAIR-Chicago's Operations Coordinator. Daniah works to maintain the daily functioning of the office. Her responsibilities include working to fulfill the operational and administrative needs of CAIR Chicago in order to contribute to its smooth functioning and continued professional success. Daniah is a Certified Nurse's Assistant (CNA) and is planning to pursue a degree in business administration. As a long time resident of Chicago and a member of the vibrant Muslim community on Chicago 's Southside, Daniah is excited to be a part of the CAIR-Chicago team and to contribute toward the advocacy of the Muslim community in Chicago.
Aymen Abdel Harim
Communications Coordinator
Aymen Abdel Halim is the lead Communications Coordinator for CAIR-Chicago. He is also an Adjunct Professor at DePaul University teaching research and media courses as part of the Islamic World Studies program. Aymen received both Master's and Bachelor's degrees with honors from the Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts program at San Francisco State University, where he studied media research, theory, and production. More specifically, he is interested in studying effects related to media portrayals of Islam and Muslims. Aymen is the co-author of a book chapter on the impact of TV news on the self-conception of Arab and Muslim youth and continues to write and speak extensively on topics related to media portrayals of Islam and Muslims. In 2011, Aymen was nominated for the Stuart Hyde Award for Excellence in Writing About the Media Award, as well as the Excellence in Writing For and About the Media award by the SFSU Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts Department in 2010. Aymen is also an accomplished radio producer and videographer and produces reports and documentaries relating to Islam and Muslims. Aymen is currently working on a documentary that focuses on Palestinians living under occupation, as well as an ethnographic study on American Muslim life.
Reem Rehman
Communications Coordinator
Reem Rahman is the Communications Coordinator at CAIR-Chicago. She graduated with honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with an interdisciplinary Bachelor's degree in Cognitive Neuroscience. Her scholarship and work is committed to the power of ideas and ideals to transform society. Reem was one of the founding members of CAIR at the University of Illinois, the first university based chapter in the nation. She served as the executive director, coordinating media and civil rights activism, community service, interfaith dialogue, and leadership development. Reem has been selected as a Young People for the American Way Fellow and a Drum Major Institute for Public Policy Scholar.
Islaam Rahim
Administrative Assistant
Islaam Rahim is CAIR-Chicago’s Administrative Assistant. He attends Triton College where he is obtaining an Associate in Science degree and plans to complete a Bachelors degree in Business Administration after transferring in Spring 2008. Islaam plays forward for the Stugat team in the Soccercity league. He is deeply committed to community volunteerism and has interned at CAIR-Chicago since 2005.
Mokaram Rauf
Youth Coordinator
Mokaram Rauf is CAIR-Chicago's Youth Coordinator. He is involved in the development and growth of the Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium program, through which he hopes to empower Muslim youth with the leadership skills and knowledge tools they need for success in American society. He is a recent graduate of Northwestern University, where he completed his Bachelor's degree in Religious Studies. Now, he is concurrently pursuing his Doctorate of Medicine and Master of Public Health degrees at Northwestern. Mokaram has been a dedicated member of the Northwestern Muslim-cultural Students Association's Executive Board (McSA) and an intern with the Inner-city Muslim Action Network (IMAN). His research interests include the formation of an American Muslim identity, justice and equity in healthcare, and spiritually motivated civic engagement. He is a native of New York and enjoys running, basketball, reading, and movies. After completing his graduate studies, he hopes to be involved in non-profit medicine for underprivileged communities both in the United States and abroad.
Ian Bushner
PILI Fellow
Ian Bushner is CAIR-Chicago’s Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Fellow. Ian graduated with honors from the University of Chicago Law School, where he represented non-profit affordable housing developers as part of the Mandel Legal Aid Clinic’s Housing Initiative. Ian also graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis earning a bachelor’s degree in Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures. At Wash U, he was a founding member of the Muslim-Jewish Dialogue Group, which was awarded the Rabbi Ferdinand M. Isserman Prize for Interfaith Leadership. Ian is originally from Kansas City, MO. Following his Fellowship, Ian will work as an associate with the law firm Jenner & Block LLP.
