International Islamophobia Conference

MOA held its first annual International Islamophobia Conference in Albany, New York on November 22, 2015. It announced the formation of a political coalition named the International United Muslim Forum at the event. It was held at the Muslim Community Center of the Capital District in Schenectady, New York.[i]

The event included three officials from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), including one that is common official between MOA and CAIR’s Massachusetts chapter.

The U.S. Justice Department designated CAIR as an unindicted co-conspirator in the trial of the Holy Land Foundation, a CAIR-linked charity that was shut down for financing the Hamas terrorist group. The Justice Department identified CAIR as an “entity” of the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood’s Palestine Committee, a secret body established by the Brotherhood to advance Hamas’ cause.[ii]

In another terrorism trial, that of Sabri Benkhala, federal prosecutors said in a 2008 court filing:

“From its founding by Muslim Brotherhood leaders, CAIR conspired with other affiliates of the Muslim Brotherhood to support terrorists … the conspirators agreed to use deception to conceal from the American public their connections to terrorists.”

The United Arab Emirates, a Muslim country that previously supported CAIR, designated the organization as a terrorist group when it decided to ban the Muslim Brotherhood.[iii]

[i] “The Muslims of America, Inc. Hosts the First Ever International Islamophobia Conference in Albany, N.Y.” (2015.) The Muslims of America. http://www.tmoamerica.org/news/566-intl-islamophobia-conf-2015/

[ii] Mauro, Ryan. (2013). Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) – Nat’l Headquarters. Clarion Project. http://www.clarionproject.org/analysis/council-islamic-relations-cair

[iii] Mauro, Ryan. (2014). UAE Doubles Down on Designation of CAIR as Terrorists. Clarion Project. http://www.clarionproject.org/analysis/uae-doubles-down-designation-cair-terrorists