[[File:CAIR logo.gif|right]]
The '''Council on American-Islamic Relations''' (CAIR) , officially Washington Trust Foundation (WTF) <ref>[http://moonbattery.com/?p=37059 CAIR Gets a Name Change, Moonbattery.com, September 24, 2013]</ref> is a [[terrorist]] [[propaganda]] organization based in [[Washington D.C.]] whose stated aim is to portray "a positive image of [[Islam]]" through public relations and the media.
CAIR was founded by three leaders of the [[Islamic Association for Palestine]] (IAP), in June of 1994.<ref name=fp2006> [http://archive.frontpagemag.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=1217 CAIR's Pro-Hamas Press] - Front Page Magazine, December 05, 2006</ref>
The group's executive director is a [[Hamas]] supporter.<ref>Nihad Awad stated, "After I researched the situation inside and outside Palestine, I am in support of the Hamas movement ..." [http://archive.frontpagemag.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=1217] </ref>
==Controversy==
CAIR is registered as a lobbying group and is required by tax laws to report contributions to the IRS over $5,000. The organization skirts laws by playing a shell game with 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) branches. This allows CAIR to hide donations from foreigners, "make it possible to collect millions of dollars from oil-rich Muslim nations without disclosure." <ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2013/09/21/cair-collects-millions-from-foreign-donors-thanks-to-non-profit-shell-game/#ixzz2frveOq17 CAIR collects millions from foreign donors thanks to non-profit shell game, TheDailyCaller.com]</ref>
CAIR likes to name right-leaning organizations as a hate site, "Islamaphobes". In addition they like to name individuals, “whose primary purpose is to promote prejudice against or hatred of Islam and Muslims and whose work regularly demonstrates Islamophobic themes.” <ref>[http://www.bizpacreview.com/2013/09/20/cair-releases-islamophobia-report-see-who-made-the-list-83764 CAIR releases ‘Islamophobia Report’: See who made the list, BizPacReview.com, September 20, 2013]</ref> Some of the organizations targeted include [[Fox News]], [[The Washington Times]], The [[Rush Limbaugh]] Show, The [[Mark Levin]] Show, National Review, Christian Broadcasting Network, Family Security Matters and the American Center for Law and Justice. Some individuals targeted include [[Herman Cain]], Rep. [[Peter King]] (R-N.Y.), David Yerushalmi, Former Rep. [[Allen West]] (R-Fla.), Walid Shoebat.
There is controversy over whether they are a [[civil liberties]] group or just posing as one. <ref>[http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/2010/06/cair-instructs-the-police-about-islam CAIR Instructs the Police about Islam, 6/3/2010]</ref> <ref>[http://www.danielpipes.org/3437/cair-islamists-fooling-the-establishment ''Middle East Quarterly, 2006''; CAIR: Islamists Fooling the Establishment by Daniel Pipes]</ref>