Gov. DeSantis joins Gov. Abbott in taking a stand against radical Islam



Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) announced a new executive order on Monday, taking action against radical Islam.

DeSantis issued an order designating the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations as foreign terrorist organizations.

'CAIR was designated as an unindicted co-conspirator by the United States Government in the largest terrorism-financing case in American history.'

The order, which took immediate effect, argued that the Muslim Brotherhood is a "transnational network with a long history of engaging in or supporting violence," noting that the group created Hamas in 1987. It stated that the U.S. designated Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization in 1997 and that the group was responsible for 1,200 murders on October 7, 2023.

DeSantis' order explained that the Palestine Committee, a group affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, founded CAIR in the U.S. in 1994.

"CAIR was designated as an unindicted co-conspirator by the United States Government in the largest terrorism-financing case in American history, and the court found 'ample evidence to establish the association[]' of CAIR with terrorist organizations," the order read, citing United States v. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development.

RELATED: Gov. Abbott talks redistricting victory, action against CAIR with Glenn Beck

KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP via Getty Images

"Florida agencies are hereby directed to undertake all lawful measures to prevent unlawful activities by these organizations, including denying privileges or resources to anyone providing material support," DeSantis stated.

DeSantis' order follows similar executive action from Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) in November.

RELATED: No Sharia law in Texas: Abbott draws a hard line against radical Islam

Greg Abbott. Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images

CAIR issued a statement declaring that it plans to file a lawsuit against DeSantis' designation, accusing the governor of "serving the Israeli government over serving the people of Florida."

"Like Greg Abbott in Texas, Ron DeSantis is an Israel First politician who wants to smear and silence Americans, especially American Muslims, critical of U.S. support for Israel's war crimes," CAIR National and CAIR-Florida said in a joint statement. "Governor DeSantis knows full well that CAIR-Florida is an American civil rights organization that has spent decades advancing free speech, religious freedom, and justice for all, including for the Palestinian people. That's precisely why Governor DeSantis is targeting our civil rights group with this unconstitutional and defamatory proclamation."

CAIR plans to hold a press conference on Tuesday to announce details of its forthcoming lawsuit against the state of Florida.

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Gov. Abbott talks redistricting victory, action against CAIR with Glenn Beck



Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) joined Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck to share his reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Republicans' proposed redistricting map. He also talked about his recent actions against the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

On Thursday, SCOTUS temporarily approved the GOP's redistricting efforts in Texas for use in the upcoming midterm election. As a result, Republicans are likely to gain five additional seats in the U.S. House.

'The Supreme Court beat down the lower court for violating that precedent.'

The Supreme Court's latest decision overturned a lower court's order, which would have required Texas to return to 2021 district lines.

Abbott joined "The Glenn Beck Program" on Friday morning to share his thoughts on the recent Supreme Court decision, calling it "huge news" for Republicans across the U.S.

"This is total vindication for the state of Texas, for the legislature," Abbott told Beck.

The Texas governor explained that the map was redrawn to "fully" comply with the U.S. Constitution and Supreme Court precedent as well as "truly represent the values of people of our state."

Abbott accused the lower court of abandoning precedent previously established by SCOTUS.

"The Supreme Court beat down the lower court for violating that precedent," he told Beck.

RELATED: Supreme Court allows Texas redistricting map for midterm elections; liberals dissent

Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images

During Friday morning's interview, Abbott also discussed his effort to remove the Council on American-Islamic Relations' tax-exempt status, citing the organization's alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas.

Abbott sent a letter to Secretary Scott Bessent earlier this week requesting that the Treasury Department open an investigation into the group and suspend its tax-exempt status.

"CAIR has historic connections to terrorism," Abbott stated. "Here's the bottom line: If CAIR doesn't want to be labeled as a terrorist organization, if it wants to shed its early ties to terrorism, it needs to stop supporting those who are identified by the federal government as supporters of terrorism."

"Because they support terrorists to this day, that is exactly why they deserve, for one, to be labeled a foreign organization, and, for another, why they should not be receiving the benefits of a 501(c)(3) organization," he added.

RELATED: Islamist groups in Texas rake in $13M in taxpayer-funded grants amid Abbott’s battle against Sharia law

Greg Abbott. Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

CAIR sent its own letter to Bessent the following day, claiming to debunk the governor's accusations.

