AI Overview from Google Gemini.
• No U.S. Federal Designation: CAIR does not have a federal “terrorist” designation in the United States, but the organization has documented historical links to groups that support terrorism, which led to a suspension of formal FBI contacts. CAIR has consistently denied these allegations and condemns all forms of terrorism.
• U.S. Federal Designation: CAIR is not on the U.S. Department of State’s official list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
• FBI Suspended Ties: In 2008, the FBI suspended formal liaison contacts with CAIR due to evidence presented during a terror financing trial (the Holy Land Foundation case) that allegedly linked CAIR’s founders to a Hamas support network.
• Unindicted Co-Conspirator Status: In the Holy Land Foundation trial, CAIR was named an unindicted co-conspirator, meaning prosecutors believed the organization was involved but did not have enough evidence to bring charges.
• State-Level Designations: The governors of Texas and Florida recently designated CAIR as a “foreign terrorist organization,” though these are state-level actions with no federal authority and are being challenged in court as unconstitutional and defamatory.
• UAE Designation: The United Arab Emirates (UAE), a U.S. ally, designated CAIR as a terrorist organization in 2014 due to its alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, a classification CAIR calls “shocking and bizarre”.
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s appointment of Ramzi Kassem as chief counsel spotlights deep connections to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a group facing accusations of unlicensed political operations in 22 states. Kassem, a CUNY law professor who defended an al-Qaeda detainee, has publicly urged Muslims to follow activists Linda Sarsour and Imam Siraj Wahhaj while donating to CAIR, amplifying concerns over foreign influence and extremism in city governance.cair-ny+4
Kassem’s CAIR Endorsement
Social media clips circulating since early January show Kassem promoting CAIR alongside Sarsour—known for anti-Semitic rhetoric—and Wahhaj, a controversial imam labeled an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing for ties to plotters. Kassem co-directs a clinic aiding those targeted in counterterrorism probes, aligning with CAIR-NY’s praise for his appointment as advancing “civil liberties” for Muslims. CAIR-NY hailed Mamdani’s inauguration as a “historic moment” defeating “anti-Muslim bigotry,” signaling tight alliance.cair-ny+5
CAIR’s Legal Cloud
A December 2025 watchdog report by the Network Contagion Research Institute details CAIR Action’s operations without required licenses in 22 states, including D.C., potentially exposing it to wire fraud and IRS violations through unregulated fundraising and endorsements. Even in California, it lacks solicitation authorization despite active campaigns. CAIR claims full compliance but has not refuted specifics.freebeacon+2
Campaign Funding Links
Sarsour boasted at CAIR events that she directed CAIR Action and its super PAC, Unity & Justice Fund—led by CAIR’s Basim Elkarra—to pour over $143,000 into Mamdani’s campaign, calling it “Muslim money” fueling his rise. She claimed CAIR as his largest institutional backer, with 80% of funds from Muslim donors, though exact “most” dominance remains unverified in filings.instagram+4
Broader Dangers
These ties portend risks: unchecked foreign-linked funds could sway policy, prioritizing Islamist agendas over public safety in a post-Oct. 7 landscape. Kassem’s role atop NYC legal affairs amplifies fears of biased enforcement, sidelining moderate Muslims while normalizing radicals like Wahhaj, who once eyed democracy as an Islamic “weapon.” Amid President Trump’s reelection scrutiny of such groups, Mamdani’s orbit demands federal probes to safeguard democracy.johnlocke+4