ORLANDO, FLORIDA – Leaders of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Florida chapter vowed to file a lawsuit after Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order labeling the organization a “foreign terrorist organization.” Speaking at a news conference in Tampa, CAIR-Florida leaders denounced the move as baseless and rooted in conspiracy theories, comparing it to historic attempts to discredit and marginalize other minority communities in the U.S. Hiba Rahim, the group’s deputy executive director, said the order undermines constitutional freedoms and unfairly targets a civil rights organization that represents hundreds of thousands of Muslim residents across Florida. She also argued that the governor’s strong political support for Israel contributed to his decision, particularly after the organization’s activism in securing the release of a detained Palestinian-American teenager. Rahim stressed that CAIR-Florida would not retreat and would challenge the executive order in court.
DeSantis defended his decision during a separate event in North Miami Beach, calling the designation justified and overdue. He welcomed the prospect of a lawsuit and signaled that state lawmakers are preparing additional measures when the legislative session begins in January. His order also labels the Muslim Brotherhood a “foreign terrorist organization” and bars both groups — along with individuals who have supported them — from receiving state funds, contracts, or employment through executive agencies. Critics at the Tampa event, including attorney Miranda Margolis, argued that the governor lacks any legal authority to unilaterally classify a nonprofit as a terrorist organization, calling the action an unfounded escalation of anti-Muslim rhetoric. CAIR, founded in 1994 and active nationwide, is fighting a similar effort in Texas, where it has already asked a federal court to block a comparable proclamation issued by that state’s governor.