The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is a large and prominent advocacy organization for Muslims in the United States.7 In addition, he praised members of the terrorist organization Hamas that committed the attacks, claiming, “Israel did not scare them, because they knew their heaven is in Gaza, and if they would like to die, they will go to another heaven. That is the faith of the people of Gaza.” 7
Awad’s comments sparked immediate backlash, with the White House and then-President Joe Biden condemning the statement and even AMP deleting the original video of his address from its Youtube page. Awad later released a statement claiming he did not support the attacks of October 7, but instead was praising, “[t]he average Palestinians who briefly walked out of Gaza and set foot on their ethnically cleansed land in a symbolic act of defiance against the blockade and stopped there without engaging in violence.”7 He also claimed that, “Targeting civilians is unacceptable, no matter whether they are Israeli or Palestinian or any other nationality.”7
Alleged Association with the Muslim Brotherhood
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) grew out of the Islamic Association for Palestine, a group that was created by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.13 Additionally, CAIR directly operates the Washington Trust Foundation, housed in the commonwealth of Virginia, which serves as an asset-holder for the CAIR network. 14 15 In 2023, the Washington Trust Foundation reported total assets of $16,679,198 and total liabilities of $10,483,939. 16
In 2023, the Oklahoma-based Council on American-Islamic Relations reported revenue of $729,695, expenses of $760,627, and net assets of $28,844. 17 As of 2023, its principal officer was listed as Adam Soltani on its tax return. 18
CAIR has separate 501(c)(3) organizations for each of its state-based organizations, located in those respective states. 19
Funding
In 2018, CAIR received $31,000 from the Anwar Foundation. 20
CAIR has received grants from Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors ($30,000 since 2008) and the Tides Foundation ($5,000 since 2002). 22
Foreign Contributions
In 2013, it was revealed that from approximately 2007 to 2012, CAIR transferred $1.08 million to the CAIR Foundation.23 CAIR, Inc., had disclosed in 2005 that it received a total of $1.2 million from six contributors in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. 24
Subsequently in 2013, in its petition for nonprofit status reinstatement, the CAIR Foundation acknowledged that that it had received $405,000 from the government of Qatar during the five-year period that it failed to file IRS annual disclosures.23
Nonprofit Status Controversy
The CAIR Foundation had obtained its tax-exempt status in 2007,28 the CAIR Foundation filed for re-instatement with the IRS as a nonprofit charity.32
In 2015, the CAIR Foundation claimed to have spent $353,000 on communications to spin Islam and Muslims in a positive light, and $101,000 on government relations.53
In 2004, when asked by Al-Jazeera about the U.S. designations of Hamas and Hezbollah as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, Nihad Awad said “we do not and will not condemn any liberation movement inside Palestine or Lebanon.”55 Later that year, he said Hamas was under occupation and thus should be allowed to defend itself.56
In a 2004 interview with Al Jazeera, Awad said, “If they want us to condemn a liberation movement inside Palestine or inside Lebanon they should condemn Israel tens of times on all levels at all times, and we will not condemn any organization.”59
The Investigative Project on Terrorism noted that CAIR’s failure to denounce Hamas has come while the organization has committed countless violent acts that have killed numerous Israeli non-combatants.7 In addition, he praised the members of the terrorist organization Hamas that committed the attacks, claiming, “Israel did not scare them, because they knew their heaven is in Gaza, and if they would like to die, they will go to another heaven. That is the faith of the people of Gaza.” 7 Awad’s comments sparked immediate backlash, with the White House and President Joe Biden condemning the statement and even removing CAIR from its list of organizations participating in its U.S. National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism program. In addition, AMP soon deleted the original video of Awad’s address from its YouTube page. In a reaction to the controversy, Awad released a statement claiming he did not support the attacks of October 7, but instead praised, “The average Palestinians who briefly walked out of Gaza and set foot on their ethnically cleansed land in a symbolic act of defiance against the blockade and stopped there without engaging in violence…”7 He also claimed that, “Targeting civilians is unacceptable, no matter whether they are Israeli or Palestinian or any other nationality.”7
