The Council on American-Islamic Relations says it is suspending its operations across Florida after a federal court rejected its effort to block the state’s designation of the group as a terrorist organization. CAIR plans to appeal the ruling.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier called the decision a victory, saying the court had upheld the state’s Domestic Terrorist Organization law. Gov. Ron DeSantis also said Florida was holding CAIR accountable.
CAIR-Florida executive director Hiba Rahim said the group was heartbroken to close its operations. She argued that the law resembled measures used by authoritarian governments to silence dissent without due process. Rahim also rejected the state’s designation, saying it would harm the group, its supporters, and the communities it serves.
CAIR national deputy director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said the designation and resulting shutdown violated the organization’s rights. He said CAIR would appeal and seek to protect the rights of people across Florida.
