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Zahra Billoo
Zahra Billoo has been the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) chapter in the San Francisco Bay Area, California (CAIR-SFBA), since 2009.
CAIR was designated as a terrorist organization by Texas in 2025 and Florida in 2026, with both states citing alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, a transnational Sunni Islamist group. CAIR has been accused of maintaining ties to individuals convicted of fundraising for Hamas.
Zahra Billoo is active on social media where she has promoted hatred of America and the police. She has called for Israel's destruction, denied Hamas war crimes, and expressed support for the terror groups Hamas and Hezbollah, including on October 7, 2023.
The profilee's statements were made during an extended period of global antisemitism that began with the October 7, 2023, terror attacks, when Hamas murdered nearly 1,200 Israelis, injured thousands and kidnapped hundreds. Israel immediately launched a war against Hamas.
Billoo has also expressed support for terrorists, defended terror financiers, spread antisemitism, equated Israel with ISIS, and promoted hatred of Israel, Zionism, and Zionists. She has also demonized American Jewish institutions and honored the Nation of Islam (NOI).
As of November 2026, Billoo's LinkedIn said she had been the executive director of CAIR-SFBA since 2009.
In July 2026, Billoo reportedly collaborated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) chapter in the San Francisco Bay Area, California.
DSA's anti-capitalist ideology features anti-American, anti-police and abolitionist elements. DSA also called for Israel's destruction and justified terrorism two days after Hamas murdered 1,200 Israelis on October 7, 2023.
CAIR-SFBA works alongside CAIR's chapter in Los Angeles (CAIR-LA), which is allied with the local chapters of the far-left DSA and pro-terror Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), known as DSA-LA and PYM LA-OC-IE.
PYM LA-OC-IE, CAIR-LA and DSA-LA are part of a far-left coalition that has organized protests and fueled local unrest since late 2023. Read more in our report, The Red-Green Alliance: Reshaping Los Angeles Politics.
On December 29, 2019, Billoo spoke, representing American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), at the 2019 MAS-ICNA [Muslim American Society (MAS) and Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA)] Convention.
Billoo is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. She was a speaker at the 2018 annual conference for AMP.
On September 16, 2019, shortly after news broke that three founding members of the Women’s March, who faced accusations of anti-Semitism, would leave the organization’s board, Billoo tweeted that she had joined the board of the Women’s March.
On September 19, 2019, Billoo tweeted about “...me being voted off the board of @WomensMarch...” That same day, it was reported that Billoo was voted off the Women’s March board when her social media was found to be “promoting extreme anti-Zionism and conspiracy theories.”
As of November 2026, Billoo's LinkedIn said she was located in Santa Clara, California.
On October 19, 2016, Billoo tweeted: “This American Muslim works to be on the front lines of redefining terrorism. It's ISIS but it's also the US military. #debate #Election2016.”
On June 10, 2015, Billoo tweeted: “[@ZahraBilloo] worries more about police, the FBI, and the [Apartheid] Israeli Defense Forces recruiting youth to engage in violence & impunity than ISIS.”
On April 12, 2015, Billoo tweeted: “The root cause of terrorism is US foreign policy.”
On April 11, 2015, Billoo tweeted: “The CIA is a terrorist organization.”
On January 20, 2015, responding to U.S. President Obama’s State of the Union address [01:16:20], Billoo tweeted: “What about the people hunted by US terrorists? #SOTU.”
On February 19, 2015, following U.S. President Obama’s remarks at the Summit on Countering Violent Extremism, Billoo tweeted: “Is the CIA less brutal and grotesque than ISIS?”
On December 28, 2014, Billoo tweeted: “is as disgusted by the CIA and the IDF as I am by ISIS. It's the alphabet soup of evil horrible organizations.”
On September 10, 2014, Billoo tweeted: “opposed all terrorism, including all that regularly committed by the US military and Al Qaeda, the Israeli Defense Forces and ISIS.”
On October 22, 2012, Billoo tweeted: “Hypocrisy in one breath: American officials talking about state sponsored terrorism. #Debate.”
On January 29, 2026, Billoo was featured in a YouTube video alongside CAIR-LA executive director Hussam Ayloush, speaking about the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In the video, Billoo said: "I think we need to abolish ICE. That's my answer is that this is a racist agency that was created post-9/11 with a mandate of making America white again. And we need to just say that out loud and say these are essentially thugs that have been hired to terrorize our communities."