Dina Rehab
Development Coordinator
In her new capacity as Development Coordinator, Dina works to optimize and standardize existing and new initiatives that serve CAIR-Chicago's mission. Dina also works to help expand the financial and human resource capacity within CAIR-Chicago as well as assist in the fomenting of strategic relationships that provide development and expansion opportunities for the organization. She is a University of Illinois at Chicago graduate with a double major in Political Science and Italian, and is currently pursuing a Master in Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. Dina has served as an Americorps Intern via the Arab Resource Corps at the Arab American Action Network (AAAN) in Chicago. She has also served as the Educational/Cultural Outreach Coordinator of AAAN. Dina has extensive experience in reaching out to diverse communities.
Reema Ahmad
Government Affairs Coordinator
Reema Ahmad is the Government Affairs Coordinator at CAIR-Chicago. She majored in Economics and International Affairs at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At Marquette, Reema held executive board positions in multiple student groups and was a member of the Diversity Commission, an advisory board for Student Government. Under her leadership, the Arab Student Association received the Spirit of Marquette Award, the highest honor a student group can achieve for meaningful programming and activism. Reema worked with numerous activist groups in the Milwaukee area including Peace Action Wisconsin, the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, and the Muslim American Society. She interned with a rising leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Gwen Moore. As a McNair Research Scholar, Reema was invited to present her work at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research for two consecutive years.
Azam Abdul Azeem
Operations Coordiantor
Azam Abdul Azeem is CAIR-Chicago’s Operations Coordinator. Azam works closely with all CAIR departments in order to support an office environment which is fully functional and productive. His primary responsibilities with CAIR include documenting financial records, providing IT support and solutions, and administrating personnel issues. Azam is also studying accounting in order to sit for his CPA license. In his free time he enjoys learning Arabic at Darul Qasim in Glen Ellyn, IL. Azam was the recipient of the 2007 CAIR-Chicago Community Service Award for his exceptional volunteerism in the community.
Veronica Zapata
Cultural Sensitivity Speaker
Veronica Zapata is CAIR-Chicago's Cultural Sensitivity Speaker. She is a strong advocate for intercultural exchange and seeks to build bridges of understanding and mutual respect. In addition to her work at CAIR-Chicago, she is a co-host of AZAN on WLUW 88.7, which puts a human face on the faith of Islam, combats Islamophobia, and seeks to generate discourse on various issues within the Islamic community of Chicago. At the Inner City of Muslim Action Network (IMAN), she works as a full-time Career Development Coordinator and serves as the representative of IMAN on the International Human Relations Council. She is active member of the Teacher Advisory Panel at the Art Institute of Chicago. Veronica is pursing a second M.A. degree in Cultural and Educational Leadership Policy Studies at Loyola University Chicago. In 2004, Veronica completed an intensive summer program entitled "Islamic Civilizations: Government and Politics" at Northeastern Illinois University through the Institute of Islamic Studies. In 2005, Veronica presented a paper on multiculture education at Oxford University and in 2007 she returned to present her thesis, which examines the educational goals of minority indigenous peoples in Mexico.
Ahmed Nofal
PILI Fellow
Ahmed is CAIR-Chicago’s Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Fellow. Participating Chicago law firms sponsor incoming associates to work at an affiliated public interest agency to gain valuable hands on experience with affecting the public welfare. Ahmed graduated summa cum laude from The John Marshall Law School. He was an editor on The John Marshall Law Review and was also the Advocate General in the Middle Eastern Law Students Association (MELSA). Ahmed also graduated from DePaul University with Honors with a Degree in Political Science and a Minor in Business Management. At DePaul he was involved with the Muslim Student Association (MSA) and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). Ahmed has worked as a judicial clerk for the presiding judge at the Bridgeview Courthouse where he researched various issues and prepared judicial opinions. After his fellowship with CAIR-Chicago, Ahmed will be working as an associate for the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
Hiba Hammadi
Ali Malik
New Americans Democracy Project
Ali is CAIR-Chicago’s 2010 New Americans Democracy Project Fellow. He works on mobilizing the Muslim community in DuPage County for the 2010 midterm elections. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Finance, and a concentration on pre-health medicine. Although Ali still plans on pursuing a career in medicine after finishing his Masters in Biomedical Sciences at Rosalind Franklin University, he found this as a perfect opportunity to get involved and build a network in the community organizing field. After starting out college as an Art & Design major, his personal interests include drawing, as well as a strong obsession for watching his Chicago Bears play on Sundays.
