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The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, working with civil rights organizations and religious groups of all faiths. Founded in 1994, it is headquartered on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., with regional offices nationwide and in Canada.

Through media relations, lobbying, education, and advocacy, CAIR puts forth what it views as an Islamic perspective on issues of importance to the American public, and seeks to empower the American Muslim community and encourage its social and political activism. Supporters of CAIR's mission and functioning consider it to be an important entity in defending the rights of Muslims in the United States. Maya Harris, executive of the ACLU in California, has described CAIR as "a leading organization that has advocated for civil rights and civil liberties in the face of fear and intolerance, in the face of religious and ethnic profiling”.

Critics of CAIR accuse it of having ties to Hamas, and associating with antisemitism, and have raised concerns about the group's foreign funding.

Overview

CAIR was founded in 1994 by Nihad Awad, Omar Ahmad, and Rafeeq Jaber. CAIR’s literature describes the group as a "leading advocate for justice and understanding", a mission which includes promoting the understanding of Islam,and protecting Muslim civil liberties. Their stated core principles include supporting freedom of religion, protecting everyone's civil rights, and encouraging inter-faith dialogue. CAIR believes that "the active practice of Islam strengthens the social and religious fabric of our nation." The group has intervened on behalf of many American Muslims who claim discrimination, profiling or harassment.

CAIR’s national office is located three blocks south of the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC. CAIR has affiliates in 19 states, many of which manage multiple offices. CAIR has more than 33 active chapters in America and Canada. CAIR and its affiliates are managed by board members from 50 different cities across America. CAIR and its affiliates combine to employ more than 70 full-time staff, serving millions of American Muslims. CAIR annual reports are available to all members and donors. Beginning in 2006, CAIR annual reports have been available online.

History

CAIR's mission statement says it works to promotes a positive image of Islam and Muslims in America through media relations, lobbying, education, and public advocacy. Its members often appear on news programs involving Muslims in America, and it is an often-cited source for journalists seeking input or a quote from Muslim leaders or the Muslim community.

Early Years

In its founding year (1994), CAIR investigated and sought resolutions regarding what it views as incidents of anti-Muslim insults and stereotypes in films , documentaries, greeting cards, and commercials. CAIR has continued to inform depictions of Muslims nationwide.

In 1995, CAIR received its first case of hijab discrimination, where a Muslim employee was denied the right to wear hijab; this type of discrimination complaint is now one of the most common received by CAIR's civil rights department.

CAIR continued its advocacy work in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. Following the attack, Muslim-Americans were the victims of an increased level of harassment and hate crimes. Two hundred twenty-two hate crimes against Muslims nationwide were reported in the days immediately following the bombing.

In 1996, CAIR began “CAIR-NET”, a read-only e-mail listserve that served as a digest of topics of interest to American Muslims. It was a part of increasing initiatives from CAIR aimed to help Muslims to identify and combat anti-Muslim prejudice in the U.S. and Canada. Descriptions of incidents or news are listed by CAIR-NET, and are often followed by specific information as to where readers may write or be in contact with an appropriate party to influence positive resolution of an issue. 1996 also marked the year CAIR held its first voter registration drive. It remains a part of CAIR’s efforts to gain active political participation by American Muslims and for American Muslims to address political candidates and elected representatives with greater frequency.

Post 9/11

CAIR claims to have joined other Muslim groups in condemning the terrorist attacks of 9-11 "within hours of the first plane crashing into the World Trade Center", which they consider to be consistent with their general approach to terrorism. As evidence, CAIR points to a paid advertisement they took out in the Washington Post condemning 9-11 and terrorism in general.

CAIR increased its advocacy work again after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. By January 2002, four months after the attacks, the CAIR said that it had received 1,658 reports of discrimination, profiling, harassment, and physical assaults against persons appearing Arab or Muslim, a three-fold increase over the prior year. The reports included beatings, death threats, abusive police practices, and employment and airline-related discrimination." In its 2002 civil rights report, CAIR concluded that "the status of Muslim civil rights has deteriorated sharply", and complained that "the sweeping actions of the government have disturbed the lives of individuals and ethnic and religious communities.”