On November 7, 2023, Billoo posted on X: "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free..."
“From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free!” is a chant used [00:02:47] to call for the elimination of the State of Israel. It has also been employed by Hamas leader Khaled Mashal to call for the replacement of Israel with an Islamic state. In April 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning the chant as antisemitic.
On December 2, 2023, Billoo posted on X: "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, God willing."
On December 5, 2023, Billoo posted on X: "''Free, free #Palestine. End the #occupation now.'"
“Free Palestine!” is a chant used to call for Israel's destruction, acting as a shorter version of "From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free!" It was shouted during multiple deadly attacks on pro-Israel activists in 2025 in America. It has been used to vandalize synagogues and other Jewish-owned property, and is described as a "battle cry for the death of Jews.”
Anti-Israel activists spread antisemitism by denying Jewish history and religious rights to the Land of Israel in order to portray Jews as foreigners. The goal is to delegitimize restored Jewish sovereignty and justify terrorism. Terms they use include accusing Israel of "colonialism," "occupation," and "imperialism."
On January 4, 2024, Billoo posted on X: "'The police are having difficulty locating victims of sexual assault or witnesses to acts from the Hamas attack, and are unable to connect the existing evidence with the victims described in it...'"
On October 7, 2023, Hamas raped both women and men. Some were raped and murdered or mutilated. Hamas terrorists said they were given explicit orders to carry out those atrocities on both live victims and corpses.
Denial of the Hamas war crimes of October 7, 2023, among anti-Israel activists has been likened to Holocaust denial among neo-Nazis.
On October 7, 2023, the day Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, Billoo posted on X: "Pray for Gaza. We are witnessing decolonization."
On July 14, 2014, during Israel’s Operation Protective Edge (OPE), Billoo tweeted: “Blaming Hamas for firing rockets at [Apartheid] Israel is like blaming a woman for punching her rapist. #FreePalestine.”
Israel commenced Operation Protective Edge (OPE) in July 2014, to stop rocket fire targeting Israeli civilians and to destroy Hamas attack tunnels.
On July 5, 2014, Billoo tweeted: “‘Israel without any clear evidence accused and held Hamas responsible for the killing of the 3 settlers who were reservists in the IDF.’”
Hamas was responsible for the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers from a bus stop on June 12, 2014. The abducted boys were murdered by their captors, and their bodies were found buried in Palestinian-controlled territory on June 30, 2014.
On April 20, 2013, Billoo tweeted: “Hamas was democratically elected to govern Palestine.”
On January 8, 2009, the day Hezbollah fired several rockets into Israel, injuring five Israelis, Billoo tweeted: “[@ZahraBilloo] is torn. The ish just hit the fan… AH [Alhamdulillah - Praise God] for Hezbollah having the courage to do what the Arab governments won't!”
On July 31, 2024, Billoo posted on X, referring to Ismail Haniyeh: "...Tonight, we mourn Ismail himself but know his martyrdom is not in vain..."
Ismail Haniyeh served as the senior leader of Hamas for 18 years, during which Hamas increased rocket barrages against Israel and built terror tunnels. Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran on July 31, 2024, in the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas atrocities.
On August 19, 2015, Billoo posted an Instagram photo from a Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) rally in support of terrorist Muhammad Allan. She commented: “May Allah (swt) give him freedom and victory.”
Mohammad Allan is a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a terror group “whose objective is the destruction of the State of Israel and the establishment of a sovereign, Islamic Palestinian state.” Allan was first jailed by Israel in 2006 for trying to recruit a suicide bomber to carry out an attack in Israel. He was detained in 2014 for similar reasons. PIJ is backed by Iran and has killed dozens of Israelis in suicide bombings and other attacks.
On August 12, 2014, Billoo tweeted during OPE, writing: “‘Long live the intifada.’”
The term “intifada,” which translates from Arabic as “uprising” or “insurrection,” carries the connotation of violence. Palestinian intifadas waged against Israel have been marked since 1987 by hundreds of hijackings, shootings, stabbings, bombings and suicide missions.
On May 31, 2010, Billoo tweeted: “RT @JamalDajani: #Israel's ' terrorists' on #flotilla: 34 Turkish reporters, 26 foreign reporters, 12 doctors, 16 Parliament members.”