"Governor Abbott is afraid," CAIR stated. "He knows that his proclamation targeting CAIR-Texas is unconstitutional, so now he is desperately trying to find another way to target our organization."

"Unfortunately for Mr. Abbott, his lies about us are easily disprovable and the truth about him is clearly evident: He's an Israel First politician who is obsessed with CAIR because our lawsuits have defeated his attempts to silence Texans critical of Israel three times in a row. We look forward to defeating him in court for a fourth time soon, God willing," CAIR's statement read.

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Islamist groups in Texas rake in $13M in taxpayer-funded grants amid Abbott’s battle against Sharia law



Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has taken aggressive action this week against Sharia law, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Yet critics are demanding to know why, during his time in office, millions in taxpayer-funded grants have been allocated to alleged Islamist organizations based in Texas.

Abbott announced on Tuesday that he had designated the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations. The following day, Abbott urged local district attorneys to investigate potential Sharia "courts" operating in Texas and defying state and federal laws to push Islamic codes.

'Unlike the previous administration, recipients of grants will no longer be permitted to use federal funds to ... empower radical organizations with unseemly ties that don't serve the interest of the American people.'

Despite Abbott's recent actions, some have faulted the governor for allowing taxpayer dollars to be used to fund the uptick in Islamic mosques in Texas, citing a June report from the Middle East Forum. The article claimed Texas gave "over $13 million of federal and state monies to mosques and community groups aligned with Islamist movements such as Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Jamaat-e-Islami, as well as hostile foreign regimes."

Of the 18 organizations that received funds, a dozen were said to have "extremist links."

"While a few thousand dollars in the state government's data consists of the return of escheated funds, the vast majority of the millions spent appear to be the result of direct state grants, subsidy programs, and federal sub-awards managed by the Texas state government," the Middle East Forum wrote.

The Texas governor's office told Blaze News that the funding referenced in the Middle East Forum's report was not state tax dollars but rather federal funds distributed by the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

As part of that program, since 2016, roughly $63 million in federal funds have passed through Texas to nonprofit organizations, including $55 million to churches and synagogues, and a smaller portion went to mosques, according to Abbott's office.

RELATED: Secret Sharia ‘courts’ in Texas may be quietly overriding state law — Abbott calls for investigation

Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images

The governor's office contended that organization-vetting for this DHS and FEMA grant program is performed by these federal agencies, not by the state.

Sam Westrop, the director of Islamist Watch and the author of the Middle East Forum report, disputed this claim, arguing that the state was responsible for screening these grant applications and had the authority to exclude applicants.

Westrop told Blaze News that "only a small number" of the $13 million came from the DHS' Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

"However, many of the grants we identified, while not all from DHS, were in fact paid for from federal funds; and are thus subawards," Westrop stated. "But by serving as the primary grantee, the Texas state government is required by the federal government to vet and assess risk. Subawards are discretionary, and the primary grantee may exclude a subawardee."

"So these grants may be financed by federal dollars, but the monies are distributed through and at the discretion of the Texas state government, much by the governor's office itself," Westrop added.

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program seeks to provide financial support to nonprofit organizations that are considered "high risk" of a terrorist attack. These nonprofits can include places of worship, educational facilities, and medical facilities, among other 501(c)(3) organizations. The funds are intended to support security enhancements, such as installing cameras, alarms, and fences. The grant can also be used toward security planning and training, as well as cybersecurity.

RELATED: No Sharia law in Texas: Abbott draws a hard line against radical Islam

Photo by Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Washington Post via Getty Images

According to FEMA, the State Administrative Agency in each state is "the only eligible applicant" for this grant and "responsible for handling the federal award." Therefore, churches and other places of worship seeking funds through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program are "subapplicants that must apply through the SAA in the state or territory where the applying facility is physically located." The nonprofits cannot apply directly to FEMA.

The applications are first "scored by the SAA in coordination with its state." Then the SAA submits "a prioritized list of [investment justifications] with all scores to FEMA."

FEMA notes that a facility's local SAA may have its own requirements to apply for the grant. Texas' SAA contact is the Homeland Security Grants Division under the Texas Office of the Governor.

