Council Supports Civil Liberties Restoration Act (CLRA)

Council Chairman Kareem Irfan spoke at a Press Conference at Chicago’s Federal Plaza organized by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights in support of the CLRA introduced in Congress by Senator Durbin (D-IL). Highlighting some of the investigative and prosecutorial abuses under the Patriot Act, Mr. Irfan praised Sen. Durbin for his fight for justice in attempting to correct many of the glaring erosions of civil rights resulting from the post Sept. 11 ‘war against terrorism.’ He also commended the Senator for his courageous stance in proposing a formal Congressional resolution categorically requiring U.S. Armed Forces to strictly abide by the Geneva Conventions when dealing with opposing forces anywhere in the world. Other presenters included Abida Mujahed and Taby Faiz-Mohammed who shared their distressing experiences with the INS Special Registration process, and Sam Osaka of the Japanese-American Citizens’ League who sketched out powerful parallels between the current oppressive climate faced by Muslim/Arab Americans and the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII.
The CIOGC has promoted salient features of the CLRA and requested member organizations as well as the Muslim community at large to write to their Congressional representatives in favor of its passage.