The “Free Gaza Movement” [Gaza Freedom Movement] has organized boats to Gaza meant to “break the siege,” including a May 2010 “Freedom Flotilla.” In 2011, the United Nations found that the flotilla agitators initiated an organized, violent confrontation with Israeli forces. The lead ship, the Mavi Marmara, was carrying no humanitarian aid, only weapons.
In April 2024, another “Freedom Flotilla” attempted to challenge the naval blockade of Gaza during Israel’s war against Hamas, called “Swords of Iron.” However, the mission failed, as the ships of the 2024 flotilla were blocked from leaving the port in Turkey.
Between August and September 2025, the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) set sail from various European ports. On October 1-2, 2025, the GSF attempted to breach the blockade but was intercepted by Israeli ships. The flotilla vessels were found to contain no aid, and the activists aboard the ships were deported. Documents were found linking the flotilla to Hamas.
On February 23, 2013, Billoo tweeted: “Not a single penny of the Holy Land Foundation's money ever went to terrorism.”
The Holy Land Five (HLF5) were five individuals associated with the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF) indicted for funneling funds to Hamas in the guise of humanitarian aid. The men were all convicted and sentenced in 2009 to federal prison terms ranging from 15 to 65 years.
Also on February 23, 2013, Billoo tweeted: “@AntiCAIR thank you so much for your genius calculations, except the government never proved that HLF money actually went to terrorism.”
On July 24, 2010, Billoo tweeted: “...No need for a holocaust museum, seeing as Israel has taken it upon itself to recreate it. #Israel #Nazis.”
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) highlights as one possible contemporary example of antisemitism: “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.” The U.S. State Department adopted the IHRA’s working definition of anti-Semitism in 2016. Over 40 countries have adopted the definition as well.
On May 13, 2014, Billoo tweeted: “‘Israel ‘defending’ itself from Palestinians is analogous to Nazi Germany defending itself from Jewish uprising.’”
On June 7, 2014, Billoo tweeted an article titled: “How the Israel Lobby Works” by Philip Giraldi from unz.com.
Giraldi is the Executive Director of the anti-Israel organization the Council for the National Interest (CNI). He has written about “Jewish power in the United States” and how Jews have “control over key aspects of the media and entertainment industries.”
The article that Billoo tweeted accused pro-Israel groups, in particular the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), of having “unconditional loyalty” to Israel and of being “Israel Firsters.”
The term “Israel-Firster” is an antisemitic slur used against Jews to accuse them of dual loyalty. The term also applies to non-Jews to allege they are more loyal to Israel than to their own countries.
On November 11, 2018, Billoo tweeted: “the Israeli Defense Forces, or the IDF, are no better than ISIS [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]. They are both genocidal terrorist organizations.”
On May 30, 2018, Billoo tweeted: “Both ISIS and the IDF are violent, immoral gangs. They’re literally baby killers.”
On May 25, 2018, Billoo tweeted: “[@ZahraBilloo] doesn't see any difference between American youth leaving the country to join ISIS or the IDF. Both are murderous, war crime committing, terrorist entities.”
On March 31, 2018, Billoo tweeted: “The IDF is more militant and murderous than ISIS.”
On October 26, 2015, Billoo tweeted: “The Israeli Defense Forces have killed more people than ISIS. Don't dress your kids up as one of them: http://walmart.com/ip/Israeli-Soldier-Costume-for-Kids-Size-M/45711518…. cc @Walmart.”
On August 6, 2015, Billoo tweeted: “I'll call ISIS "Radical Islamic Terrorists" if you'll call the IDF "Radical Jewish Terrorists"? #GOPDebate #ApartheidIsrael #Gaza”
On July 27, 2018, Billoo posted an Instagram image that said: “We survived an Israeli attack on Masjid Al Aqsa [Al Aqsa Mosque] today.” She wrote: “Israeli police today, as they do on so many days, shot into a crowd of unarmed prayer attendees.”
On July 27, 2018, Palestinian rioters reportedly “began throwing fireworks and stones at Israeli police” officers on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, including some rioters who barricaded themselves inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Israeli police responded with “stun and smoke grenades” to disperse rioters.
On July 9, 2018, Billoo tweeted: “JUST IN CASE THE ZIONISTS DIDN'T HEAR ME: Israel is an apartheid, racist state, which engages in terrorism against Palestinians.”
On July 24, 2017, Billoo indicated on Instagram that she visited Israel and claimed the country was built on land that “Zionist racists” try to “steal through policy and violence.”