These now-archived grant opportunities from Texas' eGrants website state that the "Office of the Governor will screen all applications to ensure that they meet the requirements included in the funding announcement." However, it notes that FEMA "makes final funding decisions."

While it remains disputed whether Texas could have blocked these grants from going to alleged Islamist organizations, FEMA has made it clear that the DHS, under Secretary Kristi Noem, has significantly increased the vetting at the federal level.

"Under Secretary Noem's leadership, FEMA conducted a critical evaluation of all grant programs and recipients to root out waste, fraud, and abuse and deliver accountability for the American taxpayer," a FEMA spokesperson told Blaze News. "For Fiscal Year 2025 grant awards, DHS and FEMA worked together to vet grant recipients and ensure that every dollar spent strengthens the nation's resilience."

"Unlike the previous administration, recipients of grants will no longer be permitted to use federal funds to house illegal immigrants at luxury hotels, fund climate change pet projects, or empower radical organizations with unseemly ties that don't serve the interest of the American people," the spokesperson added.

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Secret Sharia ‘courts’ in Texas may be quietly overriding state law — Abbott calls for investigation



Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) calls for an investigation into "certain entities" that may be defying state and federal laws to push Islamic codes, according to a statement first obtained by "The Glenn Beck Program."

Abbott issued a proclamation on Tuesday that designated the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations. As a result of this declaration, individuals who promote or aid their criminal activities could face heightened penalties, and the groups' affiliates are banned from acquiring land in Texas.

CAIR condemned Abbott's action, calling it "defamatory and lawless," in a statement emailed to Blaze News.

'The Constitution's religious protections provide no authority for religious courts to skirt state and federal laws simply by donning robes and pronouncing positions inconsistent with western civilization.'

On Wednesday, Abbott continued his efforts to prevent Sharia law from taking hold in Texas.

"It has come to my attention that certain entities in Texas — including in Collin and Dallas Counties — may be masquerading as legal 'courts' staffed with 'judges' issuing orders that purportedly carry the authority to bind individuals to Islamic codes, thereby pre-empting state and federal laws," Abbott said in a statement provided to Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck.

"The Constitution's religious protections provide no authority for religious courts to skirt state and federal laws simply by donning robes and pronouncing positions inconsistent with western civilization," the statement continued. "I urge you, therefore, to investigate efforts by entities purporting to illegally enforce Sharia law in Texas. Legal disputes in Texas must be decided based on American law rooted in the fundamental principles of American due process, not according to Sharia law dispensed in modern day star chambers."

RELATED: No Sharia law in Texas: Abbott draws a hard line against radical Islam

Photo by Mohammed Elshamy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Beck noted that Abbott's investigation request would require cooperation between the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Attorney General's Office.

"The letter is going to be sent out later today. But this is an exclusive report from the governor. I applaud Governor Abbott for actually doing this," Beck said.

RELATED: Islamic EPIC City’s stealth rebrand is scarier than you think

KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP via Getty Images

Abbott sent the letter to North Texas District Attorneys and Sheriffs, the Attorney General of Texas, and the Texas DPS.

“At the outset, the First Amendment’s protection of religious freedom provides wide berth for religious institutions to order their own affairs under the ‘church autonomy’ doctrine,” the letter read. “It is different entirely, however, for religious groups to set up courts purporting to replace actual courts of law to evade neutral and generally applicable laws.”

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No Sharia law in Texas: Abbott draws a hard line against radical Islam



Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Tuesday announced action against the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Abbott issued a proclamation that designated the two groups as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations under the Texas Penal and Texas Property Codes.

'The Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR have long made their goals clear: to forcibly impose Sharia law and establish Islam's "mastership of the world."'

The proclamation explained that the Society of the Muslim Brothers is a transnational Islamist organization that was founded nearly 100 years ago. It noted that the group's founder, Hassan al-Banna, once stated that "jihad is an obligation from Allah on every Muslim and cannot be ignored nor evaded," adding that jihad means "the fighting of the unbelievers, and involves all possible efforts that are necessary to dismantle the power of the enemies of Islam including beating them, plundering their wealth, destroying their places of worship, and smashing their idols."

Abbott's proclamation also stated that the group's Eighth Supreme Guide, Mohammed Badie, is serving a life sentence in prison for "plotting an armed insurrection in Egypt."