On May 6, 2024, CAIR was one of roughly 100 organizations that signed a letter sent to then-U.S Senate Finance Committee chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and then-Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID) seeking to block the passage of H.R.6408 /S.4136. that would strip the tax-exempt status of any nonprofits identified as supporting terrorist organizations. The signatories claimed that such a bill is motivated by “anti-Palestinian bias” and will “undermine our nation’s democratic freedoms and principles” if passed. 61
In December 2024, CAIR released a statement condemning a raid by law enforcement of the home of two George Mason University (GMU) students, sisters Jena and Noor Chanaa, who were also identified as leaders of the SJP chapter on the GMU campus that had engaged in vandalism earlier in August around GMU’s Johnson student center with messages calling for a “student intifada.” 62 According to a Washington Free Beacon article, law enforcement officials were granted a warrant to search the home, where they found multiple firearms and ammunition, foreign passports, and pro-terror materials which included Hamas and Hezbollah flags as well as signs reading “death to America” and “death to Jews.” 62 In addition, it was reported by The Intercept that “antique firearms” were seized that had been registered to the sister’s brother GMU alum Mohammad Chanaa, whom police stated was “linked to destruction of property in connection with a large group of people with like-minded rhetoric.” 62 CAIR later condemned the raid while accusing authorities of using “draconian measures” to “silence or intimidate those who seek to end the Israeli genocide in Gaza.” 62
In March of 2025, CAIR advised non-citizen residents of the United States to take precautions in response to the Trump Administration’s deportation of non-citizen residents who expressed support for Hamas or pro-Hamas groups. The council recommended purchasing a “burner phone,” or deleting apps and pictures that could raise red flags to law enforcement. CAIR additionally advised non-citizens to reduce their participation in activism against Israel or the United States. 64 According to the Washington Free Beacon, Judge Subramanian, on behalf of CAIR, had previously ordered a 30-day delay at the beginning of April for Columbia in releasing other documents so they could be reviewed by CAIR. The group claimed it was due to concerns that such documents would contain student records. However, Columbia released a statement claiming that documents requested by HELP regarding SJP activities were not subject to the previous 30-day delay order since they did not “include any student records.” 64
Consulting in Public Schools
In 2021, a report card of various educational contractors and consultants was released by Parents Defending Education (PDE). The report listed consultants who work with schools implementing Critical Race Theory and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) curriculums and policies. CAIR was named as one of the consulting groups in the report. PDE reported that in 2017, CAIR signed a partnership agreement with the San Diego Unified School District to teach “anti-bullying” material in classrooms. The fine print of the contract, obtained by PDE, specified that CAIR planned a “Teaching Against Islamophobia Training Program” for faculty and staff, “Cultural Competency Training” on Islam and the Muslim community, and to serve as a “American Muslim Community Resource” for the district. In return, the school district promised its newsletter would detail the activities. 71 She also alleged “[a]nd I wanna…make the point that the Unity and Justice Fund PAC, which is the CAIR Super PAC, was the largest institutional donor…to the pro-Zohran PAC in New York.” 71
Alignment with Left-of-Center Organizations
CAIR partners with a number of groups that are involved with organized American left-wing politics and advocacy including the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, Hispanic Unity, and the NAACP.79 The case was previously described as “the largest successful terror financing prosecution in U.S. history.”91
Second Trump Administration
In August 2025, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-AR), whom also serves as Chair of the U.S Senate’s Select Committee on Intelligence, sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requesting it investigate CAIR over possible violations of its501(c)(3) tax-exempt status due to its “ties to terrorist organizations, including Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.” 92 Sen. Hawley’s letter also requested for a federal probe into CAIR’s “financial records, affiliations, and activities” while also stating “[t]ax-exempt status is a privilege, not a right, and it should not subsidize organizations with links to terrorism.” 92
In November of 2025, Greg Abbot (R-Texas) signed a proclamation that called for the designation of the Council on American Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations in texas. CAIR claimed Abbot’s actions were a “publicity stunt masquerading as a proclamation” https://freebeacon.com/issues/tom-cotton-presses-irs-to-probe-cairs-tax-exempt-status-citing-ties-to-terror-organizations/