On December 15, 2015, Billoo tweeted: “Will we hunt down and kill the IDF terrorists @SenTedCruz ? #GOPDebate.”
On August 15, 2015, Billoo tweeted: “The Israeli Defense Forces are a terrorist group.”
On April 12, 2015, Billoo tweeted: “Israel commits war crimes and terrorism as a hobby.”
On August 2, 2014, Billoo tweeted: “If you support apartheid, racism, and Zionism by Israel, I don't think we can work on civil rights together in the US.”
On the same day, Billoo tweeted: “Israel is a terrorist state.”
On July 12, 2014, Billoo tweeted: “Stand up against #ApartheidIsrael's #genocide in #Palestine...#Gaza #BDS #ActionAlert #Dua.”
On July 1, 2014, Billoo tweeted: “‘#ApartheidIsrael is the living, breathing definition of a #terrorist state." #PrayforPalestine #BDS.”
On March 26, 2025, Billoo posted on X: “Zionists should be alienated from and ostracized in all social justice oriented spaces. / No, your support of ethnic cleansing, permission for genocide, and outright racism are not welcome anywhere.”
On June 22, 2018, Billoo tweeted: “Everyone was talking about some people’s reasonable belief, including my own, that Zionism is racism.”
In 1975, an anti-Israel resolution that branded Zionism as a form of racism was proposed and passed in the United Nations General Assembly. The resolution was repealed in 1991 by a much larger majority.
On May 10, 2018, Billoo tweeted: “[@ZahraBilloo] believes God is ever present, Zionism is racism, and Israel is a settler colonial nation engaged in ongoing apartheid.”
On February 23, 2018, Billoo tweeted: “‘Zionism is the violent ideology responsible for the genocide and displacement of indigenous Palestinians and the destruction of Palestinian land.”
On May 16, 2015, the day Billoo was a featured speaker at an AMP event, she tweeted: “Zionism propels people to racist violence. #alqudsconf.”
On the same day, Billoo tweeted: “Make no mistake about it: #Zionism and #Islamophobia are linked.”
On March 3, 2015, Billoo tweeted: “Zionism is racism.”
On February 17, 2015, Billoo tweeted: “.@ShaunSacks1 I compare genocidal murderers to genocidal murderers. #Zionism kills.” Billoo’s tweet was in response to a tweet that said: “People like @ZahraBilloo R the 1st 2 say Zionism isnt about religioun. But she compares secular IDF troops 2 a tyrannical religious group.”
On February 8, 2015, Billoo tweeted: “I'd love to see a Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) program that protects Americans from the racism and violence bred by Zionism.”
On the same day, Billoo tweeted: “DHS and FBI should launch CVE programs targeting Israel supporters because Zionism is a very real threat to our national security.”
On February 2, 2015, Billoo tweeted: “Zionism ruins everything.”
On May 22, 2014, Billoo tweeted: "'Zionism is an extension of colonialism.'"
On October 4, 2018, Billoo tweeted: “[@ZahraBilloo] believes pro-Israel work is pro-terror, pro-violence, pro-land theft, and pro-apartheid.”
On May 14, 2018, Billoo alleged on Twitter that the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) was: “actively working to undermine the civil rights and human rights of Arab and Black communities.”
The ADL was founded in 1913 “To stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.”
On July 12, 2014, Billoo tweeted to the San Francisco Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), during OPE: “.@SFJCRC so you're rallying support for genocide? #BDS #ApartheidIsrael #Palestine #Gaza.”
On July 8, 2014, Billoo tweeted: “No need to imagine #Hamas violating my rights when @ADL_National stands ready and willing to do it right here in the US.”
On November 16, 2012, Billoo tweeted during Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defense (OPD), that she was “disgusted by the blatant support of murder and apartheid coming from the Jewish Community Relations Council.”
Israel launched OPD to stop Hamas rocket attacks on Israeli civilians from Gaza. Over the course of eight days in November 2012, Palestinian terrorist groups fired more than 1,500 rockets at Israel. The majority struck Israel, damaging homes, schools and other civilian areas. Human Rights Watch noted: “Palestinian armed groups made clear in their statements that harming civilians was their aim.”
On June 5, 2009, Billoo tweeted: “watching a Farrakhan church speech, while at the gym.”
Louis Farrakhan has been the leader of the Nation of Islam (NOI), which is considered the “largest Black nationalist organization in the U.S.,” since 1977. He promotes antisemitism and anti-white theology. He has referred to white people as “devils” and labeled Jews “termites.” He has also said: “The satanic Jews…control everything and mostly everybody."