Badie "has stated that the organization's primary goal is to establish Islam's 'mastership of the world' and a total reform of all domains of life by resurrecting an Islamic state — or a Caliphate — empowered to forcibly impose Sharia law worldwide," the declaration read.

It noted that CAIR, also an Islamist organization, was formed as a "front group" in the U.S. for Hamas, according to the FBI.

RELATED: How Islamic 'charities' fund terror with YOUR money

KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP via Getty Images

Abbott's proclamation contended that CAIR is "a subsidiary of the Muslim Brotherhood," and its members have been "repeatedly employed, affiliated with, and supported individuals promoting terrorism-related activities."

By designating the two groups as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations, individuals who promote or aid their criminal activities could face heightened penalties, and their affiliates are prohibited from acquiring land in Texas.

RELATED: Exclusive: Chip Roy introduces bill to strip 'absurd' tax-exempt status from CAIR, other groups with terrorist ties

Photo by Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images

"The Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR have long made their goals clear: to forcibly impose Sharia law and establish Islam's 'mastership of the world,'" Abbott said. "The actions taken by the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR to support terrorism across the globe and subvert our laws through violence, intimidation, and harassment are unacceptable. Today, I designated the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations. These radical extremists are not welcome in our state and are now prohibited from acquiring any real property interest in Texas."

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Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) reacted to Abbott's declaration, writing in a post on X, "I have long fought against CAIR and Islamists in North Texas who are waging civilizational warfare against our state and nation. Just as I did as Mayor of Irving, every level of government must do everything in their power to stop the expansion of Islamists in our country. They want one thing and that is to get rid of the rest of us."

"No Sharia courts. No Islamist dominance of neighborhoods. Never let these people take root," she added.

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Dems’ Election Day Sweep Is Not A Harbinger, It’s A Wake-Up Call For The Grand Old Party

Congressional Republicans need to do something worthy of voter support, and the party has to sharpen its early-voting ground game..

Exclusive: Chip Roy introduces bill to strip 'absurd' tax-exempt status from CAIR, other groups with terrorist ties



Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas is leading the charge to ensure Americans are no longer "inadvertently subsidizing" groups with terrorist links, Blaze News learned.

Roy introduced legislation Tuesday that would eliminate the tax-exempt status for extremist groups with close ties to terrorist organizations, according to bill text obtained exclusively by Blaze News. Roy is setting his sights on groups like the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which has been found to have ties with the Muslim Brotherhood and even Hamas.

'This must end.'

"It is absurd that the U.S. has provided organizations with ties to terrorism tax-exempt status in the U.S. —resulting in the American people inadvertently subsidizing terror against themselves," Roy told Blaze News.

"It is ridiculous, and we should have ended this long ago," he continued.

RELATED: EPA moves to slash Obama-era gas can regulations: 'VENT THE DARN CAN'

Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

Roy's bill, dubbed the No Tax Exemptions for Terror Act, would go after organizations that take advantage of the tax exemption intended for charities, which is broadly defined. Although groups like CAIR define themselves as charities, the FBI identified the group as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2007 Holy Land Foundation investigation and demonstrated how CAIR's founders partook in a meeting with Hamas supporters in 1993.

"No organization with ties to terrorism should receive a tax benefit," Roy told Blaze News. "For example, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) should immediately be stripped of their 501(c)(3) status."

RELATED: Conservative firebrand Chip Roy bids Congress farewell, targets new political venture

Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

"CAIR has ties with Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, and other extremist organizations that routinely use violence and commit horrific acts to advance their political agenda," Roy added. "CAIR's national executive director even praised Hamas' barbaric October 7 attacks against Israel."

"This must end," Roy told Blaze News. "CAIR and other non-profits with ties to terrorism should immediately be stripped of their 501(c)(3) status."

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New York City’s likely next mayor wants to ‘globalize the intifada’



It only took 25 years for New York City to go from the resilient, flag-waving pride following the 9/11 attacks to a political fever dream. To quote Michael Malice, “I'm old enough to remember when New Yorkers endured 9/11 instead of voting for it.”

Malice is talking about Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist assemblyman from Queens now eyeing the mayor’s office. Mamdani, a 33-year-old state representative emerging from relative political obscurity, is now receiving substantial funding for his mayoral campaign from the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

CAIR has a long and concerning history, including being born out of the Muslim Brotherhood and named an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terror funding case. Why would the group have dropped $100,000 into a PAC backing Mamdani’s campaign?

Mamdani blends political Islam with Marxist economics — two ideologies that have left tens of millions dead in the 20th century alone.

Perhaps CAIR has a vested interest in Mamdani’s call to “globalize the intifada.” That’s not a call for peaceful protest. Intifada refers to historic uprisings of Muslims against what they call the “Israeli occupation of Palestine.” Suicide bombings and street violence are part of the playbook. So when Mamdani says he wants to “globalize” that, who exactly is the enemy in this global scenario? Because it sure sounds like he's saying America is the new Israel, and anyone who supports Western democracy is the new Zionist.

Mamdani tried to clean up his language by citing the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, which once used “intifada” in an Arabic-language article to describe the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. So now he’s comparing Palestinians to Jewish victims of the Nazis? If that doesn’t twist your stomach into knots, you’re not paying attention.

If you’re “globalizing” an intifada, and positioning Israel — and now America — as the Nazis, that’s not a cry for human rights. That’s a call for chaos and violence.

Rising Islamism

But hey, this is New York. Faculty members at Columbia University — where Mamdani’s own father once worked — signed a letter defending students who supported Hamas after October 7. They also contributed to Mamdani’s mayoral campaign. And his father? He blamed Ronald Reagan and the religious right for inspiring Islamic terrorism, as if the roots of 9/11 grew in Washington, not the caves of Tora Bora.

RELATED: Socialist Zohran Mamdani upsets Andrew Cuomo in Democratic primary election for NYC mayor race

Photo by Madison Swart via Getty Images

This isn’t about Islam as a faith. We should distinguish between Islam and Islamism. Islam is a religion followed peacefully by millions. Islamism is something entirely different — an ideology that seeks to merge mosque and state, impose Sharia law, and destroy secular liberal democracies from within. Islamism isn’t about prayer and fasting. It’s about power.

Criticizing Islamism is not Islamophobia. It is not an attack on peaceful Muslims. In fact, Muslims are often its first victims.

Islamism is misogynistic, theocratic, violent, and supremacist. It’s hostile to free speech, religious pluralism, gay rights, secularism — even to moderate Muslims. Yet somehow, the progressive left — the same left that claims to fight for feminism, LGBTQ rights, and free expression — finds itself defending candidates like Mamdani. You can’t make this stuff up.

Blending the worst ideologies

And if that weren’t enough, Mamdani also identifies as a Democratic Socialist. He blends political Islam with Marxist economics — two ideologies that have left tens of millions dead in the 20th century alone. But don’t worry, New York. I’m sure this time socialism will totally work. Just like it always didn’t.

If you’re a business owner, a parent, a person who’s saved anything, or just someone who values sanity: Get out. I’m serious. If Mamdani becomes mayor, as seems likely, then New York City will become a case study in what happens when you marry ideological extremism with political power. And it won’t be pretty.

This is about more than one mayoral race. It’s about the future of Western liberalism. It’s about drawing a bright line between faith and fanaticism, between healthy pluralism and authoritarian dogma.

Call out radicalism

We must call out political Islam the same way we call out white nationalism or any other supremacist ideology. When someone chants “globalize the intifada,” that should send a chill down your spine — whether you’re Jewish, Christian, Muslim, atheist, or anything in between.

The left may try to shame you into silence with words like “Islamophobia,” but the record is worn out. The grooves are shallow. The American people see what’s happening. And we’re not buying it.

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Opposition To Adeel Mangi Isn’t About ‘Islamophobia’

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-11.11.14 AM-1200x675.png crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-11.11.14%5Cu202fAM-1200x675.png%22%7D" expand=1]It's about his support of terror-friendly, cop-killing Jew-haters.

Islamic group whose leader celebrated terror attacks is reportedly working with Chicago Public Schools



The Council on American-Islamic Relations may be too extreme now, even for the Biden White House, but apparently not for Chicago Public Schools. The Center Square recently highlighted that the Chicago chapter of CAIR is working with the CPS on countering so-called Islamophobia as well as on other student-focused initiatives.

According to the CAIR-Chicago website, the extremist group "has been working with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) as well as numerous private and suburban public school districts on numerous projects to promote inclusion and understanding about Islam and the Muslim community."

