The Republican governor of Florida has designated the Islamic political movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Muslim civil rights group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), as foreign terrorist organisations.
In a statement released on Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has officially designated the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organisations, stating that they are transnational criminal entities.
The move has mirrored the action in Texas where Gov. Greg Abbott also designated the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organisations on November 18, citing that CAIR was an “Islamist organisation” which was founded as a “front group” for “Hamas and its support network in the US”.
DeSantis’ statement was similar, as he said: “Florida agencies are hereby directed to undertake all lawful measures to prevent unlawful activities by these organisations, including denying privileges or resources to anyone providing material support.”
The reason for banning the Muslim Brotherhood was cited due to the group “engaging or supporting violence, including political assassinations and terror attacks on civilians,” adding that the “Islamist ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood is irreconcilable with foundational American principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
The statement also claimed that the group had active fundraising arms in the US that “finance terrorist activities”.
In reference to Hamas and Israel, the statement also cited that the Muslim Brotherhood had been “created by Hamas in 1987” and that its goal was the “eradication of Jews in their historic homeland of Judea and Samaria.”
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US President Donald Trump made a similar move on a federal level, as the White House released a statement on November 25 announcing the “designation of certain Muslim Brotherhood chapters as foreign terrorist organisations and designated global terrorists.”
The designations by Texas and Florida do not carry legal force on a federal level, as the US State Department is still in the process of outlawing certain Muslim Brotherhood factions, with no mention of CAIR.
CAIR reacts to ban
CAIR is the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group in the US, which also played a leading role in the release of British journalist Sami Hamdi from ICE detention last month.
In response to DeSantis’ decision, CAIR issued a statement of their own, as they said on X: “From the very moment Gov. Ron DeSantis took office, he served the Israeli government instead of the people of Florida.”
“He hosted his first official cabinet meeting in Israel. He diverted millions in Florida taxpayer dollars to the Israeli government’s bonds. He threatened to shut down every Florida college’s pro-Palestine student groups, only to back off when CAIR sued him in federal court. Now he wants to smear CAIR,” the statement continued.
As CAIR did with Texas Gov. Abbott, they will also be suing Gov. DeSantis, as they said: “See you in court.”
CAIR claims to have unequivocally condemned all acts of terrorism in its 30-year existence, whilst also condemning Hamas and the October 7 attacks, stating that they stand against antisemitism.
Increasing Islamophobia in Florida
Just like with Texas, the move has come at a time when Islamophobic attacks have been increasing in Florida and gaining mainstream attention on social media.
Texas had its controversy surrounding EPIC City, a Muslim community development proposed by EPIC Masjid in Texas, which was the victim of months of state action due to the 400-acre community development plans.
Abbott had smeared the project, claiming it was a “Sharia compound”.
In Florida on November 19, three men verbally abused and harassed a group of Muslim students from USF Tampa who were praying. They shouted Islamophobic slurs, spat at them, and waved bacon as the students prayed fajr in congregation.
Police have since charged the three men with hate crimes.
Many Republican representatives have praised DeSantis, as they did with Abbott, claiming that the ban should be adopted nationwide to prevent “Sharia” from taking over.
