CAIR Says It Will Have to Shut Its Florida Doors on Nov. 5 Unless a Court Blocks ‘Terrorist’ Designation

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and CAIR-Florida urged a federal court at a hearing on Oct. 28 to block the state’s designation of the groups as “domestic terrorist organizations” before it takes effect, according to the ACLU, which represents them.

CAIR Could Have to Close Its Florida Offices on Nov. 5

The ACLU says that unless the court steps in, CAIR and CAIR-Florida will have to close their Florida offices on Nov. 5, the day the designation takes effect.

“Florida’s new law silences free speech, criminalizes association, and eradicates due process,” said Hiba Rahim, executive director of CAIR-Florida.

What Florida’s HB 1471 Does

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet approved the designation on Sept. 29 under HB 1471, a new state law. The ACLU says the law lets a small group of state officials label U.S. groups as terrorist organizations without filing criminal charges or holding a trial.

Penalties Under the Terrorism Designation

The ACLU says that once the designation takes effect, it would be a serious crime for CAIR-Florida to do almost anything in the state. People who work for or support the group could face penalties of up to life in prison, according to the ACLU.

An Earlier Order Against CAIR Was Blocked in March

A federal judge blocked an earlier DeSantis executive order against CAIR in March, and the state has appealed. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has defended that order as a way to keep state resources from groups the state labels terrorist organizations. CAIR says it has never been charged with a crime.

Sources: ACLU, WUSF, Florida Phoenix.