CAIR Shuns Rally Against Islamofascism
netwmd.com ^ | March 29, 2007 | Andrew L. Jaffee
If the Council on American Islamic Relations' (CAIR) official mission is "to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding," then why would it refuse to participate in a rally denouncing Islamist terrorism? The reasons are obvious, as Senator Charles Schumer (D, New York) characterizes CAIR as an organization "which we know has ties to terrorism" (more evidence shown below).
The United American Committee (UAC) has scheduled a second annual Rally Against Islamofascism Day (R.A.I.D.) for Saturday March 31st, 2007, the purpose of which is "a joint effort of organizations in a common goal of educating others to the dangers posed by radical Islam. 'This is an opportunity for people of all walks of life to come together, setting aside political or religious differences'."
The UAC invited CAIR to participate in R.A.I.D., but:
Prior to the announcement, the UAC reached out to an array of organizations to build a coalition to ensure the success of the rallies. While many organizations joined in support, one organization in particular refused to unite in the effort. CAIR, the Council on American Islamic Relations, when asked by the United American Committee if they would join in the rallies, refused by not answering e-mails from the group's members, and even hung up on UAC officials when the United American Committee attempted to contact CAIR's Washington DC offices.
So why would CAIR react so vehemently? Simple.
Chuck Schumer (D-NY) stated that CAIR’s leaders have “intimate links with Hamas” and that “we know CAIR has ties to terrorism.” [5] [6] [7] [8] [10] Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) called CAIR “unusual in its extreme rhetoric and its associations with groups that are suspect.” [6] [7] [9]
Nihad Awad, CAIR's executive director and co-founder, [21] stated publicly, “I am in support of the Hamas movement,” [22] a group whose founding charter requires it to destroy Israel, i.e., to commit genocide. [23]
CAIR’s founder, Omar Ahmad, [24] stated publicly in California, “Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth.” [22] [25]
Randall Todd “Ismail” Royer, who served as CAIR’s communications specialist and civil rights coordinator, pled guilty to involvement with terrorist groups, to explosives and weapons charges, and to helping several people “gain entry to a terrorist training camp in Pakistan.” [7] [11] [12] [13] [14] Royer is now serving 20 years in prison. [7] [11]
CAIR's Texas chapter founder, Ghassan Elashi, was convicted in July 2004 for illegally transporting computers to Libya and Syria, officially designated as state sponsors of terrorism. [7] [15] He was again “convicted in April 2005 of knowingly doing business with Mousa Abu Marzook, a senior Hamas leader.” [7] [16] Finally, “he was charged in July 2004 with providing more than $12.4 million to Hamas.” [7] [17]
Bassem Khafagi, “CAIR's onetime community relations director, pleaded guilty in September 2003 to lying on his visa application and passing bad checks for substantial amounts in early 2001, for which he was deported.” [7] [18]
Rabih Haddad, “a CAIR fundraiser, was arrested in December 2001 on terrorism-related charges and deported from the United States.” [7] [19] He was involved in “financing Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations.” [7] [19]
A one-time member of CAIR’s advisory board, Siraj Wahhaj, was named in 1995 by U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White “as one of the ‘unindicted persons who may be alleged as co-conspirators’ in the attempt to blow up New York City monuments.” [7] [20]
References
[5] Ben Johnson, “Tides Foundation and Tides Center - Excerpted from 57 Varieties of Radical Causes,” DiscoverTheNetwork.org, September 2004, discoverthenetwork.org.
[6] Mychal Massie, “We have right to know truth about CAIR,” WorldNetDaily.com, Inc., Grants Pass, OR, August 16, 2005, worldnetdaily.com.
[7] Daniel Pipes and Sharon Chadha, “CAIR: Islamists Fooling the Establishment,” Middle East Quarterly, PHILADELPHIA, PA, SPRING 2006, VOLUME XIII: NUMBER 2, meforum.org.
[8] FDCH Political Transcripts, Sept. 10, 2003.
[9] Evan McCormick, “A Bad Day for CAIR,” FrontPageMagazine.com, Center for the Study of Popular Culture, Los Angeles, California, September 24, 2003, frontpagemag.com.
[10] Christopher Orlet, “The Nation's Pulse - A Phony Fatwa,” The American Spectator, Salt Lake City, UT, 8/3/2005, tas.spectator.org.
[11] “RANDALL TODD ROYER AND IBRAHIM AHMED AL-HAMDI SENTENCED FOR PARTICIPATION IN VIRGINIA JIHAD NETWORK,” Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice, WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 9, 2004, usdoj.gov.
[12] “Va.-based terror members plead guilty,” USA TODAY, Gannett Co., Inc., McLean, VA, 1/16/2004, usatoday.com.
[13] “Guest CV - Ismail Royer,” Islam Online, Doha, Qatar, islamonline.net.
[14] “Muslims win rights in MO, VA, NE, and NJ: Store owners apologize to Muslim customer,” Action Alerts, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Washington, DC, 7/17/2001, cair-net.org.
[15] “ELASHI BROTHERS CONVICTED,” Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice, DALLAS, TEXAS, JULY 8, 2004, usdoj.gov.
[16] “Brothers Found Guilty of Funding Hamas,” FOXNews.com, FOX News Network, LLC, New York, NY, April 13, 2005, foxnews.com.
[17] “HOLY LAND FOUNDATION, LEADERS, ACCUSED OF PROVIDING MATERIAL SUPPORT TO HAMAS TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice, JULY 27, 2004, usdoj.gov.
[18] “PLAINTIFFS’ MORE DEFINITE STATEMENT/ADDITIONAL ALLEGATIONS AS TO DEFENDANT COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS (CAIR) AND CAIR-CANADA,” UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, IN RE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, Civil Action No.: 03 MDL 1570 (RCC), September 30, 2005, anti-cair-net.org.
[19] “FROM THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS: Treasury Department Statement Regarding the Designation of the Global Relief Foundation,” PO-3553, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC, October 18, 2002, treas.gov.
[20] Daniel Pipes, “CAIR: 'Moderate' friends of terror,” New York Post, New York, NY, April 22, 2002, danielpipes.org.
[21] “Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Board Member: A Short Biography,” Council on American-Islamic Relations, Washington, DC, cair-net.org.
[22] John Perazzo, “Hamas and Hizzoner,” FrontPageMagazine.com, Center for the Study of Popular Culture, Los Angeles, California, March 5, 2003, frontpagemag.com.
[23] “Hamas, Islamic Jihad: Palestinian Islamists,” Terrorism: Questions and Answers, Council on Foreign Relations, New York, NY, Updated: October 2005, cfrterrorism.org.
[24] “Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Board Member: A Short Biography,” Council on American-Islamic Relations, Washington, DC, cair-net.org.
[25] Art Moore, “Should Muslim Quran be USA's top authority? Paper stands by story citing 'mainstream' leader pushing for Islamic America,” WorldNetDaily.com, Inc., Grants Pass, OR, May 1, 2003, worldnetdaily.com.
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