On December 19, 2010, Billoo posted a YouTube video featuring a speech from the NOI’s 2009 Saviours’ Day.
On March 12, 2012, Billoo tweeted: “Louis Farrakhan speaks at UC Berkeley...”
On May 25, 2014, Billoo tweeted a link to the NOI’s newspaper, writing: “A black liberation soldier needs help…”
The BLA was a violent “Nationalist/Separatist” group with the stated goal to “take up arms for the liberation and self-determination of black people in the United States.” They wanted to create a country called the Republic of New Afrika out of five U.S. states in the American South. The group was active from 1970 to 1981 and its members were involved in bank robberies, the murder of police officers and other crimes.
Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is America’s largest socialist organization. Its core ideology includes anti-American, anti-Israel, anti-Western and abolitionist elements. In August 2025, DSA passed “For a Fighting Anti-Zionist DSA,” making support for Israel an expellable offense. DSA has also called to “abolish I.C.E. and capitalism.”
Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks against Israel, DSA condemned Israel, expressed support for Hamas, endorsed anti-Israel rallies and called for members to engage in anti-Israel activism. It condemned Israeli retaliatory attacks against the IRGC and Hezbollah, as well as the U.S. attacks against the Houthi terror organization, whose slogan reads: "...Death to America / Death to Israel / A Curse upon the Jews...”
DSA first endorsed the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement in 2017 and it has also condemned sanctions against countries like Iran and Cuba.
The group endorses far-left politicians on the local, state and federal levels. DSA also promotes anti-Israel agitators, including DSA members Rashida Tlaib, Zohran Mamdani and Linda Sarsour.
Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA), DSA’s youth section active in high schools and colleges, has co-organized anti-Israel protests across the U.S. since October 7, 2023, particularly the April 2024 pro-terror encampments on university campuses.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas murdered approximately 1,200 Israelis, kidnapped 251 and wounded thousands. War crimes included various systematic sexual crimes like gang rape and genital mutilation. Men and women were violated, even after being murdered. Victims who survived that day, including hostages, endured forms of humiliation and torture.
Gazans working in the targeted Israeli villages provided intelligence to Hamas on which families to kill and torture, including long-time employers. Many Palestinian civilians joined in and celebrated the attacks. Hamas livestreamed their crimes on social media, including to victims’ accounts for families to see. To learn more, see the Canary Mission page on Hamas.
American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) was founded by UC Berkeley Professor Hatem Bazian as a vehicle to generate mainstream support in the United States for the Palestinian national cause.
On its website, the organization lists Bazian as the chairman of its national board and describes itself as “a national education and grassroots-based organization, dedicated to educating the American public about Palestine and its rich cultural, historical and religious heritage.”
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has accused AMP of promoting “extreme anti-Israel views and has at times provided a platform for anti-Semitism under the guise of educating Americans” about Palestinians. The ADL further stated that AMP is directly involved in campus-based anti-Israel activity through Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).
Prior to founding the AMP in 2006, Dr. Bazian created SJP together with fellow UC Berkeley Professor Snehal Shingavi in 2001. The close working relationship between AMP and SJP has been documented several times over the years by several organizations, including NGO Monitor and StandWithUs.
In addition to providing financial, public relations and legal assistance to SJP, AMP has also been accused of having connections to Hamas. The AMP national board includes former members of both the Islamic Association of Palestine (IAP) and Holy Land Foundation (HLF), both of which were found liable for aiding and abetting Hamas. The IAP was founded by Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook, a senior member of Hamas.
The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement was founded by pro-terror activist Omar Barghouti in 2005 to turn “Israel into a pariah state, as South Africa once was.” Barghouti has also called for Israel's destruction and the BDS movement demands would result in that same goal.
BDS initiatives include calling on institutions and individuals to divest from Israeli-affiliated companies, promoting academic and cultural boycotts of Israel, and organizing anti-Israel rallies, protests and campaigns.
The movement’s most notable achievement has been infiltrating university campuses through lobbying for “BDS resolutions.” In these cases, student governments propose resolutions to boycott or divestment from Israel or Israeli-affiliated entities. BDS activity is often aggressive and disruptive. It has been noted that universities that pass BDS resolutions see a marked increase in anti-Semitic incidents and pro-terror activism on campus.
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