Ailing Retail Giant Sponsors Hamas-Linked Islamist Group,
Refuses to Rule Out Future Funding to Islamic Radicals
Think again before buying your next flat-screen television or computing device from Best Buy.
The struggling retail giant recently used profits from American consumers to fund the annual banquet of a group closely linked to Hamas. The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) recently listed Best Buy as a “Platinum Sponsor.” Best Buy has refused to rule out future support for CAIR through numerous messages to its public relations department. The big box retailer is already in chaos amid the recent resignation of its CEO for personal misconduct, dwindling sales and bond downgrades.
The United States government named CAIR an “unindicted co-conspirator” to fund the terrorist group Hamas in America’s most significant terror financing trial. The U.S. also identified CAIR as an agent of the Muslim Brotherhood, and its immediate predecessor as sharing the common goal of dismantling American institutions and turning the U.S. into a Sharia-compliant, Islamic state through incremental, stealth jihad.
CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper (left) and CAIR co-founder and long-time board member Omar Ahmad (right) have both said they would like to see an America ruled by Sharia. The U.S. government has linked CAIR to the terror group Hamas in Gaza (center). |
And that’s only the beginning. For all the details and links, see the bullet points below -- after the jump at the bottom of the post.
Utterly outrageous, yes. But outrage is not enough. Action is required. The Goal is a commitment from Best Buy to never again use profits from American consumers to finance Islamic radicals.
Here is how you can make a difference:
- If you don’t like the idea of your consumer electronics, software and appliance dollars going to fund groups aligned with Hamas and pledged to turning America into a Sharia-compliant, Islamic state, write and/or call Best Buy and let them know. Best Buy Public Relations Department: 612-292-NEWS (6397) or NewsCenter@bestbuy.com. Mike Mikan, Interim CEO: Mike.Mikan@bestbuy.com; Susan Busch, Director of Public Relations: susan.busch@bestbuy.com; Lisa Hawks, Deputy Director of Public Relations: lisa.hawks@bestbuy.com
- Feel free to use/copy/paste the bullet points below. But try to put it in your own words and make it personal. Share any responses from Best Buy with us at islamist-watch@meforum.org.
- Use Best Buy stores as showrooms and then buy the same or similar products for less money from online retailers such as Amazon.com, Newegg.com, Overstock.com, BHPhotoVideo.com, Crutchfield.com, Costco.com, Tigerdirect.com, Bizrate.com, Walmart.com, Sears.com, Outletpc.com, Microcenter.com and Dealsourcedirect.com
- Tell your friends and family about Best Buy and about Islamist Watch. If they join our mailing list (link at top of Islamist-Watch.org), they’ll receive future action alerts and can help make a difference.
Here are the details on CAIR:
- CAIR-MN is the local branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
- CAIR was named an“unindicted co-conspirator” to fund the terrorist group Hamas in America’s most significant terror financing trial that resulted in 108 guilty verdicts. Also, see here.
- The United States Government named CAIRas “individuals/entities who are and/or were members of the US Muslim Brotherhood’s Palestine Committee and/or its organizations.”
- In the course of the terror financing trial, a document emerged from the Muslim Brotherhood listing CAIR’s immediate predecessor, the Islamic Association for Palestine, as one of the Brotherhood’s like-minded “organizations of our friends” sharing the common goal of dismantling American institutions and turning the U.S. into a Muslim nation through stealth jihad.
- The FBI has “suspended all formal contacts between CAIR and the FBI,” and the FBI does “not view CAIR as an appropriate liaison partner.”
- President Barack Obama signed a law that cuts ties between the FBI and unindicted co-conspirators in terrorism cases, which includes CAIR.
- CAIR co-founder and long-time board member Omar Ahmad once told an enthusiastic crowd: “Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faiths, but to become dominant. The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth.”
- Current CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper was quoted as saying: “I wouldn’t want to create the impression that I wouldn’t like the government of the United States to be Islamic sometime in the future. ... But I’m not going to do anything violent to promote that. I’m going to do it through education.”
- Senator Charles Schumer (Democrat, New York) described CAIR in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing as an organization “which we know has ties to terrorism.” FDCH Political Transcripts, Sept. 10, 2003.
- Senator Barbara Boxer (Democrat, California) took the rare step of rescinding an official award to a constituent upon learning that the individual was an official with a local branch of CAIR.
- CAIR’s Minnesota branch hampered a federal investigation into the disappearances of dozens of Twin Cities Somali men, by discouraging local Somalis from cooperating with the FBI. CAIR-MN is thought to be closely aligned with mosques that may have recruited the local Somalis to take up arms overseas in jihads.
- CAIR’s Minnesota branchbranded two Minneapolis moderate Muslim activists as “anti-Muslim”for their participation in a seminar criticizing an Islamic terrorist group in Somalia. The terrorist group, Al-Shabaab, is an al-Qaida affiliate. Also,see here.
- The IRS stripped CAIR of its tax-exempt status after the group failed to file required annual reports detailing their revenues and expenses.
- CAIR has increasingly turned to foreign donors for operating revenue, including soliciting then Libyan Dictator Muammar Gaddafi to help underwrite a program to distribute 1 million copies of the Koran to government officials and the general public in America.
CAIR’s Announcement of Best Buy as a Platinum Sponsor: