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<!--[[Image:Cair.gif|right]]-->The '''Council on American-Islamic Relations''' ('''CAIR''') is a controversial [[Islam|Islamic]] [[advocacy group]] in [[North America]], funded by American Muslims and also in significant part by sources with connections to Arab [[Middle Eastern]] governments.<ref name="NYTCAIR1">{{cite news | publisher=[[The New York Times]] | url=http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F30714F93A550C778DDDAA0894DF404482 | title=" Scrutiny Increases for a Group Advocating for Muslims in U.S." | author=Neil MacFarquhar | date=03-14-2007}}</ref> Critics have accused the group of being associated with Islamic extremism<ref name="NYTCAIR1"/>, and in 2007 U.S. federal prosecutors named CAIR an "unindicted co-conspirator" in a plot to fund the designated terrorist organization Hamas <ref name="WND1">{{cite news | publisher=[[World Net Daily]] | url=http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56009 | title=" Feds name CAIR in plot to fund Hamas" | date=06-04-2007}}</ref>. Based on their 2006 annual report, it is estimated that it has 4,761 dues paying members, or between 1 in every 1,680 or 1,260 American Muslims, using the 8 million and 6 million population estimates respectively. Between 2004 and 2006, their membership numbers are believed to have dropped by approximately 45%.[http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=28394]
==Overview==
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., with 32 regional offices and chapters in the U.S. and [[Canada]], CAIR was founded in 1994 by [[Nihad Awad]], [[Omar Ahmad]], and [[Rafeeq Jaber]]<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20030622094859/http://www.iap.org/contactus.htm IAP Board Of Directors / Shura Council</ref><ref>http://www.washington-report.org/backissues/1099/9910067.html Rafeeq Jaber: An Energetic Muslim Visionary and Fearless Palestinian-American Political Activist</ref> of the [[Islamic Association of Palestine]] with funding from the Hamas group [[Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development]].<ref name="Emerson2005">United States Senate Committee of Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs[http://www.senate.gov/~banking/_files/emerson.pdf "Money Laundering and Terror Financing Issues in the Middle East." July 13, 2005] Accessed October 16, 2006.</ref> The Holy Land Foundation was later closed as a money-laundering scheme for terrorist support. Hamas is still denominated as a "Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization" by the United States Department of State. [http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/fs/37191.htm]
CAIR’s literature claims its vision as a Muslim civil liberties and advocacy group is to build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.<ref>[http://www.cair.com/default.asp?Page=About CAIR:About CAIR]</ref> Its mission is based on 3 core goals – enhancing understanding of Islam, promoting Islamic justice [http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/printer-friendly.asp?ARTICLE_ID=31479][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_the_Council_on_American-Islamic_Relations]and empowering American Muslims.
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]] and [[Resource Task Force]], among many others. In 2003, the [[Ohio]] chapter of the [[American Civil Liberties Union|ACLU]] gave its annual [[Liberty Flame Award]] to the Ohio chapter of CAIR "for contributions to the advancement and protection of civil liberties." [http://cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=32696&page=NB].
CAIR has successfully formed partnership with the [[National Council of Churches]] and held dialogue with representatives of the [[National Association of Evangelicals]].
CAIR has been critical of a number of U.S. criminal [[prosecution]]s, arguing, for example in one of many cases, that [[Sheikh]] [[Omar Abdel-Rahman]], deemed the ringleader of the [[World Trade Center bombing]] in 1993, and convicted of [[conspiracy (crime)|conspiring]] to blow up the [[Lincoln Tunnel]] and other [[New York City]] landmarks, did not receive a fair trial.
CAIR commonly works to defend supposed "Islamic Charities" accused of sending money to terrorist groups in the Middle East. CAIR has issued a statement condemning the most recent indictments against members of the [[Islamic American Relief Agency]], the American branch of which was closed in 2004 after being declared a global terrorist organization. [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0703090290mar09,1,7491527.story?ctrack=1&cset=true]
==Funding==
In 1999, the [[Islamic Development Bank]] gave a 250,000 US dollar grant to CAIR to purchase land for a national headquarters.<ref>Royal Embassy for Saudi Arabia in Washington, DC press released, quoted at http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/36</ref>
In 2002, the [[World Association for Muslim Youth]] (WAMY), a Saudi government-funded organization, financed a 2002 weekly advertising campaign in American publications estimated to be worth $1.04 million dollars<ref>[[Saudi Gazette]], November 2002 quoted in http://www.frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=19241 Michael Graham, Killed in Action</ref>
In 2003, Saudi Prince [[Alwaleed bin Talal]] donated $500,000 to place books in US libraries.
In 2006, [[Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum]], Deputy Ruler of [[Dubai]] and [[UAE]] Minister of Finance and Industry, financed the building of a property in the US to serve as an endowment for the organization.<ref>http://www.uaeinteract.com/news/default.asp?ID=178 UAE Official Web site</ref> This gift is thought to generate income of approximately 3 million US dollars a year.
