Ahmed Rehab discusses misconceptions about Islam and American Muslims, specifically addressing the “Ground Zero Mosque” controversy, and reacts to recent Sarah Palin twitter comments about the issue.

Ahmed Rehab and Muslim leaders talk about local Imam’s dismissal from Illinois State Police chaplaincy program due to Islamophobic innuendo

Chicago – The Illinois State Police has revoked the appointment of a prominent cleric to become the department’s first Muslim chaplain.

The knives are out for Helen Thomas.
There is more outrage in this country over some bumbling comments she recently made than over the murder of a US citizen and eight others by our ally, Israel, on the high seas. Never mind the fact that she has apologized while Israel still refuses to apologize.
Judging by any [...]

Israel is often dubbed “the Jewish State” by its supporters, so it is not out of left field to question whether its actions should be taken as a reflection of Jewish values. That is a question ultimately for Jews to answer.
Personally, as a Muslim whose own faith values are often undermined by the misdeeds of [...]

Why must a Muslim person’s faith come up the moment that person breaks through the mainstream in any conceivable way – regardless of relevance or context?
And why does it invariably end up linking that person through multiple degrees of separation to terrorism?
The fact that even a Miss USA could not be spared this exercise in [...]

Times Square, New York:
It is clear that this was a terrorist plot,” said US Attorney General Eric Holder of the recent New York Times Square incident in which a young Pakistani-American attempted but failed to detonate a second grade home-made bomb.
Some reports suggest that Faisal Shahzad, a happily married 30-year-old father of two with a [...]

Ahmed Rehab, and Yaser Tabbara, talk to Worldview’s Jerome McDonnell as part of NPR’s week-long series Islamic Reform: Towards a Global Reformation Movement

The latest Muhammad cartoon controversy, courtesy of Comedy Central’s South Park, seems somewhat contrived.

CAIR-Chicago Executive Director, Ahmed Rehab, talks to Fox News’ John Gibson about the Pentagon’s disinvitation of evangelist Franklin Graham  from an army prayer service after pressure from various groups, including CAIR.

The controversy surrounding Tariq Ramadan is based on hype spurned by the usual detractors for whom every significant Muslim voice is a foreign fifth column, feigning moderation, and secretly plotting to destroy Western civilization.

Ahmed Rehab talks to Fox’s John Gibson about how the term “Islamic Radical” is a misnomer, and why he agrees with President Obama.

The Illinois State Police Department currently has 37 chaplains or volunteer clergy who provide spiritual support for troopers, other employees and their families. Most are Christian; some are Jewish; and until last December, none was Muslim.

False information. Not true. The last guy — I mean, we don’t have to go far. The last guy that tried to take down a plane was a young African. And in the past, prior to that incident, we were looking for Middle eastern-looking men. Next time it could be an Asian guy.

You can go to war against a people or an entity and that is where Al-Qaeda comes in. So President Obama was correct in stating that we are at war with Al Qaeda, and I would add other imitation groups like Al Qaeda.

Islamic rights advocates say there’s been a rise in the number of threats directed at local Muslims. And some of these threats are being delivered right to their doors. CBS 2’s Mike Puccinelli reports.

When Ahmed Rehab walks up to his suburban home these days it’s with a new sense of awareness. That’s because of what he found waiting for him in his mailbox just a few days ago, a postmarked typewritten hate-filled letter complete with a death threat.

“I’m concerned about national security here, not civil liberties per se, and that’s why I oppose racial profiling. Because from a national security prospective it will not work neither logically nor scientifically.

The core of the problem is that Muslims are seen as a Monolith by the media and so when one Muslim commits and act of terror or error, all Muslims are brought to bear for that Act.

CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab talks to Shari Elliker about the failures of racial profiling and the outspokenness of American Muslims in condemning acts of terror.

“There are so many indicators in every instance of a potential bombing or an actual terror act that we always have knowledge of. The question is do we act upon it? Are we competent enough to be aware of that or not? In the case of the 19 hijackers of 9/11, we had files on every one of the 19. Condoleezza Rica had those files. Those files were not properly scrutinized. Its not for a lack of intelligence its for a lack of acting on that intelligence in a timely manner.”

“To me, the lesson learned from the potential Christmas Day bombing is that we missed clear red flags and we can’t ignore that and start talking about new measures while the existing measures could have work had we actually implemented them,” says Ahmed Rehab.

“The problem is if you try to hone in on those who look Muslim and I don’t even know what that means in the first place but lets assume were somehow able to figure that out — you are really honing in on 1.4 billion people around the world,” says Ahmed.

Hate crimes are their own class of crime for a very good reason: The enhanced classification and punishment deters people from criminally acting out on their bigotry. It is the government’s obligation to its citizens to take a no-tolerance position on such crimes.

