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PHOTOGRAPH BY ZOL87, CC-BY-SA-2.0
PHOTOGRAPH BY RAHEEL AHMAD, CC-BY-SA-2.0
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(clockwise from above) South Side community members (from left) Khaleelah Rafeer, Shaikh-Khalil Abdur-Rafear, and Farid Al-Taqi celebrate Eid; Masjid al-Faatir, Chicagoan Muslims rally at the White House 20 March for immigration reform; Perpetual Glory - Islamic Art Exhibition is hosted at Chicago’s School of Art Institute
representative is. However, our community still needs to be more informed about state budgets, how bills can affect them. Hopefully with organizations like the Council and CAIR-Chicago, we can encourage the community to take the political activism up a notch.” Due to the Council’s immense work, led by its current chairperson Dr. Zaher Sahloul (president, the Mosque Foundation [www.mosquefoundation.org]) along with its sister organization United Power for Action and Justice (www.unitedpower.org), nine Muslims were recently appointed to state boards and commissions; several more positions are being considered. Although these positions are unpaid, they are excellent ways to influence policy and make a difference. The community is learning that citizen advocacy is more than just voting for your president once every four years; it is something every American has a right to practice. On 20 Mar., two busloads of Chicago Muslims went to Washington, DC, to join the march for complete immigration reform. The Council joined the Golden Door Coalition (www.goldendoorcoalition.org) and met with its elected representatives to
Community members, young and old, immigrant and indigenous, homemaker and student, all go to Springfield to advocate for issues that will benefit everyone. advocate for increased funding for refugee families, the majority of whom arrive from Muslim countries. Whether it is circulating petitions for a fair district map in the state or to end racial profiling or to support a petition, the political buzz in the community has picked up quite a bit during the decade. At the rate at which it is going, in the next decade Muslims will be more prominent in the political landscape of Illinois and beyond.
Muslim ACTION! Day One of the community’s most recent Council-led achievements is the successful execution of such large-scale Muslim
advocacy events as Muslim ACTION! Day (www.ciogc.org/Go.aspx?link=7654859). Community members, young and old, immigrant and indigenous, homemaker and student, all go to Springfield to advocate for issues that will benefit everyone and to learn how to flex their political muscles. “In 2009, at the Council’s first Muslim ACTION! Day, Springfield witnessed 470 empowered Muslims … advocating for [the] common good on behalf of all citizens of Illinois,” said Dr. Sahloul. “Our legislators were impressed, and Springfield took notice of that historic day. In April 2010, the Council reiterated how democracy is not a spectator sport by taking even more people to the Capitol.” This year, 1,000 participants advocated for fresh food for inner city residents, preventing foreclosures, and teaching English to immigrants at mosques. The Council chose issues that affected everyone and joined hands with partner and member organizations to show how everyone can— and should—work together for the common good. Among their 2009 activities were lobbying their legislators to pass a resolution encouraging public schools to explore introducing Arabic as a second JULY/AUGUST 2010 ISLAMIC HORIZONS 35