CAIR, a group that advocates for Muslims’ civil rights, said Abbott violated their rights to due process and religious liberty.
By Adrian Ashford and Matt Kyle
Staff Writers
Eric Gay / AP
The Council on American-Islamic Relations filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton after Abbott issued a proclamation declaring the group a foreign terrorist organization.
The proclamation, issued Tuesday, said members and affiliates of CAIR, the country’s largest group focused on advocating for the civil rights of Muslims, would not be able to own property in Texas.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton after Abbott issued a proclamation declaring the group a foreign terrorist organization.
The proclamation, issued Tuesday, said members and affiliates of CAIR, the country’s largest group focused on advocating for the civil rights of Muslims, would not be able to own property in Texas.
Abbott said in the Tuesday proclamation that CAIR was a “successor organization” to the Muslim Brotherhood, which he also said he had designated a terrorist group. The U.S. designates several branches or affiliates of the Muslim Brotherhood, including Hamas, as terrorist organizations.
In the lawsuit, CAIR’s lawyers said that the organization has historically condemned terrorism, including the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on civilians by Hamas. The suit also said Abbott’s proclamation “cherry picks” statements made by individuals with various levels of affiliation with CAIR as proof the organization supports terrorism.
CAIR and the Muslim Legal Fund of America, or MLFA, held a news conference Thursday to discuss their lawsuit. Charles Swift, head of MFLA’s criminal defense department, said during the conference that he did not expect the federal government to give CAIR a foreign terrorist organization designation.
“I think the federal government knows the difference between a foreign organization and a domestic organization,” Swift said.
On Wednesday, Abbott sent a letter to North Texas district attorneys and Paxton, asking them to investigate what the governor called “Sharia tribunals masquerading as legal courts.”
In the letter, Abbott pointed to the Islamic Tribunal in Dallas, saying they had set up a rival court system to illegally enforce Sharia, moral rules laid out in Muslim scriptures. In a statement, the tribunal said its judges only handle family law disputes and refer their decisions to Texas courts for a final verdict and for enforcement.
Earlier this year, Abbott and other Texas leaders directed a series of investigations into plans to develop a Muslim-centric neighborhood near Josephine.
Officials have accused the developers of discriminating against non-Muslims and taking advantage of investors.
In September, Abbott held a news conference condemning the planned neighborhood, describing it as a “Sharia compound.” CAIR has defended developers and accused the governor of anti-Muslim rhetoric.
Adrian Ashford has covered faith and religion for The Dallas Morning News since 2023. For two years, his role was supported by Report for America. Before moving to Dallas, he interned at The Boston Globe and USA TODAY and studied religion and politics at Harvard University.
By Matt Kyle
Matt is a breaking news reporter. He is a graduate of Baylor University and is a native of San Antonio. When not writing, he enjoys listening to blues and folk music and playing his guitar. Previously, Matt has written for the Waco Tribune-Herald.
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