Pressure Mounts on the Muslim Brotherhood as U.S. Judge Upholds Florida’s Terrorist Designation of CAIR

The Muslim Brotherhood has suffered another legal setback in the United States.

A federal judge in the state of Florida has denied a request for an emergency injunction seeking to prevent state officials from formally designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a terrorist organization under Florida law.

CAIR filed a federal lawsuit last week after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced his intention to designate the organization, alongside the Muslim Brotherhood, under state legislation.

The plaintiffs argued that the state’s action violated their rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as well as the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

However, Judge Mark E. Walker denied the request.

Governor DeSantis’ announcement followed an executive order signed in December classifying both the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations.

The December executive order came after Texas Governor Greg Abbott had likewise designated the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations.

In January, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order initiating the formal process of designating certain branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).

According to the text, the designation included branches of the Muslim Brotherhood operating in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon.