A prominent Muslim civil rights organisation in the United States has initiated legal proceedings against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The lawsuit challenges his executive order which designated the group as a "foreign terrorist organisation," a move the plaintiffs argue is both unlawful and unconstitutional.
Legal Challenge Against State Overreach
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), along with its Florida affiliate CAIR-Florida and the CAIR-Foundation, filed the suit in a federal court in Tallahassee late on Monday, 15 December 2025. The legal action requests a judge to declare Governor DeSantis's order invalid and to block its enforcement.
The lawsuit contends that the governor has "usurped the exclusive authority of the federal government" to designate terrorist groups. It argues that by baselessly labelling CAIR a terrorist organisation, DeSantis has overstepped his state powers.
Context and Alleged Motivations
CAIR, which operates more than 20 chapters across the US and focuses on legal advocacy, education, and outreach, claims it was targeted for its work. The organisation states it has defended the free speech rights of individuals whom state officials sought to punish for expressing support for Palestinian human rights.
Governor DeSantis's order, issued last week, also applied the "foreign terrorist" label to the Muslim Brotherhood. This follows an executive order from former President Donald Trump last month, which began a process to designate certain chapters of the Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organisation.
The directive instructs Florida state agencies to bar both groups, and anyone who has provided them material support, from receiving state contracts, employment, or funds. Florida is home to an estimated 500,000 Muslim residents, according to CAIR's figures.
Political Reactions and Wider Implications
When contacted for comment on Tuesday 16 December, the governor's press secretary, Molly Best, referred to DeSantis's recent social media posts. In these posts, the governor stated he looked forward to a trial, specifically mentioning a desire to examine CAIR's finances, suggesting it "should be illuminating."
This is not an isolated case. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a similar proclamation, which CAIR also challenged in a federal lawsuit last month. That suit argues Abbott's action is contrary to the US Constitution and unsupported by Texas law.
The outcome of these legal battles could have significant implications for the boundaries between state and federal authority, as well as for the protection of civil liberties and advocacy groups across the United States.
