Council on American–Islamic Relations

The Council on American–Islamic Relations, commonly known as CAIR, is an American Muslim civil-rights and advocacy organization founded in 1994. Headquartered on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., it operates through a national network of regional and local offices. Its work combines legal assistance, civil-rights advocacy, media relations, public education, voter and civic engagement, and community organizing. CAIR was established partly in response to perceived anti-Arab and anti-Muslim stereotyping surrounding the film True Lies. In its first years, the organization handled discrimination complaints, challenged hostile or inaccurate portrayals of Muslims in public life, and developed campaigns directed at companies and media organizations. A 1995 hijab-discrimination case helped establish workplace religious accommodation as a recurring area of its civil-rights work. After the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, CAIR publicized a sharp rise in harassment and violence directed at people perceived to be Muslim or Arab, helping bring national attention to the community’s concerns. During the 1990s, CAIR expanded its communications and civic programs. It created CAIR-NET, an email-based service that distributed information about bias incidents, hate speech, and possible responses, and it began voter-registration and political-participation initiatives. The organization also addressed commercial imagery it regarded as offensive to Islam, including a Nike shoe design that it said resembled the Arabic word for Allah. In a separate matter, it asked the U.S. Supreme Court to alter a sculpted representation of Muhammad on the building’s north frieze; the Court declined. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, CAIR opposed the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and reported a substantial increase in discrimination, profiling, harassment, and physical attacks affecting Muslim and Arab Americans. It has continued to criticize policies and proposals that it considers discriminatory, including certain airport practices, workplace restrictions, surveillance measures, and proposed designations of the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization. Its public work also includes statements condemning terrorism and violence against civilians, community education, and efforts to improve relations between American Muslims and law-enforcement agencies. CAIR has periodically been involved in politically and legally contentious disputes. In the Holy Land Foundation prosecution, federal prosecutors identified CAIR and other organizations as unindicted co-conspirators or joint venturers, although CAIR was not charged with a crime. The FBI later ended routine liaison contacts with CAIR after convictions in the case and related allegations concerning the organization’s historical relationships. A federal judge subsequently held that the public disclosure of the list violated the organizations’ due-process rights, while declining to remove the designation. These events have remained central to criticism of CAIR by some public officials and advocacy groups, while CAIR has characterized the treatment as unfair and reputationally damaging. In the 2010s and 2020s, CAIR continued litigation, public advocacy, media campaigns, and community organizing on issues including employment discrimination, religious freedom, hate crimes, immigration, policing, and U.S. policy toward Israel and the Palestinians. The organization presents itself as a civil-rights institution serving American Muslims and promoting understanding of Islam. Critics have disputed its political positions and questioned some of its past associations and statements. The United Arab Emirates, Texas, and Florida have designated CAIR as a terrorist organization, a characterization CAIR rejects. CAIR remains an active U.S. advocacy organization with a national profile and a broad portfolio of legal, educational, and civic programs.

