The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a prominent Muslim civil rights organization, has removed a back-to-school guide that attributed the 9/11 terror attacks to U.S. support for Israel and recommended writings by Osama bin Laden. The since-deleted material also accused the U.S. of "state-sponsored Islamophobia" in the aftermath of the attacks.
The guide, titled "Muslim Studies Curriculum," was part of CAIR's annual "Back to school resource guide" for K-12 students. According to screenshots, the material claimed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks were not masterminded by Islamic terrorists but by a "group self-identifying as Al Quaeda hailing from the mountains of Afghanistan." It further asserted that the attacks were justified due to U.S. "support of Israel," the involvement in the Persian Gulf War, and the "vast presence" of the military in the Middle East.
The guide also suggested that the U.S. response to 9/11 led to an "aggressive shift in US domestic and foreign policy," the "War on Terror," and an "erosion of civil liberties." It claimed that while Islamophobia existed before 9/11, the period marked a "stark shift" towards "state sponsored Islamophobia" in the U.S. and abroad, leading to backlash against those perceived as Muslim.
Among the resources recommended by CAIR was Osama bin Laden's "Letter to America." The guide described bin Laden as a one-time ally of the U.S. during the fight against the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s, stating that he and "people later formed the Taliban."
Jewish community leaders expressed outrage over the guide's content. Moshe Spern, President of United Jewish Teachers, called the material "evil propaganda" and dangerous. He criticized CAIR for a curriculum that "refuses to call the 9/11 hijackers terrorists, assigns Osama bin Laden’s ‘Letter to America’ as high-school reading, and coaches five-year-olds on Gaza without ever naming Hamas or October 7."
CAIR did not deny removing the hyperlink when contacted by The Post, referring to a note about changes to an earlier document. Founded in 1993, CAIR has faced scrutiny, including a past designation as a foreign terrorist organization by Texas and Florida in relation to alleged links with the Holy Land Foundation For Relief and Development, which provided funds to Hamas.
The guide also touched on the impact of 9/11 on Muslim students, suggesting that school lessons about the attacks can create a "particularly dangerous time" for them, leading to increased bullying. It reportedly contrasted the treatment of Muslims with "white supremacists" or "extreme animal rights activists," who were purportedly spared backlash when using violence.
While the guide did not mention the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, it did address how to discuss "genocide" and Gaza with children. The guide also recommended the movie "V for Vendetta" as background resource material.