Texas governor Abbott designates Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as terrorist organizations

Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation declaring the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) a “foreign terrorist organization” and an “international criminal organization,” respectively.

In this context, he stated that the Brotherhood and CAIR would not be permitted to purchase land in the state of Texas.

Neither CAIR nor the Muslim Brotherhood are defined as “foreign terrorist organizations” by the US government.

In a letter to Abbott, CAIR stated that his declaration had no “legal or factual” basis. The group accused Abbott’s office of fueling “anti-Muslim hysteria.”

CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw wrote, “You do not have the authority to unilaterally declare any American or American institution a terrorist group, nor is there any basis to level this defamation against our organization.”

Months ago, Texas Republicans made a move to prevent the establishment of a community for Muslims around one of the state’s largest mosques near Dallas.

Abbott and other Republican state officials began investigating this project linked to the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) and claimed the group was trying to create a “Muslim-exclusive community that would impose Islamic law.”

EPIC City representatives characterized the attacks regarding Islamic law and other allegations as misleading, dangerous, and baseless. Earlier this year, the Department of Justice closed a federal civil rights investigation regarding the planned community without filing any charges or lawsuits.

In his statement, Abbott cited a law he signed this year, which he said prohibits “foreign adversaries” from purchasing or acquiring land.

The Republican sponsor of this bill also praised the governor’s statement. Republican State Representative Cole Hefner wrote on X, “Today, it was fully proven why this law is necessary.”