CAIR was founded in June 1994 in Washington, D.C., with Nihad Awad, Omar Ahmad, and Rafeeq Jaber among its founders. The organization emerged partly from opposition to stereotyped portrayals of Arabs and Muslims in popular culture, particularly around the release of True Lies. Its first office was established shortly before the film’s release. An early national campaign concerned a greeting card that used the word “shia” as an excrement-related insult; pressure from CAIR and allied activists contributed to the card’s withdrawal. In 1995, CAIR handled its first reported hijab-discrimination case after a Muslim employee was denied the ability to wear the headscarf at work. Complaints involving religious clothing and accommodation later became a major part of the organization’s civil-rights activity. The Oklahoma City bombing that April produced a wave of harassment, threats, and violence against people perceived to be Muslim or Arab. CAIR documented these incidents and used media outreach to draw attention to anti-Muslim bias, raising its national profile. CAIR expanded its communications and civic work in 1996. Its CAIR-NET email list circulated accounts of discrimination, hate speech, and hate crimes and suggested avenues for contacting employers, public officials, or other institutions. That year it also conducted a voter-registration drive. CAIR published research criticizing media references to Muslims and Arabs after the crash of TWA Flight 800, arguing that early reporting relied excessively on speculation before investigators concluded that mechanical failure was the most likely explanation. In 1997, CAIR challenged a Nike shoe design that it considered similar to the Arabic word for Allah. Nike apologized, recalled the affected products, investigated the design, and agreed to support playground construction near Islamic centers. CAIR also asked the Supreme Court to modify a representation of Muhammad carved into the building’s north frieze. The Court rejected the request. After September 11, 2001, CAIR opposed the invasion of Afghanistan and reported a major increase in discrimination, racial profiling, harassment, and physical attacks. It promoted public education and community assistance, while also criticizing government policies it believed burdened Muslims or Arab Americans. A project partly funded by a $500,000 donation from Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal distributed Islamic educational materials, including translations of the Quran, to public libraries. In 2005, CAIR coordinated a public statement signed by hundreds of American Muslim institutions and religious leaders condemning extremism and attacks on civilians. It also launched the Explore the Quran campaign after the Guantanamo Quran-desecration controversy, offering free Quran copies to members of the public. In 2006, CAIR announced a five-year, $50 million public-understanding project to be led by former Congressman Paul Findley. The organization also sent representatives to Iraq in an effort to help secure the release of journalist Jill Carroll, who was eventually freed unharmed. CAIR’s political profile led to growing scrutiny. In 2006, Senator Barbara Boxer withdrew a certificate given to former CAIR official Basim Elkarra after her staff reviewed concerns about CAIR’s statements and alleged associations. The most consequential controversy concerned the Holy Land Foundation case. In 2007, federal prosecutors listed CAIR and other organizations among unindicted co-conspirators or joint ventures in a prosecution alleging that the Holy Land Foundation funded Hamas. The designation did not charge CAIR with a crime, but the organization argued that public disclosure damaged its reputation. The first trial ended in a mistrial in 2007; after a retrial, the Holy Land Foundation directors were convicted in 2008. The FBI then ended its established liaison relationship with CAIR, citing the convictions and concerns about CAIR’s historical ties and disclosures. In 2009, a federal judge ruled that prosecutors should have kept the list sealed and that public naming violated due-process rights, but did not expunge the designation. CAIR continued its civil-rights and public-policy work after 2009. It condemned the Fort Hood shooting, supported cooperation between Muslim families and law enforcement in a 2009 Pakistan-related terrorism investigation, and assisted Muslim high-school football players in Michigan who faced criminal charges that were later dismissed. It has opposed proposals to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization, warning that such a policy could be used to marginalize Muslim-American organizations. Local chapters have also conducted public-facing campaigns, including service-themed media work portraying Muslim Americans as contributors to American society. In the 2020s, CAIR remained active in litigation, anti-discrimination work, media advocacy, and debates over U.S. policy in the Middle East. A 2021 speech by San Francisco chapter director Zahra Billoo generated criticism from the ADL, while CAIR defended her. CAIR has also faced official designations and continuing criticism from opponents who dispute its positions or alleged associations. The organization rejects those characterizations and continues to describe itself as a Muslim civil-rights and advocacy group operating in the United States.

• 2009

  FBI liaison relationship ends

  [1]Council on American–Islamic Relationsen.wikipedia.org

  The FBI directs field offices to end routine noncriminal contacts with CAIR after the Holy Land Foundation convictions and related concerns.

• 2007

  Named in Holy Land Foundation documents

  [1]Council on American–Islamic Relationsen.wikipedia.org

  Federal prosecutors list CAIR among unindicted co-conspirators or joint ventures in the Holy Land Foundation case.

• 2005

  Anti-extremism statement and Explore the Quran campaign

  [1]Council on American–Islamic Relationsen.wikipedia.org

  CAIR coordinates a broad Muslim-American condemnation of violence against civilians and begins distributing Quran copies to the public.

• 1997

  Nike product dispute resolved

  [1]Council on American–Islamic Relationsen.wikipedia.org

  After CAIR objected to a shoe design resembling Arabic religious calligraphy, Nike apologized, recalled the product, and supported playground construction near Islamic centers.

• 1996

  CAIR-NET and voter registration

  [1]Council on American–Islamic Relationsen.wikipedia.org

  CAIR launches an email-based bias-monitoring and advocacy service and conducts its first voter-registration drive.

• 1995

  First reported hijab-discrimination case

  [1]Council on American–Islamic Relationsen.wikipedia.org

  CAIR handles a workplace complaint involving denial of the right to wear hijab, establishing a recurring focus of its civil-rights department.