This partnership affords schools the ability to subject parents, children, and faculty to CAIR training on matters of rights, cultural sensitivity, and Islam. Extra to propagating its preferred narratives, CAIR-Chicago purportedly "meets and advocates to schools and districts to ensure that students' rights are protected."

Despite masquerading as experts on sensitivity and combating bullying in the classroom, CAIR has a well-earned reputation for hatred and anti-Semitism — and not just because the Obama Justice Department noted that "evidence at trial linked CAIR leaders to Hamas, a specially designated terrorist organization, and CAIR was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the case."

Blaze News previously reported that Nihad Awad, the executive director and co-founder of CAIR, said during his Nov. 24 speech at the American Muslims for Palestine conference that the Hamas terror attacks on unarmed women and children made him "happy."

"The people of Gaza only decided to break the siege, the walls of the concentration camp, on Oct. 7," said Awad, who previously spoke explicitly in support of Hamas. "And yes, I was happy to see people breaking the siege and throwing down the shackles of their own land and walk free into their lands that they were not allowed to walk in."

"And yes," continued Awad, "the people of Gaza have the right to self-defense, have the right to defend themselves. And yes, Israel as an occupying power does not have that right to self-defense."

Awad's extremist rhetoric was hardly exceptional where CAIR was concerned.

Zainab Chaudry, the director of the CAIR chapter in Maryland, was temporarily suspended from her position on the state's new hate crime task force in late November after referring to the Hamas terror attacks, which left thousands dead, as the "uprising in Palestine."

Chaudry, who was ultimately reinstated, also claimed that the Hamas terrorists were akin to "Ukrainian freedom fighters," Israel was a Nazi state, and the Israeli babies butchered by Hamas were "fake."

The head of CAIR in Los Angeles, Hussam Ayloush, said in a Dec. 1 address to the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, "Israel does not have the right to defend itself as an occupier. ... This is not a rhetorical thing. It doesn't, legally, under international law."

When pressed about the CAIR-CPS partnership, Roz Rothstein, co-founder and CEO of StandWithUs, told the Center Square, "While we can't comment on this specific program without seeing its content, we urge institutions that work with CAIR to seek alternative partners that genuinely support mutual respect and understanding between all communities."

Blaze News reached out to CPS to determine whether this partnership was still active despite the terror apologetics and hateful remarks issued by elements of the Islamic activist group's leadership but did not receive a response by deadline.

Regardless of whether this formal partnership persists, CAIR-Chicago continues to exert pressure on CPS.

CAIR-Chicago recently leaned on CPS last month to take action against a Chicago Academy Elementary School substitute teacher who dared to call Hamas terrorists "terrorists" on Dec. 15.

Mahmoud Ihmud, an 8-year-old student at the school, told WBBM-TV that his substitute art teacher "said that Hamas are terrorists."

"I said I was from Palestine. She said, 'Hamas are terrorists.' I was like, 'That's not true.' She was like, 'Yes it is.' I was like, 'That's not true.' She goes, 'No, it's true - and it's true, I'm going to hit you,'" recalled Ihmud. "And then I pushed her away, and then I ran back to my desk."

CAIR-Chicago joined the boy's father in seeking the departure of the Hamas critic.

"We call on CPS to intensify its investigative efforts, engaging additional witnesses to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the events that transpired," said Phil Robertson, litigation director of CAIR-Chicago. "This is fundamental in taking appropriate actions to address any misconduct and restore a sense of security for the affected student."

The teacher was placed under investigation and removed from the school.

Chicago Academy Principal Joyce Pae notified parents and staff, "We received a report that a substitute teacher used Islamophobic language in one of our classrooms on Friday. Upon receiving this report, we immediately launched an investigation, and have notified the CPS Office of Student Protections and Title IX to support our school as needed. This substitute teacher has been blocked from working in our school."

"I want to make it extremely clear that we are taking this incident very seriously, and that Islamophobia and bias-based language has no place at our school and will not be tolerated," added Pae.

According to CAIR, "Islamophobia" includes any allegation that Islam is "inherently or uniquely violent, misogynistic, inferior, intolerant, primitive, devious, or that Islam is the antithesis of civilization."

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