Council on American-Islamic Relations

The Council on American Islamic Relations, known by its acronym CAIR, is a non-profit pro-Islam organization in the USA. Their headquarters are in Washington, D.C., and they have chapters across America. CAIR's current communications director is Ibrahim Hooper[?].

CAIR was established to promote a positive image of Islam and Muslims in America.

CAIR portrays itself as the voice of mainstream, moderate Islam and its success in this endeavor is demonstrated by the inclusion of its representatives in several public functions hosted by President Bush. However CAIR is also a highly controversial organization; its leadership and members publicly support known terrorist organizations such as Hizbollah and Hamas. (The State Department of the United States classified these groups as terrorist organizations). Imams affiliated with CAIR are often Islamist. CAIR has been accused of inciting death threats against moderate American Muslims. Many Jewish groups accuse CAIR of promoting anti-Semitism.

See also: Islamist, Islam

External links

• CAIR official website (http://www.cair-net.org/)
• CAIR accused of inciting death threats against moderate Muslims (http://www.islamicsupremecouncil.org/media_center/Releases/lynchmob-March_2_99.htm)
• Salon.com: "Islam's flawed spokesmen" (http://archive.salon.com/news/feature/2001/09/26/muslims/print)
• Daniel Pipes contra CAIR: http://www.danielpipes.org/cair.php