• Florida Governor Ron DeSantis designates CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations.
• CAIR plans to file a lawsuit against DeSantis, claiming the designation is unconstitutional.
• The governor's order is criticized for potentially fueling Islamophobia across the U.S.
• DeSantis has faced backlash for prioritizing foreign interests over local concerns regarding Muslim communities.
• This action follows a recent similar move by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

On December 9, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order declaring the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as "foreign terrorist organizations," a designation that the organization directly contests as "unconstitutional" and "defamatory," according to AA and Middle East Eye.

In his announcement, DeSantis called on state agencies to prevent any support for CAIR, claiming the group has ties to Hamas. He noted the order allows for heightened scrutiny from law enforcement and imposes operational restrictions on both organizations, as reported by Reuters and Al Jazeera.

CAIR, founded in 1994, maintains its operations are focused on civil liberties, defending against accusations of terror associations. Hiba Rahim, the interim director of CAIR-Florida, emphasized the group’s commitment to constitutional rights, stating, "Your designation has no basis in law or fact," and criticized DeSantis for prioritizing foreign interests related to Israel over the welfare of Florida residents, as articulated in statements reported by India Times and The Hill.

DeSantis's executive order follows a similar step by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who also labeled CAIR as a terrorist organization last month. Both cases reflect a growing trend where state-level actions are perceived as targeting Muslim organizations, heightening the climate of Islamophobia in the U.S., as highlighted by various civil rights advocates including those at Al Jazeera and Middle East Eye.

CAIR is expected to proceed with its lawsuit against DeSantis, as it argues that such designations hinder domestic operations and can lead to broader societal prejudice against Muslims. The organization has been a vocal critic of policies that it claims undermine civil liberties, particularly for Muslim Americans involved in advocacy for Palestinian rights, according to AA and Middle East Eye.