Apologists or Extremists

Omar Ahmad

Omar Ahmad was among three founding directors of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and remains its chairman emeritus today. Previously, he was president of the Islamic Association for Palestine, an organization the INS and two federal judges have concluded served as a propaganda arm for HAMAS.[1]

In addition, the IAP is listed among Muslim Brotherhood outlets in the United States in an internal Brotherhood memorandum.[2]

Fellow CAIR founder Nihad Awad, credited Ahmad in a 2000 article in The Link for suggesting they break off from IAP to form a new organization: "Omar suggested to me that we leave the IAP and concentrate on combating anti-Muslim discrimination nationwide. He proposed that I move to Washington, D.C., where any effective national effort would have to be based, while he tried to raise the seed money for the project."[3]

Ahmad participated in a three-day meeting in 1993 called by U.S. supporters of HAMAS to discuss reaction to the recently signed Oslo Accord.[4]. In fact, transcripts show Ahmad helped organize the meeting during a September 1993 telephone call secretly monitored by the FBI through a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant.[5]

The transcripts cite someone named Omar Yahya.[6] Although he claimed in a 2003 deposition that he "can't recall attending this meeting,"[7] Ahmad acknowledged that "some people call me" Omar Yahya "because it's like one of my middle names."[8]

Asked in a May 27, 2003 deposition, "Do you support Hamas," Omar Ahmad responded, "It depends. Qualify ‘support.'"[9]

Meanwhile, he has accused government officials of using the 9/11 attacks to follow through on a pre-existing hatred of Islam. ""They are using the opportunity of September 11 to detain Islam, Muslims, or [UI] the prophet, and attack the foundations of Islam," he
said at a 2002 CAIR fund raiser.[10]

[1] See "In the matter of Hasan Faisal Yousef Sabri, Notice of Revocation of petition for Amerasian, Widow, or Special Immigrant," Attachment (Form I-360); Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development v. Ashcroft, 2d 57 70, "Supplemental," 219 F (D.D.C. 2002); Boim v. Quranic Literacy Institute, 00-CV-2905, "Report and Recommendation,"(N.D. Ill 12/14/2004).

[2] U.S. v. Holy Land Foundation, 3:04cr240 (N.D. Texas) government exhibit 3-15.

[3] Nihad Awad, "Muslim-Americans in Mainstream America," The Link, February-March 2000.

[4] "Action Memorandum, Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development International Emergency Economic Powers Act," From Dale Watson, Assistant Director FBI Counterterrorism Division to Richard Newcomb, Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of Treasury, November 5, 2001.

[5] U.S. v. Holy Land Foundation, 3:04cr240 (N.D. Texas), government exhibit 16-25.

[6] FBI Analysis of the Philadelphia Conference, Submitted as an exhibit in Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development v. Ashcroft, Exhibit 28, at 1466 (D.D.C 02-442 GK),. See p. 12 of this document for more details on Ahmad's reference to himself as Omar Yahya.

[7] Boim v. Quranic Literacy Institute, CA00C-2905, "Deposition of Omar Ahmad," 8 (E.D. CA May 27, 2003).

[8] Boim v. Quranic Literacy Institute, CA 00C-2905,"Deposition of Omar Ahmad," 224 (E.D. May 27, 2003).

[9] Boim v. Quranic Literacy Institute, CA 00C-2905, "Deposition of Omar Ahmad," 267 (E.D. May 27, 2003).

[10] CAIR Fundraiser, Virginia, October 26, 2002.

[11] CAIR-Sacramento Valley Area First Annual Fundraising Banquet, Sacramento, California, December 14, 2003.