The Islamic Community Center of Illinois (ICCI) is a Chicago-based Mosque and religious center that operates several institutions including a school, prayer halls, a youth center, and a lecture hall. ¹

Following the Hamas terror attacks on the State of Israel on October 7, 2023, the center called for a ceasefire in the resulting and ongoing Israel-Hamas war. ² In addition, the center has previously called for broader Palestinian nationalist advocacy. ³  

Initiatives

The Islamic Community Center of Illinois (ICCI) operates a full-time, pre-K through 8th grade academy. ⁴ It also runs a Sunday school, a summer school, and a Dar Al Hikmah Islamic intensive with a focus on educating students in Islamic values that it claims they would not “…get at a regular school.” ^{5 6 7} ICCI also has a youth program. ⁸ The center also offers marriage and divorce services, counseling, and zakat services to help members of the local Muslim community fulfill their charity obligations. ⁹

Political Involvement

In March 2023, ICCI was one of 116 nonprofit organizations that Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (D) designated to receive funding for enhanced security across the state. The funding was intended to be used to help organizations strengthen efforts to protect against public safety and security threats. Several of the other grantees included religious institutions, abortion centers, cultural movements, and education facilities that were deemed at high risk of attack. The center received $390,000 from the grant. ¹⁰

The Islamic Community Center of Illinois (ICCI) has served as a meeting place for local politicians to interact with members of the local Muslim community within the city of Chicago. For example, in February 2024, ICCI hosted a “Meet the Candidates” event for its members and community to meet the candidates for Chicago’s “primary election.” ¹ The same advertisement of the event claimed that the center does not, “…endorse in political elections and is merely hosting the event as a courtesy to the community.” Hanania, Ray. “Islamic Community Center of Illinois hosts Meet the Candidates Night Feb. 22, 2024.” Arab Daily News. February 2024. Accessed September 15, 2024. https://thearabdailynews.com/events/islamic-community-center-of-illinois-hosts-meet-the-candidates-night-feb-22-2024/[/note]

In April 2024, ICCI hosted a night Eid Al-Fitr prayer in honor of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D). Johnson attended the event and addressed those in attendance, while the center praised Mayor Johnson for his, “great leadership since becoming mayor, leadership that is built on respect of others and an embrace of fairness and equality.” ¹¹

Activities

Advocacy

In December 2017, following then-President Donald Trump’s official recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the Islamic Community Center of Illinois (ICCI) participated in a “National Rally for Jerusalem” in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., with advertisements claiming the Jerusalem is the, “Forever Capital of Palestine.” ³ In addition to ICCI, other organizations that participated in the rally included American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), and the Muslim Fund for America (MLFA). ³

Following the Hamas terrorist attack against the State of Israel on October 7, 2023, the Islamic Community Center of Illinois (ICCI) participated in a local protest in downtown Chicago that called for support of Palestine as well as a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and a condemnation of Israel’s response to the initial Hamas attack. ² One protester at the rally interviewed claimed, “this is a struggle between the colonized and the colonizer, the occupied and the occupier.“ ² Other several left-of-center organizations in attendance at the rally include the Chicago branch of Anakbayan-USA, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), and the U.S. Palestinian Community Network. ²

ICCI belongs to the Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine, which includes several organizations including American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), the Palestinian American Community Center (PACC), the Chicago branch of SJP, and the Palestinian American Council. ¹²

1. Hanania, Ray. “Islamic Community Center of Illinois hosts Meet the Candidates Night Feb. 22, 2024.” Arab Daily News. February 2024. Accessed September 15, 2024. https://thearabdailynews.com/events/islamic-community-center-of-illinois-hosts-meet-the-candidates-night-feb-22-2024/
2. Hu, Kevin. “Protesters Demand Ceasefire in Gaza and End to Israeli Occupation.” South Side Weekly. October 22, 2023. Accessed September 15, 2024. https://southsideweekly.com/protesters-demand-ceasefire-in-gaza-and-end-to-israeli-occupation/
3. “National Rally for Jerusalem at White House – 12/16 @ Noon.” American Muslims for Palestine. December 2017. Accessed September 15, 2024.  https://www.ampalestine.org/organize/events/national-rally-jerusalem-white-house-1216-noon
4. ICCIA Academy. Islamic Community Center of Illinois. Accessed September 15, 2024. https://iccicenter.org/schools/icciacademy/
5. Sunday School. Islamic Community Center of Illinois. Accessed September 15, 2024.  https://iccicenter.org/schools/sunday-school/
6. Summer School. Islamic Community Center of Illinois. Accessed September 15, 2024.  https://iccicenter.org/schools/summer-school/
7. Dar al-Hikmah. Islamic Community Center of Illinois. Accessed September 15, 2024.  https://iccicenter.org/schools/dar-alhikmah/
8. Young Muslims at ICCI. Islamic Community Center of Illinois. Accessed September 15, 2024. https://iccicenter.org/ymi/
9. Services. Islamic Community Center of Illinois. Accessed September 15, 2024.  https://iccicenter.org/services-grid/
10. “Gov. Pritzker Announces 116 Non-profit Organizations Awarded $20 Million for Enhanced Security Across Illinois.” Ready Illinois. March 23, 2023. Accessed September 15, 2024. https://ready.illinois.gov/press-releases/press-release.26227.html
11. Hanania, Ray. “Muslim community hosts Eid Al-Fitr prayers honoring Mayor Brandon Johnson.” Arab Daily News. April 2024. Accessed September 15, 2024. https://thearabdailynews.com/events/muslim-community-hosts-eid-al-fitr-prayers-honoring-mayor-brandon-johnson/
12. Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine. Facebook. Accessed September 15, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/groups/chicago.cjp/