CAIR, Muslim Brother, designated as foreign terrorist organizations in Florida

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations.

DeSantis made the announcement on X and posted the executive order declaring the two organizations as foreign terrorist groups.

The executive order alleges that the organizations have ties with anti-Israel groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Palestinian groups.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Highway Patrol will now be allowed to “prevent unlawful activities by the terrorist organizations,” according to the executive order.

Groups or people who have given material support to both CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood will not receive state contracts, funds or benefits

CAIR is the U.S.’ largest Muslim rights organization, and was previously designated as an unindicted co-conspirator after being accused in a terrorism financing case involving the Holy Land Foundation.

The organization disputed the accusation, claiming it was an “improper listing” during what they referred to as a “deeply flawed’ trial by the Bush demonstration.

CAIR and CAIR-Florida released a joint statement that reads as follow:

“From the moment Ron DeSantis took office as Florida governor, he has prioritized serving the Israeli government over serving the people of Florida. He hosted his very first official cabinet meeting in Israel. He diverted millions in Florida taxpayer dollars to the Israeli government’s bonds. He threatened to shut down every Florida college’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter, only to back off when CAIR sued him in federal court.”

“Like Greg Abbott in Texas, Ron DeSantis is an Israel First politician who wants to smear and silence Americans, especially American Muslims, critical of U.S. support for Israel’s war crimes. Governor DeSantis knows full well that CAIR-Florida is an American civil rights organization that has spent decades advancing free speech, religious freedom, and justice for all, including for the Palestinian people. That’s precisely why Governor DeSantis is targeting our civil rights group with this unconstitutional and defamatory proclamation.

“We look forward to defeating Governor DeSantis’ latest Israel First stunt in a court of law, where facts matter and conspiracy theories have no weight. In the meantime, we encourage all Floridians and all Americans to speak up against this latest attempt to shred the Constitution for the benefit of a foreign government.”