Council on American-Islamic Relations
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is a terrorist propaganda organization based in Washington D.C. whose stated aim is to portray "a positive image of Islam" through public relations and the media. CAIR was founded by three leaders of the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP), in June of 1994.[1] The group's executive director is a Hamas supporter.[2]
Contents
Overview
- CAIR maintains it is simply a Muslim-rights group, but the Justice Department says it is a front group not only for Hamas, but for its parent the radical Muslim Brotherhood – a worldwide jihadist movement that prosecutors say has a secret plan to impose Shariah law on the U.S.[3]
- "From its founding by Muslim Brotherhood leaders, CAIR conspired with other affiliates of the Muslim Brotherhood to support terrorists," said assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon Kromberg in a separate court filing. [3]
The Washington Times calls CAIR a pressure group which is "eager to pull down the nation's homeland-security procedures" [3]
CAIR leadership has been criticized for supporting Hezbollah and Hamas.[4]
The Co-founder of CAIR, Omar Ahmad, has publicly stated:
| “ | Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran ... should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth.[5] | ” |
Spokesman Ibrahim Hooper told the Star Tribune "I wouldn't want to create the impression that I wouldn't like the government of the United States to be Islamic sometime in the future, but I'm not going to do anything violent to promote that. I'm going to do it through education."[6]
Federal Court Designation as Terrorist Group
A federal judge has determined that the Justice Department provided "ample evidence" to designate CAIR as an unindicted terrorist co-conspirator, in fact a front for Hamas. The ruling, handed down July 1, 2010, was unsealed on November 26, 2010. [7]
Controversy
There is controversy over whether they are a civil liberties group or just posing as one. [8] [9]
The CAIR has publicly condemned terrorism since their report following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing [10] and since September 11, 2001, has complied a 68 page list of its various anti-terrorism campaigns [11]. Most recently, CAIR joined many Americans in welcoming the death of Osama Bin Laden [12]. However, in the early 1990s CAIR was affiliated with several groups connected to Hamas and several individuals connected to it claimed to support Hamas. Most notable of these is former IAP officer Nihad Awad, the group's executive director.[1] This, along with the Department of Justice's decision to initially list CAIR as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation prosecution, has led to confusion as to whether the group supports Hamas, a known terrorist organization. CAIR claims to address these allegations on its website. [13]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 CAIR's Pro-Hamas Press - Front Page Magazine, December 05, 2006
- ↑ Nihad Awad stated, "After I researched the situation inside and outside Palestine, I am in support of the Hamas movement ..." [1]
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Unsealed ruling reveals 'ample evidence' tying group to terror
- ↑ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16384987/site/newsweek/
- ↑ FrontPageMagazine.com; July 28, 2005
- ↑ http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=6473
- ↑ UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT Ruling
- ↑ CAIR Instructs the Police about Islam, 6/3/2010
- ↑ Middle East Quarterly, 2006; CAIR: Islamists Fooling the Establishment by Daniel Pipes
- ↑ The CAIR's North American Muslim Resource Guide
- ↑ CAIR anti-terrorist campaigns
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ CAIR document addressing internet rumors
External Links
- CAIR's official website
- CAIR membership plummets The Washington Times says CAIR membership has declined more than 90 percent since the 2001 terrorist attacks.
- Anti-CAIR - Defending America from The Council on American-Islamic Relations
- Getting to Know the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Daniel Pipes
