All articles tagged with #cair
A Senate counterterrorism analyst testified that Abdul El-Sayed's Michigan Senate bid raises homeland security concerns due to alleged family ties to Muslim Brotherhood–linked groups and CAIR connections, including his father-in-law's leadership with CAIR-Michigan and ties to ISNA and Emgage; the hearing was boycotted by Democrats, and the report notes donations to El-Sayed from CAIR-linked individuals.
Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida will use HB 1471 to identify and designate more than 90 groups as terrorist organizations, with final designations approved by the governor and Cabinet; the law bars public support and funding and imposes penalties for material support, while CAIR and civil liberties groups vow legal challenges, arguing the move undermines First Amendment rights.
A Muslim Texan attendee at the Texas GOP convention left in tears after being told to convert or leave amid anti-Sharia rhetoric and Islamophobic comments within the party, including scrutiny of CAIR ties; the incident highlighted tensions over inclusion and faith and prompted procedural tweaks for future conventions.
A federal judge ordered Texas to extend the private-school voucher application deadline to March 31 after Muslim parents and Islamic schools sued claiming religious discrimination by excluding Islamic schools from the program. The order blocks the state from deciding which families receive vouchers while the case proceeds, with a late-April hearing planned. Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock had prevented Islamic schools from participating over claimed ties to foreign terrorist organizations, a label CAIR—designated by Gov. Abbott as terrorist—disputes. The program involves about $1 billion in funding and uses a lottery to distribute money to eligible students, with data showing most applicants come from private or home schooling; enrollment steps and disability/poverty-based funding rules are outlined, and officials planned to release final data later in the week. Enrollment windows close July 15 for student enrollment and July 31 for private schools to confirm enrollment.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR, and CAIR’s Austin, Houston, and DFW chapters to ban their operations in the state and halt their activities, alleging ties to terrorism and describing CAIR as the American face of the Muslim Brotherhood; the suit seeks to prohibit property ownership and recruitment, citing past convictions and unindicted co-conspirator status in related Hamas funding cases.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton argues that Governor Abbott’s designation of CAIR as a foreign terrorist organization does not apply to its local Texas chapters, claiming the proclamation targets only the national group and that the local chapters cannot sue due to lack of legal action and sovereign immunity.
Texas Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock is seeking legal guidance on whether schools linked to a Muslim civil rights group or connected to Chinese interests can be excluded from the state's new school voucher program, amid concerns over foreign influence and recent political tensions involving Muslim organizations.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) has sued Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, challenging his order to label Cair and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations, arguing it is unconstitutional and usurps federal authority, amid broader political tensions over terrorism designations.
British commentator Sami Hamdi was detained and deported by US immigration authorities while on a speaking tour, amid accusations from CAIR and conservative figures that his criticism of Israel and support for Palestine prompted his detention, reflecting broader US immigration crackdowns under the Trump administration.
CAIR has called on Georgetown University to reinstate Professor Jonathan Brown after he was investigated for a misrepresented tweet about Iran, emphasizing that the university's actions undermine academic freedom and are based on a bad-faith attack. Brown's original tweet expressed hope for a minimal Iranian response to U.S. actions, which he clarified and deleted, stating it was not a call for violence. CAIR argues that the university's response is unjust and sets a dangerous precedent for free speech and dissent, especially for Muslim scholars.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called for an investigation into Florida state Sen. Randy Fine's threatening remarks towards U.S. Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar. Fine, endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump, suggested the Muslim lawmakers should leave office for their safety, adding "Bombs away" in a social media post. CAIR labeled Fine an "unhinged anti-Muslim bigot" and urged law enforcement and political leaders to condemn his comments. They also called for increased protection for Tlaib and Omar amid rising threats.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) released its annual Civil Rights Report, revealing a surge in anti-Muslim bias complaints following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. The report highlights a significant increase in employment discrimination, hate crimes, and bias in schools, while also noting positive developments such as the recognition of Muslim Heritage Month in New Jersey and Georgia, and the addition of Muslim holidays to academic calendars in several states.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has criticized former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's comments suggesting that pro-Palestinian protesters at events with President Biden are "connected to Russia" as "delusional" and "authoritarian." Pelosi also called for an FBI investigation into the financing of the demonstrations and implied that the protesters' calls for a cease-fire were part of "Mr. Putin's message." CAIR's National Executive Director Nihad Awad condemned Pelosi's remarks, stating that they lacked evidence and were disturbing. Pelosi's office has not yet responded to CAIR's statement.
The US has blocked a UN resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, while several Democrat members of Congress face scrutiny for their past support of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), whose executive director recently made controversial comments regarding Hamas' attacks on Israel. The White House condemned the comments and removed CAIR as a partner in fighting antisemitism. Some lawmakers who previously supported CAIR remained silent when asked about the executive director's stance on the attacks.
The White House has condemned comments made by Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Director Nihad Awad, who expressed happiness over Gazans invading Israel on October 7. The White House called the remarks "shocking" and "antisemitic," echoing President Joe Biden's condemnation of the attacks as "abhorrent" and "unadulterated evil." Awad claimed his comments were taken out of context and stated that he condemns violence against all civilians. The White House has been vocal in denouncing antisemitism and Islamophobia since the October 7 attacks, while both antisemitic incidents and bias against Muslims in America have reportedly increased.