The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has announced a new initiative through its Philadelphia chapter, aiming to collaborate with local schools to provide guidance on teaching about the September 11 attacks.
This partnership will also include workshops on various topics, such as "American Jews and Political Power." The Muslim advocacy group shared on Instagram that its efforts are focused on creating a more inclusive educational environment where students feel "seen, safe and supported." This will be achieved through an educators guide, training sessions, and workshops.
According to Fox News, CAIR's website offers a guide titled "Remembering and Reflecting: Teaching September 11, 2001 in Diverse Classrooms." This resource provides educators with lesson plan tips, advising against the use of terms like "jihadists" and encouraging discussions on the bigotry faced by Muslims.
The guide explicitly states, "Avoid using language that validates the claims of the 9/11 attackers by associating their acts of mass murder with Islam and Muslims. For example, avoid using inaccurate and inflammatory terms such as Islamic terrorists, jihadists, or radical Islamic terrorists."
It further suggests that discussions on the aftermath of 9/11 should include the impact of hate crimes on Sikh, Muslim, Arab Americans, and other minorities.
The website also previously featured a workshop titled "American Jews and Political Power: Myth or Reality," which delved into the contentious issue of Jewish political influence in the United States. This section has since been removed, and Fox News Digital has reached out to CAIR for clarification.
The workshop description included an examination of the debate within the Jewish community regarding Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and highlighted young Jewish activists supporting the BDS movement against Israel.
CAIR's educational offerings extend to seminars such as "Out of the Blue: Police Conduct Seminar," "What is Sharia?" and "Fake News: Mass Media," which aim to critique media portrayals of Muslims and people of color. Fox News Digital has also sought comments from CAIR Philadelphia and the School District of Philadelphia regarding these initiatives.
CAIR has faced scrutiny, particularly in 2023, following controversial remarks by its executive director and co-founder, Nihad Awad. Awad expressed satisfaction over the October 7 attack on Israel, stating, "The people of Gaza only decided to break the siege the walls of the concentration camp on October 7. And yes, I was happy to see people breaking the siege and throwing down the shackles of their own land and walk free into their land that they were not free to walk in."
The Biden administration responded by condemning these "shocking, antisemitic statements in the strongest terms."
Additionally, Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, has urged the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to revoke CAIR's nonprofit status, citing alleged connections to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. This call for action underscores the ongoing controversy surrounding CAIR and its activities, reflecting broader concerns about its influence and affiliations.
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