Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Chicago

The founders of the national CAIR organization have been suspected of supporting radical groups, particularly Hamas. ¹

Programs

CAIR Chicago offers programs concerning various aspects of Muslim immigration, including immigration help, asylum help, reporting discrimination, reporting media bias, and a “know your rights” educational guide. ²

The organization has several ongoing advocacy and activism projects that aim to advance the cause of Muslim immigration and acceptance in American society, such as “immigration delay project,” “refugee and asylum project,” “prison project,” “Healers: anti-bullying project,” a project to fight the Trump administration’s ban on travelers from certain Muslim-majority countries, “the Chicago school project,” “hate crimes project,” and a voter mobilization initiative called “the election portal.” ³

CAIR Chicago has a page on its website dedicated to the Black Lives Matter movement, affirming its support and linking to various groups to which interested donors may give money. ⁴

Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium (MYLS)

CAIR Chicago runs a youth activist development program called Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium (MYLS). It aims to showcase “the diversity and multiculturalism of Muslim youth” and hold discussions on “self-identity” and “activism.” It encourages attendees to feel empowered and become community activists. ⁵

In 2011, MYLS invited the following keynote speakers to deliver talks to the students: professor of Islamic theology Omer Mozaffar, photojournalist Sadaf Syed, program coordinator for Convert Connection Mike Swies, director of Media Relations at the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA) Maria Omar, and executive fellow at Inner-city Muslim Action Network (IMAN) Ndidi Okakpu. ⁶

CAIR Chicago was still running MYLS as of 2020. It made a promotional video for the program that year, highlighting how the Symposium connects Muslim youths from grades 8 through 12 to foster in them a sense of shared “unique” identity based on “faith and nationality.” It aims to turn them into community leaders and ultimately global advocates for Muslims. It self-reportedly gives students a platform to discuss “building up our community,” “advocating for civil rights,” and “standing up for social justice,” among other things. ⁷

Financials

In 2021, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Chicago had a revenue of $1,898,837, expenses of $853,851, and net assets of $1,912,983. ⁸

Leadership

As of 2023, Ahmed Rehab was the executive director of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Chicago. Rehab is also the founder of MyJihad Inc., a global public relations campaign that seeks to challenge both “Muslim and Anti-Muslims [sic] extremists.” He is also the founder of left-of-center media outlet Chicago Monitor, the Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium, and the co-founder of research collective Bridge Initiative at Georgetown University. ⁹

Rehab was a freelance writer and activist prior to joining CAIR, frequently appearing in the Chicago Tribune and on Chicago Public Radio. Rehab worked as a consultant for multinational consulting firm Arthur Andersen LLP from 1999 to 2002. Rehab has served on Illinois Governor Pat Quinn’s (D) Muslim Advisory Council, as vice chairman of Illinois resettlement program RefugeeONE, as a board member of Egyptian American Society, and as a board member of Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). He was a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ Muslim Task Force, an Eisenhower fellow of the American Assembly, and a graduate of the FBI Citizen’s Academy. ⁹