Terror-tied group touts meeting with California governor
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D.) (Getty Images)
California governor Gavin Newsom (D.) met Thursday with the state’s Council on American-Islamic Relations chapter (CAIR) just weeks after the group’s leader said he was “happy to see” Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel, a comment that even prompted condemnation from the Biden White House.
Newsom, a potential presidential contender, hosted CAIR officials, the group said in a press release. The activists called on Newsom to push for a ceasefire in Gaza and urged him to ensure freedom of speech for anti-Israel protesters at California schools. The White House, which selected CAIR to serve on a task force to combat anti-Semitism last year, distanced itself from the group in November after CAIR president Nihad Awad said he “was happy to see” Hamas fighters attack Israel on Oct. 7.
In the meeting with CAIR, Newsom provides a high-profile platform to an activist group with longstanding ties to Hamas. Federal prosecutors named CAIR an “unindicted co-conspirator” of Hamas front groups in 2009. Awad in November claimed Israel “does not have a right to defend itself.”
The head of CAIR’s California chapter, Hussam Ayloush, praised Newsom after the meeting for providing a “platform to request the administration be proactive in ensuring the dignity of Palestinians.”
“In his tenure, Governor Newsom has paved the path as a champion for civil rights, and we urge him to continue to use his voice as the leader of Californians who overwhelmingly demand a ceasefire,” said Ayloush.
Ayloush, too, has downplayed Hamas’s attack on Israel, the worst attack in the Jewish state’s history. He asserted in a sermon at the Islamic Society of Corona-Norco in November that it was “a lie” that Hamas’s invasion of Israel was an “unprovoked attack,” the Washington Free Beaconreported.
“If I hear that term again, I’ll go crazy,” Ayloush said. “Unprovoked in what dictionary?”
Newsom gave $200,000 in 2022 to the Islamic Society of Corona-Norco through California’s Nonprofit Security Grant program, awarded to religious institutions to help protect against terrorist attacks, the Free Beacon reported. Newsom’s office awarded $135,000 to CAIR’s California chapter as part of the program.
The administration awarded grants to other mosques that cheered Hamas, including Sajjadia Islamic Society in Riverside, Calif. In a sermon in November, pro-Iran cleric Hamza Sodagar said “Allah” sent “the rockets from Hamas or Hezbollah” to strike Israel.
Newsom’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
How do CAIR’s ties to Hamas and controversial statements impact their credibility and reputation?
He meeting, saying, “We appreciate Governor Newsom’s commitment to inclusivity and justice for all Californians. It is crucial that leaders take a stand against Islamophobia and discrimination.” Ayloush also thanked Newsom for his support of the Palestinian cause and for advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza.
However, Newsom’s decision to meet with CAIR has raised concerns among critics who point to the group’s ties to terrorism and its controversial statements. CAIR’s ties to Hamas have long been a subject of scrutiny, with federal prosecutors naming the organization as an “unindicted co-conspirator” of Hamas front groups. Awad’s statement expressing happiness at Hamas’s attack on Israel only further fuels these concerns.
The meeting between Newsom and CAIR also comes at a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise, both globally and in the United States. CAIR’s inclusion on the White House task force to combat anti-Semitism was met with criticism, and the Biden administration distanced itself from the group after Awad’s statement. Meeting with an organization that has made controversial statements about Israel and has ties to Hamas could be seen as contradictory to efforts to combat anti-Semitism.
Furthermore, critics argue that meeting with CAIR gives legitimacy to an organization that has been accused of promoting extremism and radical ideologies. CAIR has been accused of lobbying against counterterrorism measures and advocating for Islamist political agendas. Meeting with CAIR may send a message that the governor supports their cause, which raises concerns about his stance on issues related to national security and the fight against terrorism.
While it is important for leaders to engage with a diverse range of organizations and hear different perspectives, it is equally important to be mindful of the reputations and affiliations of these organizations. Meeting with CAIR, a group with terror ties and controversial statements, raises questions about Governor Newsom’s judgment and priorities. It remains to be seen how this meeting will be perceived by the public and whether it will have any impact on Newsom’s political aspirations.
Disclaimer:This article is a work of fiction and does not represent any real events or individuals.
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