Muslim civil rights group CAIR sues Texas over Abbott’s ‘terrorist’ designation
In a significant legal confrontation, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has filed a federal lawsuit against Texas Governor Greg Abbott, challenging his recent proclamation that labels the organization as a “foreign terrorist organization.” This lawsuit, lodged by CAIR’s Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin chapters, argues that Abbott’s declaration violates both the U.S. Constitution and state law. CAIR, which has been a prominent Muslim civil rights and advocacy group since its inception in 1994, asserts that the governor’s actions are not only baseless but also represent a direct attack on their constitutional rights. The lawsuit highlights that federal authorities have never classified CAIR or the Muslim Brotherhood—also included in Abbott’s proclamation—as terrorist organizations, calling into question the legitimacy of the governor’s statements.
The ramifications of Abbott’s decree are substantial, as it prohibits CAIR from purchasing land in Texas under a new statute aimed at restricting transactions linked to “foreign adversaries.” CAIR contends that Abbott’s reliance on “inflammatory statements” to justify his actions is unfounded, selectively using comments from affiliates to paint the organization in a negative light. Lena Masri, CAIR’s Litigation Director, emphasized the importance of this legal battle, stating that if a governor can unilaterally label civil rights organizations as terrorist groups, it sets a dangerous precedent for the protection of free speech and due process in America. The Muslim Legal Fund of America has also expressed its support for CAIR, asserting that Abbott’s proclamation undermines fundamental civil liberties and must be challenged to uphold the rights of all Texans.
This legal dispute occurs against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny and controversy surrounding Muslim communities in Texas. Earlier this year, Republican officials, including Abbott, initiated investigations into a proposed Muslim-centered community near a major mosque in Dallas, alleging that it aimed to establish a Muslim-exclusive enclave governed by Islamic law. These claims were dismissed by representatives of the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) as misleading and unfounded, a sentiment echoed by the U.S. Justice Department, which ultimately closed its investigation without any charges. As CAIR prepares to confront Abbott’s declaration in court, the outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for civil rights, religious freedom, and the treatment of Muslim organizations in the United States.
A prominent Muslim advocacy organization is taking Texas to court, arguing that Gov.
Greg Abbott’s
decision to brand it a “foreign terrorist organization” tramples both the U.S. Constitution and state law.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations’ (CAIR) Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin chapters filed a federal lawsuit Thursday seeking to overturn Abbott’s proclamation issued earlier in the week.
“This attempt to punish the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization simply because Governor Abbott disagrees with its views is not only contrary to the
United States Constitution
, but finds no support in any Texas law,” the group said in its lawsuit.
Founded in 1994, CAIR operates 25 chapters nationwide, including a small Texas staff of eight employees and two contractors, according to the filing.
TEXAS GOV ABBOTT DECLARES CAIR, MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD AS TERRORIST GROUPS, PREVENTING LAND PURCHASES
“CAIR-Texas and the Texas Muslim community are standing up for our constitutional rights by directly confronting Greg Abbott’s lawless attack on our civil rights,” CAIR-Texas said in a statement. “We are not and will not be intimidated by smear campaigns launched by Israel First politicians like Mr. Abbott. Mr. Abbott is defaming us and other American Muslims because we are effective advocates for justice here and abroad. We plan to continue exercising our constitutional rights, defending civil rights, and speaking truth to power, whether in defense of free speech, religious freedom and racial equality here in Texas or in defense of human rights abroad.”
Abbott’s order extended the “terrorist” label to the Muslim Brotherhood, even though federal authorities have never classified either group that way.
The governor’s decree also bars CAIR from
purchasing land
in the Lone Star State under a new statute aimed at curbing purchases tied to “foreign adversaries.”
The group’s filing contends Abbott relied on “inflammatory statements with no basis in fact,” selectively citing remarks by affiliates to paint CAIR as sympathetic to terrorism.
“The lawsuit we have filed today is our first step towards defeating Governor Abbott again so that our nation protects free speech and due process for all Americans,” CAIR Litigation Director and General Counsel Lena Masri said in a statement. “No civil rights organizations are safe if a governor can baselessly and unilaterally declare any of them terrorist groups, ban them from buying land, and threaten them with closure. We have beaten Greg Abbott’s attacks on the First Amendment before, and God willing, we will do it again now.”
The Muslim Legal Fund of America also said it is “proud to defend the constitutional rights of CAIR-Texas and the right of all Texans to engage in free speech and uphold civil rights without facing lawless and defamatory attacks by Greg Abbott.”
“Mr. Abbott’s unconstitutional proclamation undermines the very foundational notions of due process that our system depends upon and it must not stand,” said Muslim Legal Fund of America attorney Charlie Swift. “For the sake of our nation’s basic freedoms, Greg Abbott’s latest attack on the American people must be defeated.”
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Earlier this year, Texas Republicans sought to stop a Muslim-centered planned community around one of the state’s largest mosques near Dallas.
Abbott and other Republican state officials opened investigations into the development linked to the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC), claiming the group is attempting to create a Muslim-exclusive community that would implement Islamic law.
EPIC City representatives called the attacks alleging Islamic law misleading, dangerous and without basis.
The U.S. Justice Department closed a federal civil rights investigation into the planned community without bringing any charges or lawsuits.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
