330 East Roosevelt Road, Suite G5, Lombard, IL 60148 - Ph.: 630.629.7490 Fax: 630.629.7492
Contact: Kareem M. Irfan [Chairman, CIOGC - Ph.: 847.867.4304; irfank@squared.com]

PRESS RELEASE
Chicago - Saturday, September 7, 2002

CHICAGO MUSLIMS JOIN IN A DAY OF UNITY AND PRAYER
ON THE 9/11 ANNIVERSARY

As the one-year mark for the tragic events of September 11, 2001 approaches, we at the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago ("the Council") join our fellow Americans in remembering all of the victims of the tragic events, including victims from various religious and ethnic communities, as well those who worked valiantly during this tragedy.

In this time of reflection, our hearts are with the victims and their loved ones, and our prayers are for peace and compassion. "In keeping with Islam's strong injunction to show compassion and concern for all fellow beings, we continue our heart-felt prayers for the families of all who have been affected by these evil attacks" said Mr. Kareem Irfan, Esq., Chairman of the Council.

Last month, the American Muslim Political Coordination Council called on all faith communities to participate in the national observance by opening houses of worship for interfaith visits, prayers, congregational exchanges, and other activities intended to foster national unity and religious tolerance. The Council joins AMPCC by actively encouraging the Chicago area Muslim-American community to observe a 'National Day of Unity and Prayer' on September 11, 2002.

The Council will hold a special interfaith memorial ceremony of unity and prayer. The service will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10, 2002, at the Islamic Foundation (Villa Park, Illinois), and include reflections by the Chairman of the Council, Mr. Kareem Irfan, Esq., Rev. Stanley Davis (National Conference for Community & Justice), Rabbi Ira Youdovin, (Chicago Board of Rabbis), Rev. Paul Rutgers (Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago) and Sr. Joan McGuire (Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago). The Council has organized this ceremony to provide an avenue for American-Muslims to come together with people of other faiths, who were supportive of the American-Muslim community in the aftermath of September 11, reflect on the tragic loss of life, and provide strength to each other during these difficult times. The ceremony will also provide an opportunity for youth to reflect on the tragedies: the fifth grade class at Islamic Foundation School will present a song, and high school students from Muslim parochial high schools will recite a poem.

In addition, the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago is collaborating with the City of Chicago for the September 11 observance to be held at Daley Plaza. The Chairman of the Council, Mr. Kareem Irfan, will participate in a formal prayer reading at the event.

The Council is a federation of approximately 50 major Islamic centers, institutions, mosques, schools, and social service groups. Through its member organizations, the Council represents the collective interests and viewpoint of over 400,000 individual Muslims in Chicago's greater vicinity.

Attached please find a list of memorial ceremonies that Chicago area mosques and Islamic schools will be hosting and participating in. The Council has compiled this list as a service for those who wish to attend these remembrance ceremonies.

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