Ryan Yusuf Hilliard
Development Coordinator
Ryan is the Development Coordinator at CAIR-Chicago. He is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, majoring in Romance Languages (Spanish & French). During his tenure there, he presided over the campus’ Muslim Student Association, as well as chapters of Pi Delta Phi French Honours Society and Sigma Delta Pi National Spanish Honours Society. Since graduating, he has worked with service-based organizations such as Zakat Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Rotary International, the Rotaract Club of Chicago, and the Islamic Institute for Information and Education (III&E). Ryan, also known as ‘Yusuf’, enjoys traveling, has visited Spain, Morocco, Sénégal and Germany, and plays for the Evanston Cricket Club.
Hiba Hammadi
Operations Coordinator
Hiba Hammadi is a former CAIR-Chicago's Operations Coordinator. Her responsibilities included fulfilling the operational and administrative needs of CAIR-Chicago in order to contribute to its smooth functioning and continued professional success. Her duties also included office organizational development, processing financial records and promoting a safe and efficient work environment for the CAIR-Chicago staff. Hiba graduated with honors from University of Illinois at Chicago with a major in Psychology. She has served as an intern at Arab American Family Services, the Zakat Foundation and Life for Relief and Development. Hiba appreciates the opportunity to partake CAIR’s great mission to better the American-Muslim relations and western society as a whole.
Lyndsey Stemm
Communications Coordinator
Lyndsey Stemm is a former Communications Coordinator for CAIR-Chicago. Lyndsey graduated summa cum laude from Columbia College in broadcast journalism. She has also studied Arabic, history and anthropology. After finding herself continuously drawn to the Middle East and Muslims, Lyndsey decided to tie all her interests together by focusing her studies on foreign correspondence. Her travel experiences, as well as studying at Al-Azhar University in Cairo have solidified her enthusiasm to work abroad. She chose CAIR-Chicago because as a journalist, advocating for civil rights is extremely important to her. She also knows that culturally and religiously sensitive reporting will be the most invaluable skill she will need in order to properly share the world with others.
Amina Sharif
Communications Coordinator
Amina Sharif was a Communications Coordinator at CAIR-Chicago. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. She graduated with honors from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Amina was one of the founding members of CAIR-UIUC, the first student-led CAIR chapter in the country.At CAIR-Chicago, Amina worked with journalists and news producers in order to foster and promote accurate representations of Muslims in the media. She also managed the organization's marketing and public relations.
Ibrahim al-Hajiby
James S. Kemper Scholar
In his capacity as a James S. Kemper Scholar, Ibrahim served as a fellow with the Government Affairs team at CAIR-Chicago. Ibrahim was born and raised in Yemen and is an international student studying at Augsburg College in Minnesota majoring in International Relations and Business. Ibrahim served as a Nobel Peace Prize Forum Intern for 2011 Nobel Peace Prize co-recipient Tawakkol Karman earlier this year, acting as her direct assistant and translator. In the future, he hopes to focus on interfaith and international affairs in order to develop his skills to work effectively with various cultures. In his free time, Ibrahim enjoys playing soccer and table tennis.
Leena Saleh
Communications Coordinator
Leena Saleh earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from DePaul University. She has reported on topics ranging from culture and religion to international politics and entertainment. As the Editor in Chief of UMMA Ink, a student-run magazine, Leena has enjoyed developing graphic design, layout and cultivating readership among her peers. Leena is a former communications intern with CAIR-Chicago. With a passion for critical communication, tackling Islamophobia, design, and storytelling, she hopes to advocate for civil liberties and alleviate biases in the media. Leena can be reached at
Ambreen Zuberi
Communications Coordinator
Ambreen Zuberi is a Communications Coordinator at CAIR-Chicago. Ambreen obtained her Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design with honors from the Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. She also earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Marketing & Management from the University of Illinois-Chicago. She has significant experience in both the commercial and residential design sectors. Prior to her career in the interior design industry, Ambreen worked within the marketing field where she consulted with private companies and organizations developing graphic design, increasing website presence, and building brand awareness.
Fadi Farhan
Government Relations Director
Fadi Farhan is CAIR-Chicago's government relations director. He received his bachelor's degree from Ohio University and his master's degree from The University of Chicago. He is a member of the Muslim Civil Rights center, Mosque Foundation, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, and Southwest Organizing Project.