In 2001 CAIR coordinated with other Muslim organizations to release a statement condemning the terrorist attacks of September 11, and has repeatedly condemned terrorism. CAIR has conducted investigations, issued reports, held press conferences, filed lawsuits, and organized political action to protest aspects of U.S. counterterrorism policy. It also began a library campaign to donate packages of educational books and tapes about Islam to US public libraries (over $300 worth per library).

CAIR officials are regularly interviewed by major national, local, and international media. In five years CAIR officials were cited over 11,000 times by such media, including CNN, MSNBC, BBC, ABC, Fox, NBC, CBS, Washington Post, USA Today, and the New York Times. CAIR’s work is the subject of several documentaries around the world. Editorials written by CAIR officials are syndicated and published nationwide. Over 100 such articles, with a combined readership of over 25 million people, have been published in major newspapers in five years.

Partners and relationships

CAIR regularly meets with national, state, and local law enforcement officials. CAIR officials have met or regularly meet with current and former US Presidents, members of their respective administrations, members of Congress, governors, mayors, members of state legislatures, and county commissioners. Several CAIR affiliates have received proclamations and citations from mayors and county commissioners. The organization itself has received praise from congressmen and women to top military officials such as Gen. Wesley Clark, who “applaud its efforts to ensure that all Americans…are treated equally and given the same constitutional rights.”

CAIR has conducted diversity/sensitivity training on Islam and Muslims for the FBI, US Armed Forces, several local and state law enforcement agencies, and many US corporations. CAIR works in close cooperation with other civic and civil liberties groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, NAACP, Hispanic Unity, Organization of Chinese Americans, Japanese American Citizens League, Sikh Mediawatch, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, and Resource Task Force. CAIR has also formed a partnership with the National Council of Churches and held discussions with representatives of the National Association of Evangelicals. In 2003, the Ohio chapter of the ACLU gave its annual Liberty Flame Award to the Ohio chapter of CAIR "for contributions to the advancement and protection of civil liberties."

Reverend Jesse Jackson was a keynote speaker at CAIR's 15 annual banquet.

Projects

CAIR conducts research on the American Muslim community, releasing annual reports on public opinion and demographic statistics on the Muslim community, as well as annual Civil Rights reports concerning issues such as hate crimes, discrimination, and profiling. It also sponsors voter registration drives and outreach and interfaith relations with other religious groups in America.

In 2004 CAIR launched a "Not In the Name of Islam" petition in order to "disassociate the faith of Islam from the violent acts of a few Muslims." It encouraged Islamic organizations, mosques, and individuals to sign it. The petition repudiated terrorism and any group that committed such acts, citing a portion of the Quran that told believers to stand for justice even if it was against friends or family. The petition was posted on CAIR's homepage, and garned over 691,591 signatures before being taken down in a sitewide renovation in 2007.

In 2005 CAIR coordinated the release of a fatwa that stated in part, “Islam strictly condemns religious extremism and the use of violence against innocent lives. There is no justification in Islam for extremism or terrorism. Targeting civilians' life and property through suicide bombings or any other method of attack is haram or forbidden-and those who commit these barbaric acts are criminals, not martyrs.”

Also in 2005, following the Qur'an desecration controversy of 2005 at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, CAIR initiated an "Explore the Quran" campaign, aimed at providing free copies of the Quran to any person who requested it. Nearly 34,000 Americans requested a copy.

In 2006, during the protests over cartoons depicting Muhammad, CAIR responded by launching an educational program "Explore the Life of Muhammad", which is said was "aimed at bringing people of all faiths together to learn more about the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and to use mutual understanding as a counterweight to the tensions created by the cartoon controversy". It provided free copies of a DVD or book about the life of Muhammad to any person who requested it. Almost 16,000 Americans requested materials, and numerous U.S. media reported on the effort, including the Associated Press.

