CAIR Under Fire

As you probably already know (especially if you are a regular Israellycool reader), the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is a highly problematic organization tainted by antisemitism and terror support (not to mention other scandals). Yet they are somehow still the media's go-to Islamic organization for any topic dealing with Muslims or the Middle East.

So it warms the heart to see the Florida House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution to denounce them.

Introduced by State Rep. Randy Fine (R-Palm Bay), House Resolution 1209 encourages all state and local government agencies in Florida to “suspend contact and outreach activities” with CAIR, citing the group’s extensive history of terror connections and anti-Jewish bigotry. The non-binding resolution, which was passed 98-15, comes as CAIR faces growing public disapproval over its extremist rhetoric and record of pro-Hamas sympathies in the aftermath of Oct. 7, when Hamas massacred more than 1,200 men, women and children in southern Israel.

In remarks delivered from the House floor, Fine noted that “this resolution seeks to follow the lead of a number of other states, and the FBI, and other countries around the world,” which have implemented policies forbidding contact with CAIR. Legislatures in Arkansas and Louisiana passed similar anti-CAIR bills years ago, and the United Arab Emirates labeled CAIR as a terrorist organization in 2014, citing its links to the Muslim Brotherhood, a global Islamic supremacist movement that includes Hamas.

The case against CAIR is laid out in 121 damning lines of text that make up HR 1209, which is supported by a robust staff analysis of the facts. The bill describes CAIR’s involvement as an “unindicted co-conspirator” in a landmark terror finance case targeting the Holy Land Foundation, a charity that was shut down and labeled a Specially Designated Terrorist Organization for funneling more than $12 million to Hamas. CAIR received startup money from HLF, and CAIR board member Ghassan Elashi was sentenced to a 65-year prison term for his part in the terror finance scheme.

Florida’s anti-CAIR bill does not mention how Hamas recently bartered for Elashi and his co-defendants’ release from federal prison with the lives of hostages captured in Israel.

The resolution provides details of other CAIR officials who were likewise convicted or deported for terrorism-related offenses. They include Randall (“Ismail”) Royer, who was “indicted on charges of conspiring to help Al-Qaeda and the Taliban battle American troops fighting in Afghanistan;” and Bassem Khafagi, a community-affairs director for CAIR who was convicted of bank and visa fraud and “deported to Egypt after he had funneled money to activities supporting terrorism.”

All told, seven CAIR officials have been arrested, convicted or deported for terrorism-related offenses.

Hamas’s deadly Oct. 7 attacks have only further radicalized CAIR and cemented its support for violent “resistance.” In a recent example, HR 1209 references a Nov. 24 speech from CAIR founder and executive director Nihad Awad, who told an audience: “The people of Gaza only decided to break the siege, the walls of the concentration camp, on October 7. And yes, I was happy to see people breaking the siege and throwing down the shackles of their own land … .”

“I’m not the only one who found this statement offensive,” Fine told his colleagues. In fact, the White House publicly disavowed CAIR after a recording of Awad’s speech was publicized.

Reached by email, Fine said the bipartisan support for the resolution shows that CAIR has “no place in this state.” However, he is worried about those who refuse to denounce CAIR in the face of overwhelming evidence.

Meanwhile in Baltimore, Maryland legislators are pushing to remove CAIR leader Zainab Chaudry from a hate-crimes panel.

Maryland lawmakers are considering removing the Council on American-Islamic Relations, also known as CAIR, from a state commission to prevent hate crimes.

It follows controversial comments from the organization's state director Zainab Chaudry on Facebook.

Maryland House Judiciary Committee takes up several bills regarding the state’s hate crime commission after controversy surrounding Council on American-Islamic Relations member Zainab Chaudry’s social media posts last year. Background: https://t.co/6fm1IhfMix @wjz pic.twitter.com/ml5U6kwvC3

— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) February 20, 2024

The push to remove her and CAIR, which bills itself as the nation's largest Muslim civil liberties organization, follows social media posts Chaudry made last year. They include one comparing Israel to Nazi Germany and another referencing "Palestinian freedom fighters."

"This is a manufactured controversy that's designed to minimize and silence the communities that are simply asking for justice," Chaudry said.

Some groups, including the Anti-Defamation League, testified in favor of the bill. 

"There have been many troubling social media posts and statements, made by both CAIR at the national level and CAIR's Maryland director. Statements calling Hamas terrorists Palestinian freedom fighters, using Holocaust distortion, is deeply concerning for the Jewish community," said Meredith Wiesel of the ADL.

"This is a very simple issue. We cannot have arsonists running a fire department, and that's what we have today," said Jay Bernstein, who spoke in favor of the bill removing CAIR from the hate prevention panel. 

Chaudry appeared virtually at the hearing and faced questions from lawmakers about whether she regrets her posts.

Zainab Chaudry, CAIR’s Maryland Director, speaks about the controversy surrounding her social media posts and why CAIR should not be removed from the Maryland commission to prevent hate crimes. She says she is on zoom because she has received death threats. @wjz pic.twitter.com/KQSPwzGWDM

— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) February 20, 2024

"You stated, 'That moment when you become what you hated the most' in reference to Israel comparing it to Nazi Germany. Have you retracted those statements?" Harford County Delegate Lauren Arikan asked Chaudry.

"Have you apologized for any of this language in the last three months?" 

Delegate Chris Tomlinson, who represents Carroll and Frederick Counties, asked Chaudry.

WJZ asked Chaudry her response to those concerns.

"When you work for justice, sometimes you have to navigate difficult spaces and uncomfortable conversations when we talk about what justice looks like. The intention behind the posts is not to hurt anyone," Chaudry said. 

State law mandates CAIR have a seat on the commission. Attorney General Anthony Brown initially suspended Chaudry.

But Brown later said he had no legal authority to do so and reinstated her, leading lawmakers to look for legislative solutions to the highly-charged issue. 

Chaudry said she is not going anywhere unless she is forced to do so.

As for CAIR, they continue to have the chutzpah to pretend to actually be fighting antisemitism, instead of contributing to it:

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a hate crime investigation of Nazi swastikas and racial slurs spray-painted on a driveway and cars in Northern Virginia.

That vandalism reportedly occurred Monday morning in the Yorktown neighborhood of Arlington County.

“We welcomed the hate crime investigation of this bias motivated vandalism and urge local, state and national leaders to support minority communities as we witness a spike in bigotry nationwide,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.

Hooper noted that earlier this week, CAIR condemned a neo-Nazi march in Nashville, Tennessee.

He added that CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.