Muslim Group Says to Launch Lawsuit Against Florida Governor

(MENAFN) The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced legal action Tuesday against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis after the Republican official classified the organization as a "foreign terrorist organization," prompting accusations of constitutional violations and defamation.

DeSantis enacted an executive directive Tuesday branding CAIR a "foreign terrorist organization" and directing state entities to take measures against individuals providing "material support" to the group.

CAIR's Florida division swiftly declared litigation, asserting the governor's "designation has no basis in law or fact." Deputy executive director Hiba Rahim stated during a press briefing that the directive represented an assault grounded in conspiracy theories, drawing parallels to historical discrimination against Jewish, Irish, and Italian American populations.

The executive action claims CAIR maintains connections to Palestinian militant faction Hamas, instructing 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 told reporters 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 added.

The organization's website characterizes itself as a civil rights 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 indicated DeSantis's determination would not produce immediate operational consequences for the organization, though she cautioned it could amplify anti-Muslim sentiment in Florida and nationwide. She suggested the governor's support for Israel influenced the directive, noting the group's advocacy created "discomfort" for the US ally.

DeSantis justified the action Tuesday, asserting his administration possessed adequate justification and welcoming litigation as "a long time coming." His order additionally designates the Muslim Brotherhood a "foreign terrorist" organization, following President Donald Trump's executive directive last month to evaluate labeling certain Muslim Brotherhood chapters as foreign terrorist organizations. DeSantis stated he anticipates Florida legislators will advance corresponding legislation during their January session, describing his move as "the beginning."

Skeptics dismissed the governor's "foreign terrorist" classification as predominantly symbolic, emphasizing that such designations fall exclusively under federal authority.

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