Chicago Roundup

One Nation, One Dream. ICIRR Immigrant Integration Summit

Rep. Jan Schakowsky Announced Case Closing of Jilani Family

In front of a packed audience at Molcolm X College U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky announced the administrative closing of cases against Mujahid Jilani family. She was speaking at the 2^nd Annual Illinois Immigrant Integration Summit of Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). She commended the initiative taken by President Obama who recently asked the Department of Homeland Security to practice the rights given to them by ‘Morton’s Memo’. The memo gives authority to DHS to administratively close ongoing cases which besides other criteria, are in the immigrant courts for 10 years or more.

Family of Syed Mujahid Jilani suffered for years since they received a notice of voluntary deportation in 2002 while coming back from a failed entry into Canada. It was NSEERS, the infamous registration of citizens of 12 Muslim countries in the wake of 9/11 which made Jilani family to suffer this long. They came to US in 1999 to get treatment for their 3 years old daughter Tooba Jilani, a special child with mental and physical deficiencies. She was going through surgical correction at Shriner’s Hospital. During this 10 year ordeal volunteers from ICIRR Mehrdad Azemun and Ashley Moy-Wooten, Dr. Mujahid Ghazi from Asian Broadcasting Network and Sadruddin Noorani, a community activist worked with Tahir Kameli, John Floss and other attorneys from Kameli Associates who provided selfless pro bono help to the aggrieved family. It was not before U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky met the family and the activists on 20^th of October, 2011 that the things started rolling. She wrote a letter to the Secretary of DHS Hon. Janet Napolitano asking her to exercise prosecutorial discretion and administratively closing the pending removal proceedings based on the criteria mentioned in John Morton’s memo of July 2011. Rep. Schakowsky asked other families like Jilanis to come forward and take advantage of President Obama’s initiative to help immigrant communities.

The Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights, an umbrella of 130 member organizations, attracted 1500 attendees to attended workshops and closing session which featured appearances by Senator Dick Durbin, U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Illinois Speaker of the House Mike Madigan, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, Cook County President Tony Preckwinkle, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and University of Illinois President Michael Hogan.

In his speech Governor Pat Quinn reiterated his intention of implementing the Illinois Dream Act, the 2011 law that created a privately funded scholarship program for undocumented students. He also announced a seven-member DREAM Fund commission of education, business, and immigrant leaders to raise money for scholarships.

“We have a tough budget, but we don’t want to cut back on human services,” the Governor defended his budget.

Earlier Alie Kabba of United African Organization and ICIRR Board President welcomed the attendees and guests. Tuyet Le from Asian American Institute talked about the 2011 successes of ICIRR and introduced ‘One Nation, One Dream’ 2012 platform.

Incoming CEO of ICIRR Lawrence Benito, CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab and other community activists also spoke at the event.

Out going CEO and incoming ICIRR Chief Strategy Executive Josh Hoyt and Congressman Gutierrez Recognized Rev. Walter “Slim” Coleman and Emma Lozano by presenting a life size painting of them.

Eid Milad un Nabi Celebrated in Des Plaines

Eid Milad un Nabi was celebrated in Des Plaines by local residents. After recitation of Holy Qur’an, Hamds and Naats were recited by a Mohammad Aslam, Javed Bhatti and others. Peer e Tareeqat Allama Syed Shah Badruddin Quadri Al-Jilani spoke about the life of Prophet Muhammed (SAW). The event was attended by a large number of the the Muslim community. Azher and Aneeqa Hussain made sure that no one leave without a Tabarruk. The food was also served at this event.

Masjid al-Islam Inaugrated in Elgin

Decorated with beautiful blue tiles imported from Pakistan, the beautiful building of Masjid al-Islam was inaugurated in a unique style. After Bismillah of 6 year old Waliullah young Muslim scholars and students recited Qur’an one by one. In his speech Maulana Abdullah Saleem thanked the community to make a dream come true of having a much needed Masjid within the IIE complex in Elgin. He prayed for all the people who contributed in the building process. More than 1500 people attended this inauguration. This mosque will not only serve the students living in the hostel but will also attract the Muslim community living around it.

Kashmir Solidarity Day Observed in Chicago

On February 5^th every year, Pakistanis all over the world observe the Kashmir Solidarity Day globally to re-affirm their passionate love and affiliations with the people of Indian-Administered Kashmir. It was observed in Chicago last week, organized by the Consul General of Pakistan in Chicago. K. Rizwan Kadir, of the University of Chicago Kashmir Society, made an impassionate presentation about the human rights abuses in Kashmir. He pointed out that what started out as a territorial and political issue devolved into a human rights morass in the last 2 decades. According to the statistics he presented, in 10 years, from 1989 to 2009 over 92,000 Kashmiris were killed. Out of which 7,000 were custodial killings. There were 115,000 arrests. 107,000 children were orphaned, 105,000 houses/shops were destroyed. 23,000 women were widowed and 10,000 rapes were reported which do not include sexual torture of men. He further explained that a lot of this is a direct result of the draconian laws, such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) of 1958 and the Disturbed Areas Act of 1976, which grant the military and the police extraordinary powers to search and arrest and detain people without warrant and shoot to kill.

Kadir pointed out that the relatives of more than 8,000 persons continue to wait for the government to probe all the cases of disappearances, deliver justice to the families of the disappeared, and punish the perpetrators. In the meantime, a new horrific phenomenon, dubbed “Half Widows” has emerged, whereby women, whose husbands have been subjected to enforced ‘disappearances’ and have not yet been declared deceased, continue to have their family lives on hold. By conservative estimates, there are 1,500 such widows in Kashmir.

A long time Kashmiri activist Javed Rathore also asked the community to unite and devote time to create awareness about Kashmir issue. Kainat Zaheer spoke about Kashmir issue from a youth standpoint. She shed light on the history of the conflict and long oppression and aggression of Kashmiris by Indian security forces. Dr. Murtaza Arain introduced Michael Wolfe’s book on Kashmir which was published after he made a sponsored visit of the occupied Kashmir back in 1998. Consul General Zaheer Pervez Khan read out the messages of the Prime Minister and President of Pakistan. He quoted the president’s message which included,“While seeking a peaceful settlement of Jammu and Kashmir dispute, Pakistan will continue to express its complete solidarity with the Kashmiris and extend its fullest political, moral and diplomatic support to their just cause.”

The Prime Minister’s message started with this statement, “The Government and the people of Pakistan join their Kashmiri brothers and sisters in solemnly observing the Kashmir Solidarity Day. On this occasion, we reaffirm our complete support for the heroic struggle of the Kashmiri people for the effective realization of their fundamental and inalienable rights.”

He also thanked the audience for responding to his call. A large number of community members attended the event including young members of Tehreek e Insaaf Chicago chapter.