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Muslim and Interfaith Leaders Urge Gov. Abbott to Withdraw CAIR 'Terrorist' Designation, Cite Legal Challenge

A coalition of Muslim and interfaith leaders has urged Texas Governor Greg Abbott to withdraw a state proclamation labeling CAIR a "foreign terrorist organization," calling the move defamatory and harmful. CAIR has filed a lawsuit arguing the order violates its First Amendment and due-process rights and that terrorism designations are a federal prerogative. The proclamation also bars CAIR from buying land in Texas and names the Muslim Brotherhood, though neither group is federally designated as terrorist. The case is pending in court.

10:59 AM, 11/26/2025Politics
Muslim and Interfaith Leaders Urge Gov. Abbott to Withdraw CAIR 'Terrorist' Designation, Cite Legal Challenge

A coalition of Muslim and interfaith leaders has called on Texas Governor Greg Abbott to rescind a proclamation that labels the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) a "foreign terrorist organization" and a "transnational criminal organization." They described the designation as defamatory, harmful to Muslim communities in Texas, and beyond the state's legal authority.

Why the designation matters — and its limits

Abbott's proclamation is a state-level action and does not carry the legal force of a federal Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designation, which only the U.S. State Department can issue. Because the state action is not an FTO listing, it does not trigger federal terrorism penalties or federal counterterrorism authorities.

Community response and legal action

At a news conference, leaders from several Muslim organizations and allied faith groups denounced the governor's move and urged him to retract the label. CAIR has filed a lawsuit against the state, arguing that the proclamation violates the U.S. Constitution and Texas law. The organization contends the order infringes on its First Amendment rights and due-process protections and that formal terrorism designations fall under federal, not state, jurisdiction.

"The governor is attempting to punish the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization simply because he disagrees with its protected First Amendment rights to criticize a foreign state that is conducting genocide," said Mustaffa Carroll, executive director of CAIR Dallas–Fort Worth.

"You know that CAIR has condemned Hamas attacks. You know that CAIR has spent 31 years fighting terrorism and bigotry. You know that the terrorism boogeyman you invoke is nothing more than a tired, formulated playbook to stoke fear of Muslims," said Marium Uddin of the Muslim Legal Defense Fund.

Leaders from other faith communities joined the criticism. Deborah Armintor of Jewish Voice for Peace expressed solidarity with CAIR, and Democratic state Representative Terry Meza warned that the rhetoric could endanger Muslim Texans.

Policy effects and next steps

The proclamation also seeks to bar CAIR from purchasing land in Texas under a recent state statute aimed at limiting real estate transactions tied to so-called "foreign adversaries." The governor's decree additionally names the Muslim Brotherhood — a group that, like CAIR, has not been designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. federal government.

The legal challenge is ongoing. Courts will ultimately decide whether the governor’s order is permissible under state law and the U.S. Constitution or whether it exceeds the state's authority in matters that federal law typically governs.

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