Two suburban Islamic institutions apparently were the targets of weekend incidents that caused property damage and raised concerns among Islamic leaders that the attacks were intended to harm worshippers.

"It's something that we must take very seriously," said CAIR-Chicago executive director Ahmed M. Rehab. "CAIR-Chicago is very disturbed by this news. The Muslim community is disturbed. People of conscience are disturbed. We've called police to investigate it, and to prosecute it as a hate crime, because that's what it is."

A stabbing at the Champaign train station this week is not a hate crime, according to the charges filed by the state’s attorney’s office. But an advocacy group disagrees. Amina Sharif, spokeswoman for the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Thursday it’s important to discourage prejudice.

An argument among neighbors, involving 20 people, in Orland Hills on Saturday night ended in the arrest of a 46-year-old mother and her teenage son. “She contacted us and told us her side of the story,” Said Law Clerk Eyad Tabahi. “It’s in the preliminary stages of investigation. We’re looking into the matter to see what the proper course of action should be.”

CAIR Chicago Staff Attorney Kevin Vodak discusses new FBI guidelines, and what you can do to work with your local law enforcement to make sure your civil liberties are being protected.

A wave of hope flowed through me after I read, “Democrats may probe secret CIA program” in your July 13 issue. I am glad that some of the Democratic lawmakers are planning to dig deeper into the CIA’s practices and the Bush Administration’s counter-terrorism methods.