Chicago Tribune: Seniors Get Look Into Way of Islam
3/30/2005

... Most of the participants point to the war in Iraq as the main reason for seeking knowledge of Islam. Others say they simply feel a need to better understand the Muslim community as it inevitably becomes part of contemporary American life.
 
  "It just seems like the community is growing so much," said Phyllis Totcke, 72, who attended the program last month. "I go to the mall and I know the cashier is Muslim because she is wearing a headscarf. But my ignorance is standing in the way of my understanding."
 
  Ahmed Rehab, who helped coordinate the program at the Northbrook mosque, said the media are partially to blame for misconceptions because of a focus on extremists. But he also places some fault on the limited accessibility of outspoken moderate Muslims.
 
  "This is what we as Muslims have to do in the post-9/11 world. We have to assume the responsibility of reaching out and explaining who we are," Rehab said. "We have to do our part to engage in these discussions."

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RECENT CASES:

Muslim Family Receives Death Threats

• A Muslim family received several phone calls from a stalker threatening to kill a mother and her 4 year-old son if the family does not move away from the neighborhood. “I know who you are, if you do not move away from my neighborhood, I will shoot you and kill you and your son,” said the unknown stalker. The local police department and the FBI have been contacted regarding the case.
  
  Muslim Student Suffers Hijab Discrimination at Testing Center:
  
  
• A Muslim student was asked to remove her headscarf (hijab) at a testing center before she began a standardized test required for graduate school. The supervisor and employees of the testing center refused to show her a written copy of the policy requiring Muslim women wearing a headscarf to be searched. A witness at the testing center also observed the employees making discriminatory remarks about Muslims while the victim was taking the test. Later, when she went to the testing center again to re-take the test, she was again asked to remove her hijab for a search.
   
   
   

CIVIL RIGHTS ACTION ALERTS:

Report Religious Discrimination at Testing Centers

• As part of a potential class action law suit, CAIR-Chicago is asking for any Muslim who has experienced any form of religious discrimination at a testing center to please contact us at . An example of a possible form of religious discrimination includes requiring or requesting the removal of a headscarf for searches, or discriminatory remarks made by employees about Muslims or Islam.
  
  North-Side Vandal Alert:
  
  
• In the past several months several Muslim families from the north-side of Chicago and the northern suburbs have had property vandalized by unknown perpetrators in the late hours of the night. If you or someone you know has had property vandalized, and feel that you may have been the target of a hate crime, please contact . Residents of the north-side of Chicago and the north suburbs are being asked to keep a look out for suspicious behavior and to report vandalizing of their property to local authorities and CAIR-Chicago immediately.
  
  
  

CAIR-Chicago Co-Sponsors The Ubiquitous Dot in Cosmic Justice
April 9, 2005

The Geometrical Knowledge as a Catalyst for Spiritual Consciousness

ARTIST - Ahmed Mustafa

WHERE - Islamic Foundation - 300 W. Highridge Road, Villa Park, IL 60181

WHEN - April 9, 2005 @ 6.30PM

Tickets $30 per person. You can find more information on the artist and the event here.

Executive Director to Speak at John Marshall Law School on Muslim Civil Rights
April 14, 2005

CAIR-Chicago's Executive Director, Yaser Tabbara, will speak on how Muslims are impacted by the USA Patriot Act at an event organized by the Muslim law student association. Ed Yohnka, Communications Director, ACLU, AND Professor Seng a constitutional and National Security law professor are also scheduled to speak. The forum will be objective and informative. The purpose is to continue the awareness of the impact on civil liberties and constitutional rights as it pertains to non-citizens and citizens alike.

TOPIC - How Muslims are impacted by the USA Patriot Act

WHERE - The John Marshall Law School - Downtown

WHEN - April 14, 2005 @ 12:00PM

CAIR-Chicago To Participate in CPS Teachers Training Workshop
April 16, 2005

CAIR-Chicago's Director of Communications, Ahmed Rehab, will discuss the Post-9/11 "Muslim Experience in the US" at a training workshop for 50 social studies high school teachers. The Japanese-American Citizens League (JACL) is offering the event for Chicago Public School teachers as CPDU credit from the State of Illinois Board of Education. Rehab will present at the Moderated event alongside Dr. Abdul Malik Mujahid, President of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC), and two Japanese-American Speakers.

WHERE Northside College Prep High School

WHEN - April 16, 2005 @ 11.00AM

Director of Communications to Guest Lecture at Roosevelt University on Muslims and the Media
April 25, 2005

Ahmed Rehab, Director of Communications, will give a two-hour guest lecture to the students and staff of Roosevelt University's Departments of Communication & Journalism. Rehab will discuss ways in which journalists can pursue fair and accurate reporting on Islam and Muslims.

WHAT - "How can journalists avoid bias and improve coverage?"

WHERE - Roosevelt University - Downtown (Michigan & Congress)

WHEN - April 25, 2005 @ 2:00PM - 4:00PM

Adding Bridges TV to Comcast Update

Proactive community members have reacted swiftly and powerfully to our campaign to get Comcast to add Bridges TV to its programming lineup. A Comcast executive has admitted receiving an overwhelming number of requests! But more work has yet to be done. If you have not already, please contact Comcast to add Bridges TV to its Chicago service. Call: 1-888-comcast

more info

CAIR-Chicago Recruits New Outreach Coordinator

Dina Rehab has joined CAIR-Chicago's team as the new outreach coordinator. Her duties include outreach to both the Muslim and non-Muslim community, as well as recruiting and coordinating volunteers. She is a University of Illinois at Chicago graduate with a double major in Political Science and Italian. She has served as an Americorps Intern via the Arab Resource Corps at the Arab American Action Network (AAAN) in Chicago. Dina also served as the Educational/Cultural Outreach Coordinator of AAAN. She has extensive experience in reaching out to diverse communities. Dina can be reached at

CAIR-Chicago Recruits New Communications Intern Coordinator
 
  Suleiman Khan is a graduate of Lake Forest College with a double major in sociology and Middle Eastern studies. Suleiman, an avid writer and a community activist will be attending law school this coming fall. Suleiman has joined Ahmed Rehab as a lead-intern at CAIR-Chicago’s Media Monitoring and Outreach project.

CAIR-Chicago Recruits New Civil Rights Intern
 
  Assia Boundaoui, a junior at DePaul University is a pre-law major with a demonstrated interest in Muslim civil rights issues. She has joined CAIR-Chicago’s civil rights department and will be interning with Christina Abraham.

CAIR-Chicago Recruits New Outreach Intern
 
  Caitlin Buysse, is a junior at Northwestern University with a major in Religion. Caitlin has joined Dina Rehab in CAIR-Chicago’s Outreach Department as an interfaith outreach intern.

Help Wanted: Operations Coordinator

CAIR-Chicago has an immediate opening for the full-time position of Operations Coordinator. This position requires working knowledge of IT related issues (HTML, MS Office, Excel and Access). A college graduate is preferred. For more information, visit our career center. Qualified candidates may email their resume to

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