Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Dec. 8 designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations, mirroring a similar move Texas made in November.
DeSantis’ executive order, titled “Protecting Floridians from Radical Islamic Terrorist Organizations,” directs state agencies to bar both groups — as well as any individuals or entities that provide them with material support — from receiving any state contracts, employment, funds, or other benefits.
“Florida agencies are hereby directed to undertake all lawful measures to prevent unlawful activities by these organizations, including denying privileges or resources to anyone providing material support,” the governor wrote on X, where he posted the order.
The directive also tasks the Domestic Security Oversight Council with reviewing current policies and recommending additional actions to address what DeSantis described as ongoing threats posed by both organizations.
The order asserts that the Muslim Brotherhood oversees networks tied to terrorist groups and that entities aligned with the organization “joined attacks against Israel” or “provided material support to Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Palestinian groups” following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack. It says CAIR was “founded by persons connected to the Muslim Brotherhood” and that individuals “associated with CAIR” have provided or attempted to provide material support to terrorist groups. CAIR, which has 25 chapters, is the largest Muslim advocacy group in the U.S.
Neither CAIR nor the Muslim Brotherhood appears on the U.S. State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations.
DeSantis’ move comes weeks after Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s declaration labeling CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood “foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations,” CatholicVote reported. CAIR is currently challenging that order in court.
CAIR said it will also sue Florida, calling DeSantis’ order “unconstitutional” and “defamatory.”
“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,” CAIR National and CAIR-Florida said in a joint statement Dec. 8, according to local outlet WSVN, which is affiliated with both FOX and ABC. “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.”