CAIR, Mahmoud Khalil, and progressive naivety

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has announced that Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and former Columbia University student, will keynote their 31st Anniversary Gala on Sept. 20. He will also receive the group’s Champion of Justice award. This decision, presented as a defense of free speech, starkly illustrates Islamism’s dangerous influence in the United States and the naivety of many American leaders who fail to confront it. For those who cherish America’s democratic values, CAIR’s elevation of Khalil—a figure accused of anti-Semitic rhetoric and supporting Hamas—is a troubling example of how Islamist agendas exploit Western freedoms to undermine the principles that define our nation.

CAIR’s invitation to Khalil is a deliberate alignment with an individual whose actions clash with American values. Khalil, a legal permanent resident facing deportation for alleged immigration fraud and activities deemed adverse to U.S. foreign policy, led pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University that conservatives, including Rep. Elise Stefanik, criticize as anti-Semitic and disruptive. His reported claim that the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack was a “moral, military, and political victory” aligns him with a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, raising serious concerns about his influence. By honoring Khalil, CAIR openly endorses ideologies that glorify violence and division, prioritizing an Islamist agenda over national unity and security.

CAIR’s history heightens these concerns. Founded by leaders with Muslim Brotherhood ties, CAIR has been advancing Islamist goals under the guise of civil rights advocacy. The Muslim Brotherhood—banned in countries such as Egypt, UAE, and Saudi Arabia—promotes Islamic law’s supremacy, often conflicting with Western democratic principles. In the Holy Land Foundation trial, CAIR was named an unindicted co-conspirator for alleged Hamas ties, and its executive director, Nihad Awad, has expressed support for the group. By celebrating Khalil, CAIR reinforces its pattern of aligning with figures who oppose America’s values and freedoms, exploiting the First Amendment to promote divisive ideologies. CAIR deepens societal fractures by endorsing rhetoric rooted in Quranic commands, such as those identifying Jews as enemies of Muslims. This worldview, which loathes American values as un-Islamic, threatens the unity and security that define our nation.

The failure of many American leaders, particularly progressives, to scrutinize CAIR’s invitation to Khalil reflects a broader naivety toward political Islam.

This naivety stems largely from an ideological reflex. When conservatives criticize Islamism, progressives often defend it. This blinds them to CAIR’s goals, which advocate Islamist values that, in Muslim-majority nations, manifest as suppressed free speech, persecuted minorities, and punishments for nonconformity.

Problematically, CAIR’s portrayal of Khalil as a free speech champion masterfully exploits American ideals.

While Khalil’s detention in March by ICE sparked debates, his alleged Hamas support and leadership in protests that harassed Jewish students clearly cross into advocating violence and division. Secretary of State Marco Rubio rightly argues Khalil’s presence poses “adverse foreign policy consequences.” By framing him as a victim, CAIR deflects scrutiny from his ideological stance, a tactic that resonates with progressives who prioritize diversity over discernment.

This naivety has tangible consequences.

CAIR’s lawsuit against Columbia University, filed on Khalil’s behalf, challenges institutional accountability, portraying legitimate oversight as an attack on free speech. Such activities show how Islamism can erode democratic norms. Rooted in texts like Quran 9:29, which commands fighting non-Muslims until they submit in humiliation, Islamism promotes a worldview at odds with commitments to individual liberty, religious freedom, and equality. In nations like Afghanistan and Iran, Sharia-based governance persecutes Christians, Jews, and homosexuals—practices that contrast sharply with the Judeo-Christian values of compassion and dignity that align with America’s founding principles.

We should advocate for religious freedom for all while warning against ideologies that threaten our society.

To counter the negative impact of Islamism, American leaders must adopt a principled and discerning approach and reject the naivety that has allowed groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR to wield unchecked influence. First, we must promote education about the ideological roots of political Islam, exposing texts and agendas that resist integration into our societies. Second, we must uphold constitutional protections, ensuring that anti-American actions cannot override freedoms of speech and religion, or equality before the law. Third, we should advocate for persecuted minorities—Christians, Jews, and others—both at home and abroad, recognizing that Islamism’s global impact threatens vulnerable communities. Finally, we should amplify Muslim and non-Muslim voices who reject Islamism and embrace democratic principles, exposing harsh realities of Islamic texts.

CAIR’s invitation to Mahmoud Khalil is a wake-up call. It reveals how Islamist organizations exploit American freedoms to advance agendas that undermine our democratic values. We must love our Muslim neighbors while firmly rejecting political ideologies that contradict the liberties we cherish. The naivety of American politicians has allowed Islamism to gain a foothold; it is time for courageous leaders to protect the nation we love. By distinguishing between individual Muslims and Islamist movements, we can preserve the freedoms that define America, ensuring it remains a land of hope for all.