Amal Abusumayah, a 28-year-old American mother of four young girls, was going about her usual shopping when she was randomly treated to a dose of derogatory comments about her faith and ethnic heritage; the offending woman, later identified as 54-year-old Valerie Kenney, referenced Fort Hood. Amal tried to ignore the comments and proceeded to check out at the counter when she felt a sharp pull on her hijab — or headscarf.

Amal Abusumayah was shopping when another customer made hateful comments against Muslims and attempted to pull off Abusumayah’s headscarf.

CAIR-Chicago’s Executive Director, Ahmed Rehab, talks to Al Jazeera’s Riz Khan about how the tragedy of Fort Hood will impact Muslim communities in the US. (Part 1)

CAIR-Chicago’s Executive Director, Ahmed Rehab, talks to Al Jazeera’s Riz Khan about how the tragedy of Fort Hood will impact Muslim communities in the US. (Part 2)

I would love the opportunity to talk about my faith proactively when there isn’t something terrible happening. And everyday, good things are going on, but the one day that something bad happens, that’s when people become interested in our faith and that is troublesome.

CAIR-Chicago’s Ahmed Rehab, as a live guest on WGN News, responds to bigoted sentiments being expressed by some Americans after the unfortunate shooting at Fort Hood.

Ahmed Rehab talks to CLTV News about Muslim efforts to combat Islamophobia through public education and interfaith initiatives.

Pundits often portray Islam as a crazy, murderous cult. Because they rely on the public’s ignorance of Islamic history, culture and contemporary affairs, they do not have to be bothered about their simpleton views being irreconcilable with 1,400 years of solid civilization by Muslims from China to Spain, or with the fact that 7 million American Muslims live among their neighbors in this country as proud, upright citizens.

Ahmed Rehab, clarifies that Hizb ut Tahrir is a marginal organization not representative of the mainstream Muslim community and explains that the vast majority of Muslims value capitalism, citizenship, and civic engagement.

Spencer postures himself as an “Islamic Scholar.” But unlike most people we tend to call “scholars,” Spencer did not burden himself with the traditional scholarly route that puts an emphasis on objectivity and academic rigor. It never ceases to amaze me how the likes of Robert Spencer and Michael Savage who gleefully spout off anti-Muslim propaganda touting the freedom of speech card, suddenly feel threatened and victimized when Muslims use their own freedom of speech to respond. Spencer has a right to speak, Savage has a right to speak, and so does CAIR.

Ahmed Rehab is on the O’Reilly Factor to respond to false allegations against Obama campaign Muslim liaison, Mazen Asbahi.

“The Asbahi affair is a consequence of the smear and fear, tar and feather anti-Muslim innuendo out there,” Rehab argued. [Video]

Ahmed Rehab is on the O’Reilly Factor to dispel the misperception that there is any controversy surrounding the Tarik ibn Zayed Academy Charter School in Minnesota. “I reckon The O’Reilly Factor must be having a really slow news day, because there’s really no controversy here whatsoever,” says Rehab. “You guys are making a mountain out of a mole hill.” [Video]

I am not drawn to Obama for any other reason but his political outlook, one that brings me hope that we can move beyond divisiveness and polarization and toward a new unity for the common good. So it is not that I am offended as a Muslim that Obama would not want to be one; I couldn’t care less. I am casting a vote for the next president of the United States, not the next imam of my mosque.

Ahmed Rehab asks 2008 Presidential candidate John Edwards a question on stage at the Heartland Presidential Forums before an audience of 5,000. [Video]

Ahmed Rehab debates Bill O’Reilly on pluralism and the equal religious accommodation of Ramadan along with Christmas in Oak Lawn, Illinois public school [Video]

CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab debates Glenn Beck and Zhudi Jasser on allowing the accommodation of Ramadan for Muslim students along with Christmas for Christian students in an Oak Lawn, Illinois public school. [Video]

Ahmed Rehab and others comment on Islam five years after 9/11.

Ahmed Rehab reacts to presidents use of the phrase “Islamic Fascists” to describe suspected terrorists. [Video]

Ahmed Rehab’s appearance on the BBC World’s HARDtalk. HARDtalk, hosted by the BBC’s Stephen Sackur, is a fast-paced and confrontational current affairs program that reaches hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide. It is recorded live in the BBC studios in London. [Video]

Firstly, I write to protest the vilification of an entire people or religion based on what their worse stereotypes have to offer; I ought to remind Higgins that, for many people, this is precisely what defines racism. Secondly, I vow to redouble my own commitment to dialogue and education, these – and not anger - are the most effective weapons against ignorance.

Ahmed Rehab and the Chicago Tribune’s Eric Zorn debate the Danish Cartoons, Terrorism, Islam & the West and much more.