• 1994

  CAIR is founded

  [1]Council on American–Islamic Relationsen.wikipedia.org

  The organization is established in Washington, D.C., with Nihad Awad, Omar Ahmad, and Rafeeq Jaber among its founders.

A leading U.S. Muslim civil-rights, legal-advocacy, and public-education organization

• Legal and advocacy services · 1994

  Civil-rights complaint services

  CAIR receives and assists with complaints involving employment, education, housing, policing, immigration, airline treatment, religious accommodation, hate crimes, and other forms of discrimination affecting Muslims or people perceived to be Muslim. Its work may include counseling, referrals, public advocacy, and litigation support.

• Education and outreach · 1994

  Public education programs

  The organization produces educational materials, responds to media coverage, distributes information about Islam and Muslim Americans, and conducts outreach intended to reduce prejudice and improve public understanding of religious practices and civil rights.

• Civic advocacy · 1996

  Civic engagement programs

  CAIR encourages voter registration, contact with elected officials, community participation, and political awareness among American Muslims. Its civic work addresses legislation, executive actions, civil-rights enforcement, and public policy.

• Public education campaign · 2005

  Explore the Quran campaign

  Initiated in 2005, the campaign offered Quran copies to people seeking information about Islam after controversy concerning alleged Quran desecration at Guantanamo Bay.

• 2025

  Conference appearance involving CAIR Ohio director

  CAIR-Ohio director Khaled Tuurani participated in an online conference at which a Hamas official designated by the U.S. government appeared on a separate panel. The appearance generated criticism.

  Source

• 2021

  Controversy over Zahra Billoo speech

  Remarks by CAIR’s San Francisco chapter director about Israel, the ADL, and Hillel drew accusations from the ADL that the speech promoted conspiratorial or extremist rhetoric. CAIR supported Billoo’s remarks.

  Source

• 2007

  Holy Land Foundation co-conspirator designation

  Federal prosecutors listed CAIR among unindicted co-conspirators or joint ventures in the Holy Land Foundation case. CAIR was not charged and disputed the designation. A later court ruling found that public disclosure violated due-process rights but did not expunge the designation.

  Source

Read more

• 2005Explore the Quran

  United States

  CAIR offered free Quran copies as a public-education response to the Guantanamo Quran-desecration controversy.

  Outcome. The campaign distributed Quran copies to requesting members of the public.

  Source
• 1997Nike Arabic-design campaign

  United States

  CAIR objected to a Nike sneaker design that it believed resembled the Arabic word for Allah and negotiated with Nike representatives.

  Outcome. Nike apologized, recalled the products, investigated the design, and supported playground construction near Islamic centers.

  Source
• 1994Greeting-card withdrawal campaign

  United States

  CAIR and allied activists challenged a greeting card that used an offensive meaning for the word “shia.” The company eventually withdrew the card from sale.

  Outcome. The product was withdrawn from the market.

  Source
• Remember Through Service

  United States · Michigan

  A local CAIR campaign used video and billboard advertising to present positive images of Muslim Americans, including a Muslim first responder associated with the September 11 attacks.

  Source

• 2009

  Challenge to public co-conspirator designationOther

  Background

  CAIR argued that public identification in the Holy Land Foundation case damaged its reputation and had been made without adequate procedural safeguards.

  Action taken

  CAIR and two other organizations asked a federal judge to remove the designation.

  Aftermath

  The judge held that prosecutors should have filed the list under seal and that public naming violated due process, but declined to expunge the designation.

  Source

• 2005

  Coordinate a national anti-extremism statementStrategy

  Background

  Following public controversy about terrorism and the treatment of Islam, CAIR sought a broad statement from American Muslim institutions condemning attacks on civilians.

  Action taken

  CAIR coordinated a fatwa signed by 344 American Muslim organizations, mosques, and imams stating that extremism and violence against innocent people were forbidden.

  Aftermath

  The statement became part of CAIR’s public effort to distinguish Muslim civil society from terrorism and religious extremism.

  Source

• 2005

  Launch Explore the QuranStrategy

  Background

  The initiative followed the Guantanamo Bay Quran-desecration controversy and concerns about public misunderstanding of Islam.

  Action taken

  CAIR offered free copies of the Quran to people who requested them.

  Aftermath

  The campaign expanded CAIR’s public-education work beyond legal advocacy and media response.

  Source

1. 1Council on American–Islamic Relationsen.wikipedia.org