Topline
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday said he plans to sue to stop the Council on American-Islamic Relations, known as CAIR, from operating in the state by designating the group as a terrorist organization.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a bill signing in the State Capitol on April 23, 2025 in Austin, Texas.
Getty Images
Key Facts
Abbot designated both CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations, which bans them from purchasing or acquiring land in Texas and authorizes state attorney general Ken Paxton “to sue to shut them down.”
In his announcement, the governor claimed without evidence that the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR plan “to forcibly impose sharia law and establish Islam’s ‘mastership of the world.’”
CAIR, a nonprofit that has focused on responding to the proliferation of anti-Muslim incidents and sentiment nationwide, called the designation “defamatory” in a statement and said the group “opposes all forms of unjust violence, including hate crimes, ethnic cleansing, genocide and terrorism.”
Republican Party leadership in Texas last month urged Abbott to declare the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization, as have Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, but state leaders did not ask for CAIR to be designated.
Neither the Brotherhood nor CAIR are included in the U.S. State Department’s list of terrorist groups, and states have no authority to designate foreign terrorist organizations on behalf of the U.S., meaning the designation will not have immigration consequences, freeze the groups’ assets or carry other penalties.
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you’ll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here: joinsubtext.com/forbes.
Crucial Quote
“By defaming a prominent American Muslim institution with debunked conspiracy theories and made-up quotes, Mr. Abbott has once again shown that his top priority is advancing anti-Muslim bigotry, not serving the people of Texas,” CAIR said in a statement.
Read More
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2025/11/18/texas-governor-declares-muslim-civil-rights-group-a-terrorist-organization/
