The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) describes itself as a "non-profit, grassroots membership organization…established to promote a positive image of Islam and Muslims in America,"
[1] and to protect Muslims from hate crimes and discrimination. According to the council's spokesman Ibrahim Hooper, "We are similar to a Muslim NAACP."
[2] CAIR has further explained that it is "dedicated to presenting an Islamic perspective on issues of importance to the American public."
[3]
Although CAIR's main activities are on the national political scene and not directly on campuses, it does support pro-Palestinian groups and frequently participates in anti-Israel and peace rallies.
[4] CAIR presents itself as a legitimate Congressional lobby, attempting to function within the context of American values. Since CAIR promotes itself as an organization that protects rights of oppressed Muslims, many people consider it a respectable group (Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich even attended a recent CAIR fundraiser.)
[5] It supports Muslim civic participation, civil rights and is a hate-crime watchdog. CAIR even had a series of pro-American-Muslim ads on American television. Despite its attempt to portray itself as a champion of Muslim civil rights, CAIR espouses radical views and has publicly endorsed radical militant Islamic groups around the world.
According to many terrorism experts, CAIR is on the wrong side of the war on terrorism. Consider some of CAIR's positions:
CAIR has strong ties to the terrorist group Hamas:
- "[CAIR] was formed not by Muslim religious leaders throughout the country, but as an offshoot of the Islamic Association of Palestine (IAP). Incorporated in Texas, the IAP has close ties to Hamas and has trumpeted its support for terrorist activities."[6] Former chief of the FBI's counter terrorism section, Oliver Revell, called the IAP "a front organization for Hamas that engages in propaganda for Islamic militants."[7]
- CAIR's head, Nihad Awad asserted at a 1994 meeting at Barry University, "I am a supporter of the Hamas movement."[8]
- Former FBI counter terrorism chief, Steven Pomerantz, stated publicly that, "CAIR, its leaders and its activities effectively give aid to international terrorist groups."[9]
CAIR promotes extremist views and a radical Islamic vision:
- At a speech in Fremont, California, Omar M. Ahmad of CAIR proclaimed that, "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. [10]
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AHMED REHAB
- Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations' Chicago branch
Born in 1977, Ahmed Rehab serves as Executive Director of the Chicago Office of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), and also as CAIR's National Strategic Communications Director.
Rehab was born in Cairo, Egypt and immigrated (with his parents) to the United States in 1992. He attended the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he earned a bachelor's degree in psychology. He went on to receive a graduate degree in software engineering from
DePaul University.
After completing his studies, Rehab turned his attention to “
organizing and empowering Chicago's Muslim-American community.”
Appalled by what he perceived to be a rise in anti-Muslim prejudice among Americans in the aftermath of 9/11, Rehab took the helm of CAIR's Chicago office with the aim of
fostering “cutting-edge professional activism” that would counterbalance “
Jewish dominance” of the media and “bring about more fair and accurate coverage of Islam and Muslims.”
In “‘Double Standardism’: The Case of the Two Books” -- an article critical of the Jewish author Salman Rushdie -- Rehab
writes: “The Muslims protesting [Rushdie's book]
Satanic Verses were given little credibility as they were seen as being biased for their religion. On the other hand, the Jews and the Jewish subjects were not seen as such but rather as credible professionals…” Rehab further condemns the American media for its tendency to dismiss any suggestion that the horrors of the Holocaust have been exaggerated.
In his follow-up article -- “‘Double Standardism’: The Case of the Two Films” -- Rehab
denounces the pro-Jewish slant he believes to be prevalent in Hollywood and the filmmaking industry.
Acknowledging that his worldview has been shaped, in large measure, by the
Muslim Brotherhood, Rehab credits especially the group’s founder,
Hassan Al Banna, as a “
contemporary Muslim individual who influenced” him.
In addition to his roles with CAIR, Rehab is also a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ Muslim task force; Board member and Secretary of the Egyptian American Society; and a Board member of the
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
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