The head of the organization has cautioned that Ron DeSantis’ move to label CAIR a “terrorist organization” might increase Islamophobia throughout the US.
On Tuesday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced plans to file a lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis after the Republican classified the organization as a “foreign terrorist organization.” CAIR condemned the action as both unconstitutional and defamatory.
On Tuesday, DeSantis issued an executive order that classified CAIR as a “foreign terrorist organization” and called on state agencies to take action against individuals offering “material support” to the group.
In retaliation, CAIR’s Florida office declared its intention to sue, asserting that the governor’s “designation has no basis in law or fact.” During a press briefing, Deputy Executive Director Hiba Rahim characterized the order as an assault based on conspiracy theories, drawing parallels to historical campaigns against Jewish, Irish, and Italian American populations.
The directive claims CAIR maintains connections to the Palestinian militant faction Hamas and mandates Florida agencies to block CAIR from obtaining “any state contracts, employment or funding.”
“We are very proud to defend the founding principles of our Constitution, to defend free speech,” Rahim informed journalists on Tuesday. “We’ll continue doing the work that we do every day to defend civil liberties and protect American Muslims, and to protect the community at large and to uphold the Constitution,” he continued.
According to its website, the organization characterizes itself as a civil rights and advocacy entity, stating “CAIR’s civil rights department counsels, mediates and advocates on behalf of Muslims and others who have experienced religious discrimination, defamation or hate crimes.”
Rahim noted that while DeSantis’ decision would not immediately impact the organization, she cautioned that it could intensify Islamophobia in Florida and nationwide. She suggested that the governor’s backing of Israel influenced the order and that the group’s advocacy created “discomfort” for the US ally.
On Tuesday, DeSantis justified his action, stating his administration possessed adequate justification and that he welcomed legal challenge, referring to it as “a long time coming.” His directive also categorizes the Muslim Brotherhood as a “foreign terrorist” organization, echoing President Donald Trump’s executive order from last month to explore designating certain chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization. DeSantis indicated he anticipates Florida legislators to advance corresponding legislation when they reconvene in January, describing his measure as “the beginning.”
Nevertheless, critics dismissed the governor’s “foreign terrorist” designation as largely symbolic, pointing out that such classifications can only be established at the federal level.