Threats Against Muslims In Chicago On the Rise

January 14, 2010

Author: Mike Puccinelli

Source: CBS 2 Chicago

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/muslims.chicago.threats.2.1427330.html

Islamic rights advocates say there's been a rise in the number of threats directed at local Muslims. And some of these threats are being delivered right to their doors. CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli reports. 

When Ahmed Rehab walks up to his suburban home these days it's with a new sense of awareness. That's because of what he found waiting for him in his mailbox just a few days ago, a postmarked typewritten hate-filled letter complete with a death threat. 

"At the end of the letter it stated, 'the only good Arab is a DEAD Arab,'" said Rehab.

Rehab is the Executive Director of the Chicago chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations, or CAIR.

As leader of the city's largest Islamic rights organization, Rehab is no stranger to threats, but never before at his home. 

"It was very creepy to see something like that at your place of residence," Rehab said. 

And he's not the only Muslim disturbed by a recent piece of hate mail.