CAIR Threatens Chicago-Area University For Allowing Conservative Event On Campus

CAIR Threatens Chicago-Area University For Allowing Conservative Event On Campus

A Lutheran university in the suburbs of Chicago should rescind its decision to let a Christian group use its facilities for a political event, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ (CAIR) Chicago chapter.

Specifically, CAIR wants to see Concordia University cancel the event because of the presence of Megan Basham, a Daily Wire reporter, and Robert Spencer, an Islam critic who runs Jihad Watch.

“Issues, Etc,” is a Lutheran radio show which also hosts an annual conference.

This year’s conference, set to begin on Friday, features Ryan T. Anderson of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Mollie Hemingway of The Federalist, and several Lutheran pastors.

As CAIR-Chicago’s executive director Ahmed Rehab sees it, the university is “resurrecting a corpse of hatred and attempting to resurrect Islamophobic rhetoric.”

The news release followed a May 29 letter from the Muslim group’s attorney, Shana Nissan, which implied that Concordia University, located just outside of Chicago in River Forest, would somehow be liable if Muslim students were harassed.

Nissan’s missive, addressed to Concordia’s president, read in part:

Governor DeSantis, Mr. Spencer, and Ms. Basham have each publicly promoted rhetoric or policy positions that target, vilify, or marginalize Muslims and other minority communities.

Platforming such speakers on Concordia’s campus signals to Muslim students, faculty, staff, and community members that the University is willing to spotlight speakers whose public work has contributed to anti-Muslim hostility and exclusion. That message is especially troubling when presented under the banner of a university that has legal and moral obligations to maintain an educational environment free from discrimination and harassment.

DeSantis is no longer listed as a speaker, but he had at least originally planned to attend.

Nissan suggested the event “risks creating an intimidating, hostile, and exclusionary campus environment for Muslim students and community members,” and claimed that some students “already feel vulnerable because of their religion, race, ethnicity, national origin, or perceived identity.”

The attorney said the event was particularly disturbing in light of the attack on an Islamic center in San Diego on May 18.

“Against that backdrop, Concordia’s decision to provide a platform to speakers known for demonizing Muslims is not neutral,” she wrote.

The event “sends a harmful message to Muslim students, families, faculty, staff, and community members.”

Concordia has not yet responded to the cancel campaign.

However, the conference organizers did respond to CAIR and said “[w]e are not about to bow now to cancel culture.”

We’ve been broadcasting for more than three decades. We were cancelled by the previous leadership of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in 2008. We are not about to bow now to cancel culture. Come join us later this week (Friday, June 12 & Saturday, June 13) at the @IssuesEtc…

— Issues, Etc. (@IssuesEtc) June 10, 2026

[Featured image: Screenshot from CAIR-Chicago website]

Matt Lamb currently works as an associate editor for The College Fix. He also contributes to a variety of websites, including Legal Insurrection, Human Life Review, and AMAC Newsline. His work has been published by The Federalist, Townhall, and The Daily Caller. He has worked for Students for Life of America and Turning Point USA.

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