Texas Governor Vows to Ban Extremism and Escalates Measures Against the Muslim Brotherhood
Texas Governor Greg Abbott pledged to ban religious extremism in the state during a speech at the Republican convention for the 2026 midterm elections in Dallas. He also defended the measures taken by his state against the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, commonly known as CAIR.
According to the U.S. network Fox News, Abbott’s remarks came during the second and final night of the 2026 Republican midterm election convention. He outlined a number of policies and laws adopted by Texas concerning border security, election rules, school choice, and the purchase of land by foreign entities.
During his speech, Abbott said that Texas would not wait for action by authorities in Washington, pledging to move forward with efforts to ban Islamic Sharia in the state.
Abbott Escalates Measures Against the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR
Part of Abbott’s speech focused on the measures he had taken against the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations. He referred to an executive order he had previously issued, under which he designated the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as terrorist organizations under Texas state law.
In November 2025, Abbott announced the designation of the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations under state law. His office said the measure imposed additional restrictions and penalties on the two organizations and their affiliated entities, and also prohibited them from purchasing or owning land in Texas.
In his address to the Republican convention, Abbott cited this measure when discussing Texas’s position on Islamic Sharia, saying that the state would act without waiting for Washington.
Abbott said that Texas would completely ban extremism, referring to his administration’s intention to take additional measures at the state level on the issue.
Investigations Into Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR Activities in Texas
Abbott’s remarks come as part of a series of measures taken by his government against the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR.
In November 2025, Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to open criminal investigations into the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR. He said the investigations were intended to identify any potential violations of local or federal laws.
According to the governor’s office, the investigations include activities that may be linked to violence, intimidation, or harassment, as well as any attempts to impose or establish parallel legal systems based on Islamic Sharia in violation of state law.
Abbott also ordered an investigation into what he described as “Sharia courts,” as part of the measures announced by his administration against what it considers threats associated with political Islam and extremism within the state.
In January 2026, Abbott asked the Texas Attorney General’s Office to use the powers available to it to revoke CAIR’s nonprofit status and terminate the organization’s and its branches’ ability to operate in the state.
The governor’s office said at the time that Abbott had relied on documents that he said concerned the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR and had called for investigations into their activities.
