A coalition of Muslim and interfaith figures is imploring Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, to rescind his proclamation that identifies the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a “foreign terrorist organization.”
The Texas designation is specific to the state. It lacks the legal weight of a federal Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designation, which is exclusively within the purview of the U.S. State Department. Consequently, Abbott’s proclamation does not activate federal terrorism penalties or powers.
Leaders from various Muslim organizations convened a press conference on Tuesday to voice their opposition to the governor’s proclamation, which also characterized CAIR as a “a transnational criminal organization.”
The groups urged the governor to withdraw his characterization of the civil rights organization, deeming it defamatory, destructive, and perilous, as reported by Fox 4.
MUSLIM CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP CAIR SUES TEXAS OVER ABBOTT’S ‘TERRORIST’ DESIGNATION
This action follows CAIR’s legal challenge against Texas regarding the governor’s declaration, asserting that it contravenes both the U.S. Constitution and state law.
CAIR contends that the order infringes upon its First Amendment rights and due-process protections, and that Texas exceeded its jurisdiction, as terrorism designations are a federal, not state, matter.
“The governor is attempting to penalize the nation’s foremost Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization merely for disagreeing with its protected First Amendment rights to critique a foreign nation engaged in genocide. This not only defies the United States Constitution but also lacks any basis in Texas law,” stated Mustaffa Carroll, the executive director for CAIR Dallas Fort Worth, during Tuesday’s news conference.
“It is well-known that CAIR has condemned Hamas attacks. It is well-known that CAIR has dedicated 31 years to combating terrorism and prejudice. The terrorism narrative you are employing is merely a worn-out tactic to incite fear of Muslims,” declared Marium Uddin of the Muslim Legal Defense Fund on Tuesday.
Leaders from diverse faiths, including Jewish representatives, also denounced Abbott’s designation.
“We firmly stand in solidarity with our colleagues at CAIR and wholeheartedly support their lawsuit against Abbott’s inaccurate and unconstitutional proclamation,” affirmed Deborah Armintor of Jewish Voice for Peace.
State Rep. Terry Meza, a Democrat, added that the governor’s remarks “are not only incorrect but also dangerous. Uttering such statements poses a threat to our Muslim community.”
TEXAS GOV ABBOTT DECLARES CAIR, MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD AS TERRORIST GROUPS, PREVENTING LAND PURCHASES
The legal proceedings are ongoing, and it is uncertain whether a court will uphold Abbott’s order or invalidate it as an overreach of state authority.
The governor’s edict prohibits CAIR from buying land within Texas under a recently enacted law designed to restrict purchases linked to “foreign adversaries.”
Abbott’s order also extended the “terrorist” label to the Muslim Brotherhood, despite the federal government never having designated either group as such.
