Arab community thanks Aviation Officials for permanent O’Hare prayer center for hired drivers
By Ray Hanania
Chicago’s Aviation Department has erected a permanent structure for Limo, Uber Black and Lyft drivers as a safe place to address personal and religious needs while they wait for customers.
The new permanent structure replaces a modified Tent that was erected originally with the approval of the City of Chicago to allow Muslims a place to address religious needs while they waited at a Limo, Uber Black and Lyft “staging area” to pick up passengers as they arrived at O’Hare Airport’s various terminals from across the country and around the world.
The driver staging area, located in Desplaines adjacent to O’Hare Airport, 10400 W. Johnson Road, accommodates 200 parked vehicles and often sees more than 500 vehicles that stage there during a 24-hour period.
A dozen drivers led by the FTCC driver’s Union and the American Arab Chamber of Commerce held a press conference Friday afternoon to express their gratitude to city officials for their support, stressing the “Prayer Center” is open to all drivers regardless of their religious beliefs, including Muslims, Jews and Christians.
“Good afternoon. As-salamu alaykum. Today we are here for the grand opening of a new prayer center that is available for everybody. We want to thank the officials of the City of Chicago, the Aviation Department, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and our alderman for their efforts to make this happen,” said Hassan Nijem, president of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce.
“We had a tent here just a week ago over there, and today we have a permanent center which offers full capacity to everyone. It’s a mosque for Muslims but a prayer center and a chapel for everybody. Anybody can come and pray here. So, we want to again thank the city for making this happen.”
Fayez Khozindar, president of the United Taxi Drivers Community Council of Chicago (UTCC), who led the fight to secure a safe place for drivers to pray or just rest, expressed his appreciation to the Aviation Department, City of Chicago and Mayor Johnson for allowing them to erect the tent and agreeing earlier this year to replace it with a permanent structure that city officials deemed as “safer.”
“We really appreciate the effort of the aviation and the city of Chicago for providing this safe, clean environment for the drivers who are spending three to four, five hours to get a fare,” Khozindar said at the press conference attended by local Chicago news media.
“By doing this, the Aviation Department is showing that they really appreciate their service to the community. Before, the drivers used to pray between cars, and that was not safe or clean. For them, this is very important. We had a tent before for about three years. And then after that, the aviation offered this trailer to replace that tent after we raised issues with the city. This is a permanent place for praying and resting. And this is also a parking lot for Uber and Lyft are using in the city of Chicago.
Khozinadr added, “We truly appreciate the cooperation of the Aviation Department and the city of Chicago to have this place open and clean for everyone.”
Also joining Nijem and Khozindar in thanking the city were Waheed Tutanji and Jala Ramadan, who both also expressed their appreciation for the City’s cooperation.
The issue of a need for a rest and prayer center surfaced in 2023 as drivers complained about the lack of safety for those drivers that needed to pray during their religious holidays or services.
Many Muslim drivers would have to pray adjacent to their parked vehicles, creating a dangerous situation.
When Khozindar and the UTCC approached the Chicago Aviation Department, they were originally told they could erect a “tent” structure on unused city-owned land adjacent to the vehicle staging or parking area. But the city declined to invest in the rest/prayer area said the drivers had to do it with their own money.
Khozindar and drivers raised tens of thousands of dollars to purchased a very sturdy tent that met city requirements, installed some basic amenities in the tent including a place for food and water, and a space for individuals to engage int heir religious needs.
It was used by both Muslim, Christian and Jewish drivers.
But last year, as the City of Chicago battled over the adoption of a ceasefire resolution to help the civilians in Gaza – an issue unrelated to the drivers — an Aviation Inspector threatened to tear the tent down.
Working with the American Arab Chamber and Nijem, Khozindar and the drivers brought their concerns to the public and after citing the issues at several press conferences, forced the inspectors senior administrators to step in.
Last year, the city recognized the need and agreed to install the permanent structure, which is now fully functional and open.
“It’s been a long time coming but many city officials who could see the reality of why the center was needed, acted to end the harassment and ensure that all of the drivers would be treated fairly and their needs would be met,” Nijem said.
“Fayez Khozindar, the UTCC and the hundreds of drivers, Muslims, Christians and Jews, who spoke up made this happen and now the drivers are safe. I am very glad the American Arab Chamber was able to help.”
Khozindar and the UTCC has been leading the battle for equal rights of drivers since 2008 and has also worked closely with defending the rights of cab drivers in Chicago.
For more information and videos of the prayer center, visit GOUTCC.org and AACCUSA.org.
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