CAIR Oklahoma Exposed!: Intern program

Oklahoma?

Late last month, Kristin Reed, an OU senior and CAIR Intern wrote a letter-to-the editor to the Oklahoma Daily about a new group formed by several concerned Oklahomans called Oklahomans Against CAIR Hate who had protested a CAIR event at OU. Reed criticized the Daily for their reporting about CAIR. I, on the other hand, criticized the DaIly for being misleading about the protest including their editorial opinion on it.

Kristin Reed ( photo source The Xenia Institute)

Reed wrote "The protestors’ assumptions and lies were only perpetuated by the Daily’s article, wherein hardly any effort was made to present a balanced view of their claims about CAIR, the country’s largest Muslim civil liberties organization."

The young CAIR intern then wrote; "On still another note, if the writer had researched the accusations against CAIR’s Texas chapter that the protestors tried to use against CAIR-Oklahoma, he might have found that Ghassan Elashi was never even on staff at CAIR and that his involvement with CAIR, along with other claims, have been heavily inflated and fabricated through the internet..." Reed went on, "It would have been helpful to point out that, for instance, the accusation that says CAIR is “linked to a terrorist organization” is a vague claim that intentionally provokes fear and suspicion, yet in fact has no basis"

Was Reed unfamiliar with court documents that tells us the truth? For example, in U.S. vs. Sabri Benkahla, CAIR was described on page 58 as founded by leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood who supported terrorists covertly:

"...Moreover, from its founding by Muslim Brotherhood leaders, CAIR conspired with other affiliates of the Muslin Brotherhood to support terrorists. See Government's Memorandum in Opposition to CAIR's Motion for Leave to File a Brief.etc., in United States vs. Holy Land Foundation Cr. No. 3-04-cr-240-G (N.D. Tx. September 4, 2007. Proof that the conspirators agreed to use deception to conceal from the American public their connections to terrorists was introduced at both the Texas trial in 2007 and also at a Chicago trial the previous year. United States vs. Ashqar -, el al.. No. 03-978 (N.D. 111.2006)..."

Reed's statement that Ghassan Elashi was never on CAIR's staff is very misleading because CAIR's admits Elashi was briefly associated with the Texas chapter. One has to question what their definition of brief association really means. CAIR did not offer any further explanation. However, it has been reported by several sources (here's one that CAIR has sued and then backed off) that said Elashi was the founder of the Texas chapter. CAIR has not denied this allegation. Elashi also was the incorporator of the Islamic Association of Palestine (IAP) where Nihad Awad, CAIR's co-founder, worked, prior to CAIR. Elashi was also a top official and incorporator of the Holy Land Foundation (originally the Occupied Land Fund), the largest Islamic charity in the U.S. which was shut down for sending millions to Hamas.

Razi Hashmi, the director of CAIR Oklahoma where Reed interned, has shilled for Hamas in the Oklahoma press! He said In a NewsOK article: "America should take immediate steps to end Israel’s "illegal and immoral” offensive against the Gaza Strip Hamas rulers!. The day before U.S. Rep. Mary Fallen spoke out against Hamas and Hashmi told KTUL that Fallin didn't understand the merits of taking a neutral stand in the conflict. In other words DO NOT speak out against Hamas - a designated foreign terrorist organization. Hashmi also organized a rally/protest where there were offensive signs allowed to be carried throughout the protest. On three occasions Hashmi has given us a glimpse at CAIR's political agenda in Oklahoma which is to turn us against Israel, thereby possibly aiding Hamas, all the while they praise and engage in those feel-good interfaith meetings.

So, back to the question. Does CAIR Oklahoma have their interns write letter-to-the-editor to counter negative press? Well, this unethical tactic was listed in CAIR Oklahoma's intern's job description! I saved the original posting for the 2010 spring intern program to show the intern duties where it states: "Responding to negative media coverage by writing letters to the editor, op-eds, etc." Interns also document incidents down to prejudiced gestures. These duties were also listed in their 2009 intern job description. Now, since Reed's letter appeared and I called them out on it in a comment, the duties have been revised in their updated intern announcement and the application deadline was extended for another two weeks.

I believe CAIR Oklahoma used a young college student to aid their deceptive propaganda. It's shameful.

I can see why they had to extend their intern deadline.

CAIR Oklahoma, as you may recall, was specifically mentioned in a letter by the FBI back in the spring as a group they would not hang with anymore due to concerns about their association of sympathy for the terrorist organization, Hamas.

Currently, three young Oklahoma Muslim men; Adam Bates, Faheem Faziliare and Amrish Sengupta are mid-way through their internship with CAIR Oklahoma and are featured in an article in the Faith Section of the City Sentinel, a little known weekly in Oklahoma City.

...The interns were given projects both at the facility and in the community, including workshops, educational campaigns, and training sessions at mosques and community centers. They have worked with governmental officials, media professionals, academic, interfaith and civic leaders on substantive projects to lay the foundation for a fair and more inclusive America.

All three of CAIR-OK’s interns shared that they have had a positive experience and enjoyed the opportunity to learn and grow under this relaxed atmosphere and work environment. They were mentored by CAIR-OK leaders, Razi Hashmi and Tariq Ahmed.

“They all bring a lot of life in the office and they each bring something unique,” said Hashmi who has served as the CAIR-OK Executive Director since its inception. “We are thankful to have these guys,” said Ahmad, the group’s operations coordinator. “We do deal with a lot of unpopular issues and we have to go against the grain sometimes to get things done.”

There are five mosques in the greater Oklahoma City area, with thousands of Muslims living and working in our community. CAIR-OK is located in Midtown and works to facilitate the dialog and understanding of the Muslim faith to all people as well as promoting civil rights and justice for all.

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Also see:

zTruth : FBI letter mentions CAIR-OK