==
CAIR claims that it works to promote a positive image of Islam and Muslims in America through media relations, lobbying, education, and public advocacy. CAIR tries to get a Muslim voice represented in the media, and to present American Muslims' side of issues in current events. Its members often appear on news programs when a story involves Muslims in America. Over the years, CAIR has become an often-cited source for journalists who are seeking input or a quote from Muslim leaders or the Muslim community.[http://www.cair.com/factsaboutcair.asp]
CAIR issues [http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=archive&theType=AA "Action Alerts"] to its online subscribers to call attention to hate crimes or harsh statements against Islam and Muslims in the media. Often, it will encourage a letter-writing campaign to ask politicians or editors to condemn hate speech. It also publishes positive reports of interfaith cooperation and examples of businesses that reach out to Muslims, and often asks the subscribers to write letters of gratitude to those leaders and companies.[http://www.cair.com/default.asp?Page=civilRightsPositiveIncidentReport]
CAIR also focuses on the [[civil rights]] of Muslims in America. It advocates on behalf of Muslims and others who have experienced religious discrimination, [[defamation]], or [[hate crime]]s. It often mediates with employers to ensure that companies respect the religious rights of their Muslim workers, such as the right to wear a [[hijab]] at work or get time off for Islamic holidays.{{Fact|date=April 2007}}
CAIR also conducts research on the American Muslim community, releasing annual reports on [http://www.cair.com/asp/crr-exec-sum.asp civil rights] and statistics on the Muslim community. It also sponsors voter registration drives in communities and outreach and interfaith relations with other religious groups in America.
After 9/11 Americans en masse took an increasing interest in Islam. CAIR created a "library project" which sold packages of educational books and tapes about Islam (over $300 worth per library) for donation to public libraries in the United States. In 2002 [[Saudi Arabia|Saudi]] Prince [[Al-Waleed bin Talal]] donated $500,000 to CAIR to support the program. [http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/021119/2002111910.html] The Washington Times noted in 2003 that although CAIR claimed to have sent 37 packets, the city had received only one.[http://washingtontimes.com/national/20031020-122538-4008r.htm] The libraryproject.org page was last updated in 2005 and the ___domain became defunct.
CAIR coordinated the [http://cair.com/FatwaJuly2005.pdf release] of a [[fatwa]] (religious pronouncement) 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.”
In 2005, following [[Qur'an desecration controversy of 2005|retracted media reports of the desecration of the Quran]] at [[Camp Delta]] in the [[Guantanamo Bay detainment camp]], as well as negative stereotypes against Islam in the media, CAIR started an "[http://www.cair-net.org/explorethequran/ Explore the Quran]" campaign, intended to promote understanding of the [[Quran]] by distributing complimentary copies to any interested member of the American public.
In 2006, during the worldwide Muslim outrage over the publication of cartoons visually depicting [[Muhammad]], CAIR responded by launching an educational program "[http://www.cair-net.org/Muhammad/ Explore the Life of Muhammad]" aimed at providing free copies of a DVD or book about the life of the [[Muhammad]] to any person who requests it. Over 16,000 requests were received as of September 2006.
In June 2006, CAIR announced a $50 million project to influence the American media ($10 million per year for five years). According to the article, the project will be spearheaded by [[Paul Findley]]a former US Congressman. Saudi Prince [[Alwaleed bin Talal]] was going to be contacted to help fund the project. [http://www.arabnews.com/?article=84122]
==Disputes and dialogue==
CAIR has criticized several recent films and television shows featuring Muslim terrorists. For instance, it lobbied against the film ''[[The Sum of All Fears (film)|The Sum of All Fears]]'' in a campaign lasting two years, during which time CAIR was in contact with [[Paramount Pictures]] and [[Mace Neufeld]].[http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=71&theType=AA] The campaign was ultimately successful and the Islamist terrorists which had featured in the [[The Sum of All Fears|original book]] were replaced with neo-Nazis in the film version.
CAIR also issued a complaint on September 29, 2005, following an ad for the [[Bell Helicopter Textron|Bell]]/[[Boeing]] [[CV-22]] aircraft which portrayed soldiers storming a mosque.[http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=54352] The following day, Boeing sent a formal apology to CAIR, and Bell and the [[National Journal]] contacted CAIR to express their regret.[http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050930/dcf064.html?.v=2]
On January 26, 2006, CAIR issued a complaint following a segment on Los Angeles radio program ''The [[Bill Handel]] Show'' which allegedly mocked the deaths of Muslims in a recent [[Hajj]] stampede.[http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=360&theType=AA] CAIR had been monitoring the program for "anti-Muslim material" and had previously filed complaints over another inflammatory incident in 2004, which resulted in a formal apology issued on-air by the station ([[KFI]]).[http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1049&theType=NR]
==Criticism==
{{main|Criticism of the Council on American-Islamic Relations}}
CAIR has received criticism from a number of both governmental and non-governmental sources, for actions it has taken and people and organizations it has been involved with.