In June 2006, CAIR announced a $50 million project to create a better understanding of Islam and Muslims in the US. ($10 million per year for five years). According to the article, the project will be spearheaded by Paul Findley, a former United States Congressman.

Criticism

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Critics of CAIR, including six members of the U.S. House and Senate, have alleged ties between the CAIR founders and Hamas. The founders, Omar Ahmad and Nihad Awad, had earlier been officers of the Islamic Association of Palestine (IAP), described by a former FBI analyst and Treasury Department intelligence official as "intimately tied to the most senior Hamas leadership." Both Ahmad and Awad participated in a meeting held in Philadelphia on October 3, 1993, that involved senior leaders of Hamas, the Holy Land Foundation, and the IAP. Based on electronic surveillance of the meeting, the FBI reported that “the participants went to great length and spent much effort hiding their association with the Islamic Resistance Movement ." Participants at the meeting discussed forming a "political organization and public relations” body, “whose Islamic hue is not very conspicuous."

Critics also point to a July 1994 meeting identifying CAIR as one of the four U.S. organizations comprising the working organizations of the Palestine Committee of the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood, the parent organization and supporter of Hamas. At a 1994 meeting at Barry University Awad stated that he is "in support of the Hamas movement, although CAIR has sought to discredit his comments, stating Hamas was only designated a terrorist organization in January 1995 and did not commit its first wave of suicide bombings until late 1994, after Awad made the comment.

In May 2007, the United States filed an action against the Holy Land Foundation for providing funds to Hamas, and federal prosecutors filed pleadings listing CAIR and two other Islamic groups as unindicted co-conspirators, a legal designation that can be employed for a variety of reasons including grants of immunity, pragmatic considerations, and evidentiary concerns.

In 2008, the FBI discontinued its long-standing relationship with CAIR. Officials said the decision followed the conviction of the HLF directors for funneling millions of dollars to Hamas, and CAIR's failure to provide details of its ties to Hamas. During a 2008 retrial of the HLF case, FBI Special Agent Lara Burns labeled CAIR "a front group for Hamas."

According to the New York Times, CAIR has also "raised some suspicion by accepting large donations from individuals or foundations closely identified with Arab governments", as well as accepting funds from Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia.

Daniel Pipes, the Anti-Defamation League, and Investigative reporter Steven Emerson accuse CAIR of having ties to Hamas, terrorism, and antisemitism, as well as "offering a platform to conspiratorial Israel-bashers ".

Responses to criticisms

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CAIR suggested that "the statements and agendas of our detractors will show that they represent the extremes in our society." CAIR also stated on its website that in 2004 an FBI agent said "false claims originate from one or two biased sources," and that a senior FBI official said CAIR would just have to live with them. In early 2007, the New York Times said that several U.S. government officials "described the standards used by critics to link CAIR to terrorism as akin to McCarthyism, essentially guilt by association." At that time, the Times called efforts to link the organization to Hamas and Hezbollah "unsuccessful," citing a former FBI official who suggested that no one believing the allegations is ever capable of producing any "cold hard facts". The Times also notes that even though a handful of its former members have faced prosecution, no criminal charges have ever been linked to CAIR. The article further suggests that because CAIR's Washington chapter has repeatedly issued controversial statements, it has been difficult "for senior government officials to associate with the group." Barbara Boxer notably withdrew a "certificate of accomplishment" originally given to former CAIR official Basim Elkarra after learning that he had worked for the organization. Yet Boxer's decision "provoked an outcry from organizations that vouch for the group's advocacy, including the ACLU and the California Council of Churches. 'They have been a leading organization that has advocated for civil rights and civil liberties in the face of fear and intolerance, in the face of religious and ethnic profiling,' said Maya Harris, executive director of the ACLU of Northern California.

