Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued an executive order labeling the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), one of the most prominent Muslim civil rights organizations in the United States, as a foreign terrorist organization. He is the second major Republican governor in recent weeks to make such a designation. CAIR’s Florida chapter responded on Tuesday (Dec 9) by announcing a lawsuit during a press conference in Tampa. The chapter’s interim executive director, Hiba Rahim, condemned the order as “defamatory and unconstitutional,” saying, “To our governor: your designation is not supported by law or evidence.”

In the order, DeSantis claims CAIR has links to Hamas, the Palestinian militant group responsible for the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Hamas-run Gaza has resulted in more than 70,000 deaths, according to the Gazan health ministry, and caused widespread destruction. CAIR has repeatedly denied having any connection to Hamas.

A month earlier, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a similar directive against CAIR, which the organization is also contesting in federal court, arguing it is an unconstitutional attempt to punish the group for its political positions. DeSantis told reporters that he welcomed CAIR’s lawsuit because it could allow the state to review the group’s financial records and internal documents through legal discovery. Like Abbott’s order, DeSantis’ directive also identifies the Muslim Brotherhood, an Egypt-founded movement, as a foreign terrorist organization.

The U.S. federal government has not designated either CAIR or the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations, though former President Donald Trump recently initiated steps to classify certain Muslim Brotherhood branches in countries such as Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan. The Florida executive order directs state agencies to block CAIR from receiving state funding, jobs, or contracts. Founded in 1994, CAIR now operates chapters in nearly two dozen states across the country.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.