OK Lawmaker Calls For CAIR To Be Designated A Terrorist Organization

An Oklahoma lawmaker is asking for the Muslim advocacy group, CAIR, to be designated a terrorist organization, after the United Arab Emirates added the group to their terrorist list over the weekend.

Rep. John Bennett, R-Sallisaw, is also calling for the Oklahoma Attorney General to investigate CAIR.

Bennett has been very outspoken about his feelings about CAIR and Muslims in general, an opinion he says has now been reinforced by the declaration by the UAE.

“If anyone knows who real terrorists are in the Middle East, it should be them. So when they come out and put CAIR on that list, I agree with them 100 percent,” Bennett said on Wednesday.

9/3/2014 Related Story: OK Lawmaker Accused Of Making Anti-Muslim Remarks

On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department, Tuesday, rejected the notion and said it is seeking more information from the UAE about why that designation was made.

CAIR's national organization says it is doing the same, adding there is no factual basis for the inclusion and calling on the UAE to remove CAIR and other "civil society organizations that peacefully promote civil and democratic rights and that oppose terrorism whenever it occurs, wherever it occurs and whoever carries it out."

The head of the Oklahoma Chapter of CAIR says if Bennett prefers the word of a foreign government over that of the US government, then he is a bit perplexed. But Bennett maintains the group is clearly linked to extremist Muslim organizations.

“I think it's a clear and present danger in Oklahoma. I have great concerns of them being here.”

Bennett says because he has been so vocal on this he and his family has been threatened and he has been forced to increase security at his home.