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• CAIR Action Alert: Tell Congress to Adopt Comprehensive Immigration Reform
  CAIR is urging voters to contact their elected representatives and urge them to reject a process of adopting piecemeal measures in the House that would increase racial profiling and unconstitutional detention and also request that they include anti-profiling protections in the immigration bill.
  • TAKE ACTION: Send a letter to your representative urging his or her support for comprehensive immigration reform that provides a pathway to citizenship for the nation’s 11 million undocumented immigrants and strengthens prohibitions against racial and religious profiling and inappropriate use of force.  
• CAIR-St. Louis to Host Leadership Program for Muslim Youth
  On Saturday, June 29, dozens of young St. Louis Muslims will take part in the first-ever Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium (MYLS) hosted by the St. Louis chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-St. Louis). 
• CAIR-Chicago: Settlement Reached Concerning Islamic Center Near Naperville
• CAIR-CT: Stand Against NSA Surveillance
• Hate Group Leader Robert Spencer Cited by Terrorist to Headline Catholic Homeschool Conference
• CAIR-MI: Idaho Company Creates Pork-Laced Bullets to Target Muslims

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR Offers Guide to Help Muslims Share Ramadan with Neighbors
Fast-breaking 'iftars' designed to enhance interfaith understanding

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/28/13) -- The nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today urged Muslim communities nationwide to reach out to their neighbors of all beliefs and backgrounds by inviting them to take part in an interfaith "iftar," or fast-breaking meal, during the upcoming month-long fast of Ramadan.

Ramadan is the month on the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims abstain from food, drink and other sensual pleasures from break of dawn to sunset. It is estimated to begin July 9 this year.

To assist local Muslim community leaders, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has produced a "Sharing Ramadan Resource Guide 2013" that offers step-by-step advice on hosting an interfaith iftar.

The resource guide includes instructions on forming a "Sharing Ramadan" committee, a sample media advisory for an iftar, advice on reaching out to local media, an advertisement for the event, text for a "Welcome to Our Ramadan Fast-Breaking" brochure, frequently-asked questions about Ramadan, and a sample event program and newspaper advertisement.

"The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said Ramadan 'is the month of sharing with others,'" said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. "All our research has shown that prejudice and stereotyping decrease when people of other faiths know more about Islam and interact with ordinary Muslims."

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Manager Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, arubin@cair.com