Florida designates CAIR and Muslim Brotherhood as domestic terrorist organisations

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet voted on Tuesday 29 September to designate the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Muslim Brotherhood and about 90 other groups as domestic terrorist organisations. 1 2 A 427-page document accompanying the vote claimed there is "substantial evidence that CAIR is engaging in terrorist activity" and alleged links to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. 1 JNS adds that the document cites CAIR's status as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2008 Holyland Foundation terrorism financing trial; CAIR says on its website that it has never been charged with a crime. 2

In the same vote Florida applied foreign terrorist designations to al-Qaeda, the Houthis and the Continuity IRA; JNS says these were groups already listed by the State Department. 1 2 Attorney General James Uthmeier said the state would "name these groups, cut off the money and hold those who bankroll them accountable." 2 The vote follows a December executive order designating CAIR a foreign terrorist organisation, which a federal judge blocked in March, and a July law giving the governor and Cabinet power to designate groups. 2

The law allows the state to dissolve designated groups, creates criminal penalties, and allows expulsion of students who promote them. 2 The ACLU's Hina Shamsi said the notice contained no allegation or evidence of any violent or dangerous act by CAIR, and called the designation "baseless and unconstitutional". 1 2 CAIR has sued, citing the First and 14th Amendments; the ACLU planned to seek a preliminary injunction on Thursday, and the designations take effect on 5 November unless blocked. 1