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Contact: Kareem Irfan [Chairman - Ph.: (847) 867-4304 - Email: irfank@ciogc.org]

PRESS RELEASE
Chicago - Friday, February 14, 2003

CHICAGO MUSLIMS CONDEMN ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT'S LINKAGE OF HOLY HAJJ PILGRIMAGE AND INCREASE IN NATIONAL THREAT CONDITION

The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC), an umbrella organization representing over 400,000 Muslims throughout Chicagoland, expresses its grave concern over the linking of the Hajj pilgrimage to the recent raising of the national threat condition to "orange".

The specific description of the Muslim holy pilgrimage of Hajj as a determining factor in the issuance of this alert is an affront to Muslims and the peaceful faith of Islam. Attorney General Ashcroft's linkage of Hajj with terrorism falsely makes the entire faith of Islam suspect. The Hajj pilgrimage is a religious obligation upon all Muslims. It is a time of prayer and deep spiritual reflection over the course of several days. To equate a time of prayer with terrorism is extremely irresponsible and offensive.

Unfortunately, some of our fellow Americans will now look upon their Muslim neighbors with suspicion due to the words of Attorney General Ashcroft. The Chicagoland Muslim community hopes that our fellow Americans will not equate Islam's spiritually rejuvenating pilgrimage of Hajj with terrorism.

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