TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Council on American-Islamic Relations Florida held a news conference Tuesday to announce legal action against Gov. Ron DeSantis after what they described as an “unconstitutional and defamatory Israel First political stunt.”
Monday evening, DeSantis signed Executive Order 25-244, “Protecting Floridians from Radical Islamic Terrorist Organizations,” which designated CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations.
“Florida agencies are hereby directed to undertake all lawful measures to prevent unlawful activities by these organizations, including denying privileges or resources to anyone providing material support,” DeSantis wrote on X.
In the news conference, CAIR Florida Interim Director Hiba Rahim highlighted that both the national and state chapters of the organization have existed in the U.S. for decades and are federally recognized as 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
“We’ve met with elected officials for decades,” she said. “We have met with elected officials at local, state and federal levels.”
She noted their work not only benefits the Muslim community, but also helps protect constitutional freedoms for all Florida residents. Rahim spoke about supporting fights for religious and free speech rights, standing up against discrimination and contributing to mutual aid programs.
“CAIR Florida is an organization that defends victims of discrimination and works to uphold the constitution,” said Hiba Rahim, interim executive director of CAIR Florida.
She said DeSantis is biased against their organization.
“From the moment that Ron DeSantis took office, as the governor of Florida, he has prioritized serving the Israeli government over serving the people of Florida,” said Rahim.
She said they plan to sue the governor for his remarks and executive order.
“In response, we will not back down,” Rahim said. “CAIR Florida will file a lawsuit against Governor Ron DeSantis in response to his defamatory and unconstitutional order.”
Rahim said CAIR Florida will be filing a lawsuit against DeSantis in response to his order, and questioned his constitutional authority to “unilaterally declare any American or an American institution, a foreign terrorist group.”
“We welcome that,” DeSantis said. “We did do the designation for both the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR. This is something that has been a long time coming. I know the federal government is now working in a similar direction, the legislature is working on statutory laws that are going to impact this area.”
The governor said CAIR is linked to other organizations of terror as well.
“First of all, people forget, CAIR was an unindicted coconspirator in the whole Holy Land Foundation trials, the largest terror financing trial in the history of the United States of America,” DeSantis said.
The Holy Land Foundation has previously been found guilty of providing financial and other support to Hamas.
The governor said a lawsuit by CAIR could open a chance to prove their links to these organizations as well.
“What will happen is, that will give the state of Florida Discovery rights, to be able to subpoena the bank records, and to do that and it will give us even more reason, I believe,” said DeSantis.
CAIR said they welcome the opportunity to prove their case against the Governor.
“We will see him in the courtroom,” Rahim said.