The attendance of Senator Wahab and Assemblyman Essayli, both with known affiliations to CAIR, at the controversial event raises serious questions about their dedication to upholding the Constitution.
On April 12, 2023, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) hosted its 17th Annual Ramadan Iftar at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The event generated controversy and outrage due to CAIR’s notorious reputation for promoting Islamic supremacy and its ties to terrorism. Yet, despite public condemnation, elected officials attended the event, raising serious questions about their judgment and commitment to protecting the interests of their constituents.
This raises concerns about the role of government in enabling extremist groups to gain a foothold in our society. Allowing a tax-funded government building to be used to legitimize such a questionable organization is unacceptable.
Two controversial Muslim Democrat lawmakers with ties to CAIR, Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward) and Assemblyman Bill Essayli (R-Riverside), were part of the event. Both CAIR-backed politicians made history in the November 2022 elections, with Essayli being the first American Muslim to be elected to the California Assembly and Wahab being the first Afghan American ever to be elected to public office in the United States and the first American Muslim to be elected to the California Senate.
Senator Wahab’s Terror-Tied Connections
Senator Wahab has been an active member of CAIR and has spoken at several of their events. In fact, she served as the Programs and Operations Coordinator at CAIR’s San Francisco Bay Area office before running for political office. During the 2020 CAIR Community Congressional Reception, Muslim Congressman Andre Carson sparked controversy by implying that Islamic officials prioritize representing their faith over other obligations.
The issue escalated when concerned citizens asked Senator Wahab about her support for the U.S. Constitution. Rather than addressing the question, she dismissed it as “Islamophobic,” a term invented by a Muslim Brotherhood front group to export Sharia blasphemy laws to the West. This behavior raises serious questions about her commitment to upholding the very foundation of democracy. Citizens of the United States, they have a right to know where their representatives stand on matters as critical as the Constitution. It is crucial that elected officials prioritize the Constitution and demonstrate their unwavering loyalty to it, regardless of their personal beliefs or affiliations.
CAIR Revealed
While CAIR presents itself as a “Muslim civil rights” organization, it is actually a Muslim Brotherhood organization operating on behalf of Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. Hamas’ charter calls for the killing of Jews, and some have accused CAIR of having received funds from Hamas entities and organizations affiliated with Al Qaeda. In fact, a document retrieved from CAIR headquarters reveals internal discussions at CAIR to support Osama bin Laden.
A report by the Center for Security Policy details CAIR’s ties to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, both designated terrorist organizations by the US government. The report cites various pieces of evidence to support this claim, including financial ties between CAIR and Hamas-affiliated organizations, statements made by CAIR officials in support of Hamas and other extremist groups, and the presence of former CAIR officials in Hamas-affiliated organizations.
The report also claims that CAIR engages in subversive activities aimed at promoting a radical Islamic agenda in the United States. For example, CAIR’s Founder and Chairman Emeritus Omar Ahmad stated, “Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith but to become dominant… The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth.”
The Center for Security Policy also reports that CAIR has worked to silence critics of Islam, suppress free speech, and undermine law enforcement efforts to combat terrorism.
In a different report by Canary Mission, a group that documents people and groups that promote hatred of the USA, Israel, and Jews, the group detail CAIR’s long history of promoting extremist views and engaging in anti-Semitic and anti-Israel activities. They also report on CAIR’s close ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas.
Their report cites numerous examples of CAIR officials making statements that are slanderous lies towards Israel while supportive of Islamist extremist groups, as well as evidence of financial ties between CAIR and organizations affiliated with Hamas. It also suggests that CAIR has engaged in efforts to silence critics of Islam and suppress free speech, particularly on college campuses.
The controversy surrounding CAIR at the California State Capitol underscores the government’s complicity in legitimizing extremist organizations. The presence of lawmakers linked to CAIR raises serious concerns about their allegiance to the Constitution. CAIR’s affiliation with designated terrorist groups and subversive activities to advance radical Islamic agendas in the United States is deplorable and merit condemnation. Allowing a government-funded establishment to legitimize such a questionable organization is unacceptable, and our elected representatives must prioritize their commitment to upholding the Constitution. Failure to do so not only undermines their fitness for office but also warrants immediate recall or resignation if they cannot demonstrate unswerving loyalty to the foundational principles of our nation.