Critics have accused CAIR of having ties to terrorist organizations, and of "pursuing an extreme Islamist political agenda".<ref name="NYTCAIR1"/><ref>[http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=13175 The CAIR-Terror Connection]</ref><ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43805 CAIR leader convicted on terror charges]</ref><ref>[http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=22144 CAIR Backs Down from Anti-CAIR]</ref><ref>[http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18027017&BRD=1675&PAG=461&dept_id=18171&rfi=6 Sestak takes heat over appearance at CAIR banquet]</ref><ref>[http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=10061 CAIR's Al Qeada Link Exposed]</ref><ref>[http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NjY4M2VjNmE2NmIxNzM3YjYyNTJjMjI4Y2JkOTE1YWI= Singing CAIR’s Tune, On Your Dime]</ref> It has been asserted that four former CAIR officials have been charged with terrorism-related offenses. However, this assertion is disputed by CAIR, which notes that only one of the individuals mentioned was ever employed by CAIR, and his arrest was on a weapons charge, not a terrorism charge, and took place after the period of his employment by CAIR.[http://www.cair.com/urbanlegends.pdf] Critics claim CAIR is a spin-off of the [[Islamic Association for Palestine]], which is alleged to be a “front group” for [[Hamas]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=25448 | author=Robert Spencer | title=CAIR's Congress | date=November 13, 2006}}</ref>
Critics have also taken aim at CAIR's fundraising and sources of funds. Shortly after the 9/11 attacks, CAIR's website solicited donations for what it called the "NY/DC Emergency Relief Fund."<ref name=CAIRnet2001>[http://web.archive.org/web/20010917013636/http://cair-net.org/ Archive.org: CAIR web site as of 2006-11-17]</ref> However, clicking on the donation link led to the web site for [[Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development]] (HLF).<ref name=CAIRnet2001 /><ref>{{cite web
| last =Emerson
| first =Steven
| authorlink =Steven Emerson
| title =One Muslim advocacy group's not-so-secret terrorist ties
| work =The New Republic Online
| publisher =The New Republic
| date =2007-03-28
| url =https://ssl.tnr.com/p/docsub.mhtml?i=w070326&s=emerson032807
| accessdate =2007-04-08 }}</ref> Later that year, HLF was later designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union and U.S. because of alleged connections to [[Hamas]], and shut down by [[executive order]].
CAIR has also been accused of doctoring photographs and reporting fraudulent statistics about the Muslim population of the United States in support of its own private agenda. Finally, another source of criticism is that CAIR attempts to suppress criticism of Islamic terrorism and intolerance through accusations of racism and anti-Muslim bias.{{Fact|date=June 2007}}
[[Investor's Business Daily]] publicly condemned CAIR as being "the PR machine of militant Islam" after CAIR "dispatched its henchmen" to try to shut down the first [[Secular Islam Summit]]. [http://www.investors.com/editorial/editorialcontent.asp?secid=1501&status=article&id=258076311558394]
Among the numerous books donated to libraries in CAIR's "library project" was former congressman [[Paul Findley]]'s 'Silent No More', which includes positive statements about convicted terrorist [[Abdul Rahman al-Amoudi]].<ref>[http://www.washtimes.com/national/20031020-122538-4008r.htm 'Libraries revisit Islam'] By Julia Duin, The Washington Times</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
=== Official ===
*[http://www.cair.com/ CAIR National]
=== News articles ===
*[http://www.sullivan-county.com/x/acair.htm CAIR's legal troubles], 2003
*[http://www.arabnews.com/?article=84122 $50M Saudi-funded CAIR media initiative]
=== Criticism ===
*[http://www.danielpipes.org/ Daniel Pipes]
*[http://www.anti-cair-net.org/ Anti-CAIR]
*[http://www.americansagainsthate.org/cw/ CAIRwatch]
*[http://www.cairbaby.com/ CAIR-The Nation's Loudest Baby]
*[http://www.adl.org/Israel/cair.asp Anti-Defamation League's CAIR Profile]
*[http://kyl.senate.gov/legis_center/subdocs/091003_epstein.pdf Saudi Support for Islamic Extremism in the United States (PDF)]: 2003, "Testimony of Matthew Epstein Before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and Homeland Security"
*[http://www.secularislam.org/blog/post/SI_Blog/21/The-St-Petersburg-Declaration Secular Islam Summit]
[[Category:1994 establishments]]
[[Category:Political advocacy groups in the United States]]
[[Category:Charities accused of ties to terrorism]]
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Canada]]
[[Category:Civic and political organizations]]
[[Category:Political organizations]]
[[Category:American Islamic organizations]]
[[Category:Advocacy groups]]
[[Category:Islamic activist organizations]]
[[de:Council on American-Islamic Relations]]
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