US-based groups promoting Islamophobia raised more than $119 million between 2008 and 2011, a new report by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has found.
The report said there was an inner core of approximately 37 groups “whose primary purpose is to promote prejudice against or hatred of Islam and Muslims,” and an outer core consisting of 32 more groups whose “work regularly demonstrates or supports Islamophobic themes.”
One of the groups in the inner core is ACT! For America founded by Lebanese American journalist Brigitte Gabriel, who argues that practicing Muslims should not be eligible to hold public office in the United States. CAIR learned that the group had taken in more than $1.2 million in 2010 and 2011
On its website, ACT! For America describes its mission as one of thwarting the rise of “radical Islam.” “Whether the specific threat is violent jihad, stealth jihad, the advance of Sharia law, the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood or the scourge of political correctness which is enabling the rise of radical Islam, ACT! for America stands ready to take action as the largest national security grassroots organization in America,” the group says.
CAIR also singled out the likes of New York congressman Peter King, televangelist Pat Robertson, Quran-burning Florida pastor Terry Jones and author Pamela Geller as actively promoting what it sees as bigoted views.
By naming and shaming group and individuals CAIR hopes that financial support for such organizations, as well as the views they espouse, will diminish.
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