Cubs Meet With Muslim Leaders After Joe Ricketts' Leaked Emails

CHICAGO — Some of the Cubs' top executives met with leaders of local Muslim organizations Friday to discuss Joe Ricketts' leaked emails, which included Islamaphobic comments. His son, Cubs' chairman Tom Ricketts, and the team's VP of Communications Julian Green, met with the leaders in the Chicago office of the Council On American Islamic Relations.

Representatives from the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago and IL Muslim Civic Coalition joined the meeting. Kamran Hussain, a self-proclaimed Cubs "superfan" and president of the Muslim Community Center mosque near Wrigley Field, also joined the meeting.

The gathering began with an audio sample of dozens of hate messages local organizations have received, many of which include accusations of Muslims being "foreign and threatening." The meeting also included personal stories of Islamophobia, explaining how "tired old narratives like the ones invoked in the leaked emails" tend to fuel prejudice, the IL Muslim Civic Coalition said.

In his emails, Joe Ricketts called Islam a "cult and not a religion," and called Muslims the "enemy." He has since apologized, and said he "deeply regrets" his comments.

The coalition's chairwoman, Dilara Alim Sayeed, shared her experience growing up as a Cubs fan and highlighted the legacy of Muslim Americans.

Asha Johaan Binbek, CAIR-Chicago's communications coordinator, shared her feelings of disappointment as a loyal Cubs fan and explained how she felt "rejected by a family she thought she was part of."

Kamran Hussain, a long-time Cubs season ticket holder, spoke of his passion for the team and how his mood can often be impacted by the Cubs' success. He said he felt "blocked out" by a team that he cared so much about.

The Cubs' executives agreed to a series of "concrete steps" to repair the damage done by the leaked emails. In a Facebook post, the IL Muslim Civic Coalition said Tom Ricketts and Green listened "attentively" during the meeting, and reiterated their apology on behalf of the Cubs.

The Cubs chairman was "fully appreciative of what he heard and that for him the Cubs Franchise recognizes how its principles were undermined, despite Joe's currently not being a part of the organization," the post read. "He committed to the concrete steps, adding that he too had not wanted actions that were token or cliche but meaningful and heartfelt."

The IL Muslim Civic Coalition said it's "positive and hopeful" that the Muslim community can work with the team to repair ties. The coalition plans to meet with Green in a follow-up meeting, in which they will release a joint press statement.

Main image: Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts looks on before game three of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field on October 9, 2017 in Chicago. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)