The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim American civil liberties organization in the United States, is preparing to file a lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis after he issued a decree designating the group a “foreign terrorist” organization. CAIR leaders say the move, while legally unenforceable, risks fueling Islamophobia and undermining constitutional protections for American Muslims.
Hiba Rahim, interim executive director of CAIR’s Florida chapter, said the governor’s announcement would not deter the organization’s work but could embolden bigotry. “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,” Rahim told Al Jazeera.
DeSantis announced the designation on his X profile, urging state agencies to take action against anyone who provides “material support” to CAIR. Legal experts and civil rights advocates note that only the federal government has the authority to designate terrorist organizations. CAIR, founded in 1994, is a domestic nonprofit with dozens of chapters nationwide and hundreds of U.S. citizen employees, making it ineligible for classification as a “foreign” group.
Political Targeting of CAIR and Its Impact on Fueling Islamophobia
CAIR has long faced pressure from right-wing and pro-Israel advocates, and Israeli officials have previously urged consideration of labeling the group a terrorist entity. Rahim accused DeSantis of prioritizing “Israel First” policies over the rights and safety of Floridians, including Palestinian Americans. She pointed to the governor’s silence following the killing of Florida resident Sayfollah Musallet by Israeli settlers and the detention of Florida teen Mohammed Ibrahim by Israeli authorities. DeSantis has said he “welcomes” a lawsuit, suggesting it would allow the state to subpoena CAIR’s financial records.
Rahim responded that the organization is unafraid of scrutiny. “We welcome it as well, and we will see him in the courtroom,” she said. The dispute unfolds amid a documented rise in Islamophobia nationwide. Rights advocates say political rhetoric targeting Muslim organizations contributes to real-world harassment and violence, including recent anti-Muslim demonstrations in Michigan. Florida-based Muslim activist Ahmed Bedier described the move against CAIR as a “political stunt masquerading as a security policy,” warning it distracts from broader human rights crises abroad.
As CAIR prepares its legal challenge, civil liberties groups argue the case will test not only the limits of state power, but also the country’s commitment to religious freedom and equal protection under the law.
Sources: Al Jazeera reporting and interviews with CAIR officials, U.S. Muslim rights advocates, and SNN.
