DeSantis Designates CAIR, Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorist Groups

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order on Monday designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations, known as CAIR, and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations under state law. The action, shared on DeSantis's social media account, directs Florida agencies to take measures to prevent unlawful activities by the groups, including denying contracts, employment, funds, or other resources to them or anyone providing material support.

The order asserts that CAIR was founded by individuals connected to the Muslim Brotherhood and labels the latter a transnational Islamist group seeking to establish a global caliphate with ties to Hamas. It also references CAIR's past designation as an unindicted co-conspirator in a federal terrorism-financing case involving the Holy Land Foundation, a now-defunct charity. CAIR has denied any financial or operational links to Hamas or other terrorist entities, stating that it has never been charged with a crime and that such allegations lack evidence.

CAIR, established in 1994 as a nonprofit Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization with 25 chapters nationwide, immediately condemned the order as unconstitutional...