X Account for CAIR's 501(c)(4) Arm Exposed to Be Operating from Turkey
CAIRAction, the lobby arm of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), connected via Turkish app store, new X user location feature revealed
When X launched its account location feature on November 22, CAIR Action’s Twitter account revealed an unexpected origin: Turkey. The disclosure raises legal questions about a 501(c)(4) political lobbying organization engaged in U.S. election activities operating from a country that openly harbors Hamas leadership.
CAIR Action, the political arm of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, directly engages in candidate endorsements, voter mobilization, and lobbying. According to its website, the organization works to “mobilize the nation’s 2 million+ Muslim voters” and support candidates in federal, state, and local elections. Federal election law prohibits foreign nationals from participating in decision-making for any organization involved in U.S. election activities.
Two Organizations, One Network
CAIR Action serves as the 501(c)(4) political arm of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. This structure allows the paired organizations to engage in distinct but coordinated activities. While CAIR handles civil rights advocacy and education with tax-deductible donations, CAIR Action mobilizes voters, endorses candidates, and lobbies elected officials. The political arm’s website states it works to “engage, educate, and mobilize Muslim voters” and “champion policy priorities” in federal, state, and local elections.
The two organizations coordinate on policy campaigns. A recent joint action alert opposing military action against Iran was signed “In solidarity, CAIR Action and CAIR,” urging Congress to “denounce Israel’s attacks on Iran” and “reject U.S. military aid or involvement.”
According to FrontPage Magazine, “CAIR Action is the 501(c)(4) arm of the Islamist group. What that means in English is that it gets involved in elections, advocates and endorses candidates.” The outlet noted that CAIR is “a Muslim Brotherhood front group which has supported Islamic terrorism so it’s innately foreign, but the Turkish location for its Twitter account suggests foreign links and raises questions about foreign election interference.”
Social media observers connected the Turkey revelation to recent state actions. Ahmed Quraishi posted on X: “Governor Abbott designated CAIR a foreign terrorist organization last week. Now we find out they’re operating out of Turkey.”
The Legal Framework
Federal election law prohibits foreign nationals from “directing, dictating, controlling or participating in the decision-making process” of organizations regarding election-related activities. The Foreign Agents Registration Act requires registration when individuals or organizations act “at the order, request, or under the direction or control“ of a foreign principal while engaging in political activities. A foreign principal includes any entity “having its principal place of business in a foreign country.”
A House Ways and Means Committee hearing in December 2023 examined how foreign nationals use 501(c)(4) organizations to influence U.S. elections without public disclosure. One Democratic super PAC memo cited in testimony called donations to such groups “the single most effective tactic for ensuring Democratic victories.”
Turkey’s Muslim Brotherhood Infrastructure
Turkey operates as a base for both Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood networks. According to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly stated “I don’t see Hamas as a terror organization.” Palestinian sources reported in 2011 that Erdogan promised Hamas $300 million, nearly half the group’s budget.
Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Meshaal operates from Turkey “under the protection of Turkish intelligence agency MIT,” according to Nordic Monitor. The investigation documented that Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party established the International Organization to Support the Prophet of Islam in October 2021 as a Muslim Brotherhood network that “receives financial backing, logistical support and political protection from the Turkish government” and works to “undermine Arab governments that oppose the Muslim Brotherhood.”
Texas Designation and Federal Investigation Request
In August 2025, Senator Tom Cotton wrote to the IRS Commissioner requesting an investigation into CAIR’s tax-exempt status, due to group’s alleged ties to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.
On November 18, 2025, four days before the Turkey connection was revealed, Governor Abbott designated both CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations under Texas law. Abbott stated: “The Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR have long made their goals clear: to forcibly impose Sharia law and establish Islam’s ‘mastership of the world.’ The actions taken by the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR to support terrorism across the globe and subvert our laws through violence, intimidation, and harassment are unacceptable.”
The designation prohibits both organizations from acquiring real property in Texas and directs the Texas Department of Public Safety to investigate their activities. Abbott also ordered Attorney General Ken Paxton to pursue criminal or civil enforcement against individuals or entities providing material support to either organization.
Turkey Revelation Creates Social Media Backlash
Social media reaction to the Turkey revelation referenced Governor Abbott’s action. Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines wrote: “Governor Abbott designated CAIR a foreign terrorist organization last week. Now we find out they’re operating out of Turkey. This X feature is doing exactly what it should. Thank you, @elonmusk.”
Daniel Greenfield noted: “CAIR Action is a 501c4 and authorized to interfere in American elections. If it’s operating from overseas, that’s foreign election interference.” CAIRAction has not addressed the Turkey connection or explained who controls its Turkey-based social media operations as of when this article was published.
The timing of X's location feature reveal is remarkable. That a 501c4 involved in US elections could be controled from overseas raises serious questons about transparency in political advocacy. The connection betwwen tax-exempt status and foreign operations deserves scrutiny.