See also

• American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
• American Muslim Council
• Arab American Institute
• Islamic Information Center (IIC)
• Muslim Public Affairs Council

References

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2. NEIL MacFARQUHAR. "Scrutiny Increases for a Group Advocating for Muslims in U.S." New York Times.
3. ^ "Our Vision, Mission and Core Principles". Council on American-Islamic Relations. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
4. ^ "25 Facts about CAIR: Did you know?". Council on American-Islamic Relations. Retrieved August 25, 2007.
5. ^ http://www.cair.com/AboutUs/25FactsAboutCAIR.aspx
6. http://www.cair.com/Portals/0/pdf/2006_Annual_Report.pdf
7. ^ CAIR's Vision, Mission, and Core Principles
8. Tubbs, Sharon. "Muslims' Growing Voice." St. Petersburg Times February 3, 2003.
9. Noakes, Greg. "CAIR Counters Anti-Islam Card." Washington Report on Middle East Affairs November/December 1994: 62-64
10. Objecting to a depiction of Muhammad with a sword carved on a wall in the U.S. Supreme Court building. Though it was unable to be removed, literature handed out on tours of the building was revised to show more respect for Islam and for Muhammad | http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1163
11. 1997 - Causing the recall of the children's book Great Lives: World Religions, which portrayed Muhammad as hating members of other faiths and enjoying violence | (Carvajal, Doreen. "Simon & Schuster Recall Books, Easing Muslim Anger." New York Times May 5, 1997: D10.
12. A Rush to Judgment: A Special Report on Anti-Muslim Stereotyping. Harassment and Hate Crimes Following the Bombing of Oklahoma City's Murrah Federal Building, April 19, 1995(Washington, D.C.: Council on American-Islamic Relations, 1995), 9-20.
13. "Arab-Americans Suffer Hatred after Bombing," Chicago Sun-Times, May 13, 1995
14. "Penny Bender, Jumping to Conclusions in Oklahoma City?" American Journalism Review, June 1995
15. Richard Roper, "Media Stumble Badly in Rush to Judgment," Chicago Sun-Times, April 24, 1995
16. Smith, Jane. Islam in America. New York. Columbia University Press, 1999.
17. Wilgoren, Debbi. "Making Muslim Voices Heard: To Promote the Vote, Leaders Provide Answers and Forms." Washington Post September 14, 1996: B01.
18. Cole, David. Enemy Aliens. New York. The New Press, 2003. Page 47
19. The Status of Muslim Civil Rights in the United States: Stereotypes and Civil Liberties. 2002 < http://www.cair.com/CivilRights/CivilRightsReports/2002Report.aspx
20. http://www.cair.com/AmericanMuslims/AntiTerrorism/CAIRstatementsontheeventsofSeptember11.aspx
21. ^ http://www.cair.com/AboutUs/WhatTheySayAboutCAIR.aspx
22. http://www.cair.com/annualreport0405.pdf
23. "Ahmad Al-Akhras". CAIR National Board and Staff. Council on American-Islamic Relations. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
24. "Jesse Jackson to Speak at CAIR Banquet". Reuters. October 16, 2009.
25. CAIR Reports and Surveys
26. CAIR Civil Rights Reports
27. CAIR's 'Not in the name of Islam' Petition
28. August 2007 Archived version of CAIR's site prior to renovation
29. release
30. http://www.cair.com/Muhammad/
31. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-14-2006/0004282099&EDATE=Islam%20in%20America%20Ad%20Campaign
32. Assimilation, tolerance mark U.S. Muslims' reaction to cartoons| http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/news.php?article=10642
33. http://www.cair.com/Muhammad/page.asp?pageid=pressclip&pressclipid=18
34. "Media Campaign in US to Dispel Islamophobia". Arab News. June 21, 2006. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |name= ignored (help)
35. Myrick, Sue (10-15-2009). "Myrick, Shadegg, Broun, Franks call for CAIR Investigations". U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved November 10, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
36. ^ Kyl, Jon (2-24-2009). "SCHUMER, KYL INQUIRE ABOUT RECENT FBI DECISION TO SEVER TIES WITH ISLAMIC GROUP". U.S. Senate. Retrieved November 10, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "kylepress" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
37. Mowbray, Joel (1-10-2007). "Boxer's stand". Washington Times. Retrieved November 10, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
38. “Levitt, Mathew, Hamas : Politics, Charity, and Terrorism in the Service of Jihad, Yale University Press : May 1, 2006. p. 149 ISBN 0300110537
39. Trehan, Jason (10-07-2008). "FBI: CAIR is a front group, and Holy Land Foundation tapped Hamas clerics for fundraisers". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved November 10, 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
40. Himelfarb, Joel (2-09-2009). "FBI Severs CAIR Ties – Group's Credibility Takes a Hit from Holy Land Terror Trial". Accuracy In Media. Retrieved November 10, 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
41. "Documents detail Hamas support within U.S." Associated Press. 7-26-2007. Retrieved November 10, 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
42. “Levitt, Mathew, Hamas : Politics, Charity, and Terrorism in the Service of Jihad, Yale University Press : May 1, 2006. p. 148 ISBN 0300110537
43. TRAHAN, Jason (10-14-2008). "Judge due to rule on Holy Land defense evidence challenge". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved November 10, 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
44. Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Links to Holy Land Foundation http://www.adl.org/Israel/cair/Links2.asp
45. Government Exhibit 016-0078 3:04-CR-240-G U.S. v. Holy Land Foundation et. al http://www1.nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/HLF/PalCommJuly94MeetingMin_trial2.pdf
46. Wolf, Frank (6-12-2009). "Rep. Wolf Introduces Sensitive But Unlcassified Information Into Congressional Record". Congressional Record: June 12, 2009. U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved November 10, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
47. Epstein, Mathew (9-10-2003). ""Saudi Support for Islamic Extremism in the United States"" (PDF). Testimony of Matthew Epstein Before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and Homeland Security. Retrieved November 10, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
48. GERSTEIN, Josh (6-04-2007). "Islamic Groups Named in Hamas Funding Case". The New York Sun. Retrieved November 10, 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
49. http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2009/ss_saudi0098_02_03.asp
50. Judge due to rule on Holy Land defense evidence challenge Tuesday, October 14, 2008 JASON TRAHAN / The Dallas Morning News http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/tv/stories/DN-holyland_14met.ART.State.Edition1.4a8f2ea.html
51. Scrutiny Increases for a Group Advocating for Muslims in U.S http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/14/washington/14cair.htm
52. Daniel Pipes (Spring 2006). "CAIR: Islamists Fooling the Establishment". Middle East Quarterly. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
53. "Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)". Anti-Defamation League. January 28, 2008. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
54. name=TNR>Steven Emerson (March 28, 2007). "One Muslim advocacy group's not-so-secret terrorist ties". The New Republic Online. The New Republic. Retrieved April 8, 2007.
55. Steven Emerson (March 24, 2008). "Part 1: CAIR Exposed - As IAP Offshoot, CAIR Followed Pro-Hamas Agenda From the Start". IPT News. [The Investigative Project on Terrorism.
56. United States Senate Committee of Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs"Money Laundering and Terror Financing Issues in the Middle East." July 13, 2005 Accessed October 16, 2006.
57. "Urban Legends". Council on American-Islamic Relations. January 19, 2007. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
58. Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball (December 29, 2006). "CAIR Play". Newsweek. Retrieved December 30, 2006.

External links

• Council of American-Islamic Relations official site
  • CAIR Press Releases
• Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) official site

News articles

• Hassan, Javid. "Media Campaign in US to Dispel Islamophobia", Arab News, June 21, 2006

• American Islamic organizations
• Civic and political organizations
• Civil liberties advocacy groups
• Islamic activist organizations
• Non-profit organizations based in Canada
• Organizations established in 1994
• Political advocacy groups in the United States
• Political organizations
• Anti-racist organizations