CAIR Report: $1.5 billion funneled to anti-Muslim groups through donations

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations is connecting the dots between charitable organizations and anti-Muslim special interest groups. 

In a new report, called “Hijacked by Hate,” CAIR listed dozens of philanthropic foundations that were used by anonymous donors to spread hate.

“One of the major shocking findings is that over 1,000 mainstream foundations knowingly or unknowingly have funneled more than $1.5 billion dollars to 39 Islamaphobic organizations and individuals in the United States," said Nihad Award of CAIR - Washington D.C. in a press conference Monday.

CAIR estimated that between 2014 and 2016, roughly $125 million was funneled to what they call the Islamophobia Network.

Major companies, even faith-based charities, are accused of contributing millions of dollars to support anti-Muslim activity. The companies and charities allegedly work as a pass through between the anonymous donor and the hate groups.

“We are combing through this report right now to figure out which ones have a Minnesota base or support Minnesota organizations as well,” said Jaylani Hussein, the executive director of CAIR - Minnesota.

Hussein says the money goes towards anti-Muslim lobbying, legislation and fuels the spread of false information to the media, while also inciting hate crimes.

“They value the idea of using fear, and especially the politics of fear to drive people to act in ways that they wouldn’t,” said Hussein.

The period covered by the report showed an increase of anti-Muslim hate violence and discrimination in the Unites States. With the release of the report, CAIR hopes that funding to hate groups decline. 

For the full report, click here.