A fierce legal battle has erupted in Texas, as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is challenging Governor Greg Abbott’s controversial decision to label the organization a “foreign terrorist organization.” The lawsuit, filed by CAIR’s Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin chapters, asserts a direct violation of both the U.S. Constitution and established Texas law.
CAIR argues the governor’s proclamation is a blatant attempt to silence dissent, punishing a prominent Muslim advocacy group simply for holding views that Abbott opposes. The organization’s legal filing emphasizes the lack of any legitimate basis for the accusation, stating it is “contrary to the United States Constitution” and unsupported by any Texas statute.
Founded in 1994, CAIR has grown into a national network with 25 chapters, including a Texas presence comprised of eight staff members and two contractors. The organization is now directly confronting what it calls Abbott’s “lawless attack” on civil rights, vowing to defend its constitutional freedoms.
The governor’s order extends the “terrorist” designation to the Muslim Brotherhood, despite the fact that federal authorities have never applied this label to either group. This sweeping decree also prevents CAIR from purchasing land in Texas, invoking a new law targeting acquisitions linked to perceived “foreign adversaries.”
CAIR’s lawsuit alleges Abbott relied on “inflammatory statements with no basis in fact,” selectively misrepresenting remarks by affiliates to falsely portray the organization as sympathetic to terrorism. The group contends this is a deliberate smear campaign fueled by political disagreement.
Lena Masri, CAIR Litigation Director and General Counsel, declared this lawsuit the first step in defeating Abbott’s actions, emphasizing the broader implications for all civil rights organizations. She warned that allowing a governor to unilaterally declare groups “terrorist” without due process sets a dangerous precedent.
The Muslim Legal Fund of America has joined the fight, asserting that Abbott’s proclamation undermines the fundamental principles of due process upon which the American legal system is built. They believe this attack on CAIR is an attack on the nation’s basic freedoms and must be decisively defeated.
This legal challenge follows earlier attempts by Texas Republicans to halt the development of a Muslim-centered planned community near Dallas. Investigations were launched, alleging the community aimed to establish a Muslim-exclusive enclave governed by Islamic law – claims vehemently denied by representatives of the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC).
A federal civil rights investigation into the planned community was ultimately closed by the U.S. Justice Department without any charges being filed, further highlighting the lack of evidence supporting the initial accusations. The current lawsuit represents a renewed effort to protect religious freedom and challenge what CAIR and its allies view as politically motivated attacks.
