CAIR RESPONDS TO ISLAMOPHOBIST

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a prominent US Muslim civil rights and advocacy organisation, has responded to claims by four right-wing members of Congress that the council has been trying to plant spies as interns on Capitol Hill. It said that anti-Islam activists have vowed to destroy American Muslim groups and asked for support in empowering Muslims and standing up for their constitutional rights. Four House Republicans held a press conference and charged the council of planting Muslim interns on national security committees. They also accused CAIR of illegal lobbying practices and asked for an investigation of Muslim “spies” on Capitol Hill. The accusations came in advance of a book titled Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld that’s conspiring to Islamize America. A co-author of the book, P. David Gaubatz, is known as an anti-Islam activist. İbrahim Hooper, the communications director for CAIR, defended his council, saying they would love to help people find jobs on Capitol Hill. CAIR also said one of its directors received a death threat after the October 21 launch of the Muslim-bashing book.