CAIR was established to promote a positive image of Islam and Muslims in America, and portrays itself as the voice of mainstream, moderate Islam. Its success in this vein is demonstrated by the inclusion of CAIR representatives in several public functions hosted by President Bush.
CAIR, however, is also a highly controversial organization. Its leadership and members publicly support organizations such as Hizbollah and Hamas, groups which the U.S. State Department has classified as terrorist organizations. Among the other charges leveled against it are affiliation with Islamist imams, the instigation of death threats against moderate American Muslims, and the promotion anti-Semitism. In the latest controversy to befall CAIR, on August 2003 an employee from its Virginia offices, Randall "Ismail" Royer, was arrested on terrorism-related charges. (cf JDL)