In the wake of the abhorrent events that occurred last Friday in Norway, information has come to light revealing connections between the terrorist suspect, Anders Brehing Breivik, to the anti-Islam movement in England, as well as to prominent Islamophobes in the US.

Communications Intern Jenn Schanz reflects on the tragedy in Norway and the tendency of terrorists to hide behind religious ideology to further political agendas.

"We've politicized 9/11, we've had costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with surges, military personnel, with trillions of dollars spent. And then at the end of the day it takes what we've been saying all along - good, hard intelligence and a committed group of surgical strikes," says Ahmed Rehab.

"The American Muslim community was relieved, there's a sense of vindication. This has been a long time coming," said Rehab.

“I thought that NPR did the right thing,” Ahmed Rehab said. “They have a reputation to protect, and clearly his unobjective and sensational characterizations were not a good fit for their objective standards of journalism.” Rehab says comments like those made by Williams encourage the stereotypes that generate fear of Muslims.

“There seems to be a refusal and willful ignorance when it comes to the simple notion that Muslims are not one in the same with terrorists,” he said.

"Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Monday that the investigation into Abudayyeh's organization was 'a waste of taxpayer dollars.' 'Hatem is a longtime, respected leader in the community. It is unthinkable that he would have any connections to terrorism,' Rehab said. 'This is a new low. … This is an example of FBI overreach when it comes to activism or commentary on the (Middle East) conflict.'"

"Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Monday that the investigation into Abudayyeh's organization was 'a waste of taxpayer dollars.' 'Hatem is a longtime, respected leader in the community. It is unthinkable that he would have any connections to terrorism,' Rehab said. 'This is a new low. … This is an example of FBI overreach when it comes to activism or commentary on the (Middle East) conflict.'"

CAIR-Chicago announced today that it is deeply concerned about the FBI’s recent raids on the homes of anti-war activists in the Midwest. CAIR-Chicago is issuing the following statement in response to the raids.

"I would love the opportunity to talk about my faith proactively when there isn't something terrible happening. And everyday, good things are going on, but the one day that something bad happens, that's when people become interested in our faith and that is troublesome," said Ahmed Rehab, CAIR-Chicago Executive Director.

"I would love the opportunity to talk about my faith proactively when there isn't something terrible happening. And everyday, good things are going on, but the one day that something bad happens, that's when people become interested in our faith and that is troublesome," said Ahmed Rehab, CAIR-Chicago Executive Director.

Comments on this blog regularly reveal some persistent and false stereotypes about Islam. Monday’s arrest of seven suspected terrorists in North Carolina allegedly plotting violent jihad is sure to spark more.