The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and a diverse coalition of 100 civil rights, human rights, press freedom, and legal organizations today sent a letter to U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO) that condemns their recent politically-motivated attempt to pressure the Internal Revenue Service to illegally revoke the tax-exempt status of 15 American Muslim, Arab, Jewish, and progressive groups to punish criticism of the Israeli government.
CLICK HERE: READ THE 100-GROUP LETTER CONDEMNING SPEAKER JOHNSON AND CHAIR JASON SMITH
In the letter, the organizations called out Speaker Johnson for hypocritically trying to use the IRS to punish activism for Palestinian human rights after Republicans spent years accusing Democrats of using the IRS to target conservative activists.
On September 25, Speaker Johnson tagged 15 nonprofit groups in a social media post on X stating that the Republican Party caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives and Chairman Smith “are putting you on notice. Your tax-exempt status should be revoked immediately.” The day before, Chairman Smith, in a blatant abuse of his position and authority, referred those American organizations to the IRS for investigation and revocation of their nonprofit tax status without providing any proof of criminal wrongdoing.
The 100 nonprofit organization letter calls Speaker Johnson and Chair Smith’s actions an “unquestionable abuse of government power” aimed at intimidating and silencing organizations advocating for Palestinian human rights. The coalition unequivocally rejects what it describes as “cheap, McCarthyist tactics” that seek to use federal agencies to punish organizations for engaging in their constitutionally protected First Amendment activities—political speech, organizing, and protests by American Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, and Jewish groups.
Key Excerpts from the Letter:
- “Unconstitutional Attempt to Suppress Dissent: “Your blatant abuse of authority to punish these groups for exercising their legal rights is an unconstitutional attempt to suppress dissent and stifle Americans calling for accountability over Israel’s war crimes and genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and recent atrocities against the Lebanese people.”
- Partisan Weaponization of Federal Agencies: “This bad-faith referral to the IRS is not based on any legitimate concerns of criminal conduct by these organizations. Instead, it stems from your personal discomfort with their constitutionally protected activities.”
- Warning of McCarthyist Tactics: “These House GOP efforts to involve federal tax and financial agencies in baseless investigations are clear political stunts, reminiscent of the McCarthy era. They dangerously escalate the misuse of government power for partisan purposes.”
The letter concludes with a strong declaration of resilience: “We will continue to fight these politically motivated attacks, and we stand ready to defend any organization targeted by your McCarthyistic tactics. We will not be intimidated by these politically motivated stunts, and we call on every member of Congress to rebuke and reject this assault on the fundamental rights of American advocacy groups.”
Endorsing National Organizations: Adalah Justice Project; Amana Foundation; American Center for Justice; American Federation of Ramallah Palestine; American Muslim Community Foundation; American Muslim Health Professionals; American Muslim Voice Foundation; American Muslims for Palestine (AMP); American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC); ANSWER Coalition; Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC); Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Civic Empowerment; Association of Muslim American Lawyers; Bani Adam, Inc; Bridges Faith Initiative; Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR); CAIR Action; Center for Constitutional Rights; Center for Protest Law & Litigation @ The Partnership for Civil Justice Fund; Charity & Security Network; CODEPINK; DAWN; Defending Rights & Dissent; Doctors Against Genocide; Freedom of the Press Foundation; ICNA Council for Social Justice; Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC); International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP); Islamic Association of North America; Islamic Relief USA; Islamic Society of North America (ISNA); Islamophobia Studies Center; Japanese American Citizens League; Jewish Voice for Peace Action; Libyan American Alliance; MPower Change Action Fund; MUNA APJ; Muslim Advocates; Muslim American Society (MAS); Muslim Civic Coalition; Muslim Justice League; Muslim Public Affairs Council; Muslim Resource Center; Muslim Student Association of the United States & Canada (MSA National); National Lawyers Guild; National Lawyers Guild International; Native Movement; North American Indian Muslim Association; Palestine Legal; RootsAction.org; Solidarity 2020 and Beyond; The People’s Forum; Tunisian United Network; US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO); Voices for Justice in Palestine; X-Lab; and, Young Muslims Sisters.
Endorsing Regional and State Organizations: Abe Legal; Al Farooq Foundation; Arizona Muslim Alliance, Inc.; AZ Muslim Police Advisory Board; Baltimore County Muslim Council; Black Lives Matter Paterson; Children of Adam; Civic Ark; CPCOM (Central Pennsylvania Committee of Masajid); First Amendment Foundation (FL); Green Party New Jersey; Husaynia Islamic Society of Seattle; Imam Council of Metropolitan St. Louis; Islamic Center of Conejo Valley (ICCV); Islamic Center of Reseda; Islamic Community Cultural Center (ICCC); Islamic Council of New England; Islamic Society of Sheboygan; Khair Community Center; Majlis Ash-Shura: Islamic Leadership Council or NY; MAS AZ; MAS DFW; MAS Maryland; Masjid Al Wadud; Masjid Al-Furqan – West Cobb Islamic Center; Masjid Fatima; Mohammed Mortoja Tawhid Community; MSA Lone Star Council; Muslim American Public Affairs Council (MAPAC); Muslim American Society – Charlotte; Muslim American Society (DC Chapter) — MAS DC; Muslim American Society (MAS) Central Florida; Muslim American Society of Central New Jersey; Muslim Community of Folsom (MCF); Muslim Leadership Council of San Diego; Muslim League of Voters of New Jersey; Muslims on Long Island; Noor Islamic Cultural Center; Prince George’s County Muslim Council; Rightly Guided Physicians; South Florida Muslim Federation; The Retreat; and, Tri-City Islamic Center Native Movement.
The letter also highlights the hypocrisy in the House GOP’s actions, noting that for years, Republicans in Congress have accused the IRS and other federal agencies of unfairly investigating conservative organizations for exercising their First Amendment rights. Now, these same lawmakers are using the exact tactics they once decried against American Muslim, Palestinian, Jewish, and progressive groups advocating for Palestinian human rights. This inconsistency reveals a disturbing willingness by some members of Congress to weaponize government powers for partisan purposes, undermining the democratic values they claim to uphold.
The joint letter emphasizes that these political stunts not only target American organizations defending human rights abroad but pose a threat to any group, conservative or liberal, that speaks out on contentious issues. “This overreach,” the letter states, “poses a direct threat to the constitutional rights of any American nonprofit, house of worship, or advocacy organization, whether conservative, moderate, or liberal in orientation.” Letter signatories urge Congress and the broader public to reject this dangerous assault on fundamental freedoms and reaffirm that federal agencies must be free from partisan political interference.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Director of Government Affairs Department Robert S. McCaw, 202-716-6242, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com