The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

Groups and Networks

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

Updated July 15, 2008
It offers a benign mission statement - "to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding." But a closer look at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) raises a host of troubling questions about its history and purpose.
Born of an effort to scuttle hopes for a negotiated Middle East peace, CAIR was listed among organizations tied to the Muslim Brotherhood's American network. Its founders emerged from a separate Islamic organization that two courts have found played a supporting role for the terrorist group Hamas.
The Washington, D.C.-based organization purports to be a "leading advocate for justice and mutual understanding" and claims to speak for the majority of American Muslims. However, after a careful review of the history, activities, statements, and causes of and by CAIR, it seems that its primary goals are to silence and de-legitimize its critics and redefine what it means to be a moderate Muslim. And when it comes to U.S. efforts to crack down on terrorists and their financiers, CAIR takes an almost visceral stand in opposition. This has the effect of undermining the legitimate security-related concerns and campaigns of the United States and its allies. These conclusions and the summary immediately below are based upon the evidence and examples that follow in this report; beginning with CAIR's very founding.
The full dossier "CAIR Exposed," can be found here: http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/misc/122.pdf
Follow the links below to read the dossier in installments.
For Part 1 on CAIR's origins:
Summary: http://www.investigativeproject.org/article/621
Full installment: http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/misc/109.pdf
For Part 2 on CAIR's funding:
Summary: http://www.investigativeproject.org/article/622
Full installment: http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/misc/110.pdf
For Part 3, "The Suspect Ties of CAIR Officials, Fundraisers and Trainers":
Summary: http://www.investigativeproject.org/article/624
Full installment: http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/misc/111.pdf
For Part 4, "CAIR and Hamas":
Summary: http://www.investigativeproject.org/article/627
Full installment: http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/misc/113.pdf
For Part 5, "CAIR and Terrorism: Blanket Opposition to U.S. Investigations, Equivocal Condemnations for Plots Against America":
Summary: http://www.investigativeproject.org/article/629
Full installment: http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/misc/116.pdf
For Part 6 on CAIR's claims that the "War on Terrorism" is a "War on Islam":
Summary: http://www.investigativeproject.org/article/632
Full Installment: http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/misc/117.pdf
For Part 7 on CAIR's denial of the challenges posed by Radical Islamists:
Summary: http://www.investigativeproject.org/article/635
Full Installment: http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/misc/118.pdf
For Part 8 on CAIR's involvement in radical conferences and denigration of moderates:
Summary: http://www.investigativeproject.org/article/636
Full Installment: http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/misc/119.pdf
For Part 9 on CAIR's Extremism and Anti-Semitism:
Summary: http://www.investigativeproject.org/article/637
Full Installment: http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/misc/120.pdf
For Part 10 on CAIR's "Hate Crimes":
Summary: http://www.investigativeproject.org/article/639
Full Installment: http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/misc/121.pdf