Two Texas chapters for the Center on American-Islamic Relations sued Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton in federal court Thursday after the governor designated the group a foreign terrorist organization and banned it from owning land in Texas.
The suit, filed in the federal Western District by CAIR Texas chapters in Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin, comes two days after Abbott made the designation against both CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood. The governor pointed to a new law approved by the Texas Legislature earlier this year allowing him to declare a country or group in Texas a foreign terrorist organization solely for the purpose of preventing them from owning properties.
Among several things, the suit claims Abbott violated the group鈥檚 First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and association. The suit also alleges Abbott designated the group a terrorist organization without due process, violating its Fourteenth Amendment rights. And, it claims Paxton violated the federal constitution after Abbott directed him to ban CAIR and its members from owning land.
鈥淭his attempt to punish the nation鈥檚 largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization simply because Governor Abbott disagrees with its views is not only contrary to the United States Constitution, but finds no support in any Texas law,鈥� the suit reads.
Thursday's suit comes just hours after Abbott directed the Texas Department of Safety to investigate CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood for alleged criminal activities.
Abbott also claimed CAIR has 鈥渞epeatedly employed, affiliated with, and supported individuals promoting terrorism-related activities.鈥�
CAIR, one of the largest Muslim civil rights groups in America, was established with a stated goal to challenge stereotypes about the Islamic faith. Most of its work focuses on civil rights and anti-defamation.
Abbott has repeatedly called CAIR a "front group" for Hamas and a direct subsidiary of the Muslim Brotherhood.
During a press conference Thursday, CAIR鈥檚 Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell emphasized the group has never been affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood or Hamas.
鈥淐AIR is an American organization,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淭hese conspiracy theories that Governor Abbott is relying on is ludicrous. And that鈥檚 another reason why he鈥檚 going to fail.鈥�
四虎影院 reached out to Abbott and Paxton's offices for comment and will update this story with any response.
Abbott responded to news that CAIR was threatening to sue over his designation.
"The lawsuits will open the doors to all of their financial transactions and funding," Abbott wrote. "To all of their dealings and misdeeds."
Mustafaa Carroll, executive director of CAIR-DFW, told 四虎影院 Thursday Abbott's claims about Islam are misleading, including his claims about Sharia law.
Sharia is a broad term that refers to teachings and traditions of the Islamic faith.
"This is his latest attempt to shred the First Amendment by punishing Texans critical of his lawless behavior," Carroll said. "And we look forward to seeing Mr. Abbott in court."
At Thursday's press conference, Mitchell added the organization does not try to impose 鈥淪haria law鈥� on anyone, nor do they have 鈥淪haria courts鈥� 鈥� referring to Abbott鈥檚 letter to state and local officials in Collin and Dallas counties asking them to investigate Islamic mediation courts.
Abbott sent a letter Wednesday to the district attorneys and sheriffs of both counties asking to work with Attorney General Ken Paxton and Texas Department of Public Safety Director Freeman Martin in probing certain entities that may be "masquerading" as legal courts that are allegedly binding individuals to 鈥淚slamic laws.鈥�
Abbott points to in Dallas, which he referred to as a "Sharia court" acting as a court of law while not having the jurisdiction to do so.
The Islamic Tribunal website says that it is not a law firm, its members are not lawyers and they do not provide legal advice, but the group describes itself as an organization that resolves disputes according to Islamic law.
Religious mediation groups, or private arbitration services, exist across Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
Charles Swift, the group鈥檚 lead attorney said in a press conference Thursday CAIR is being retaliated against by Abbott in part because the group has amid the conflict in Gaza.
鈥�This is a period of time in our government where when you speak against the government, [it] is trying to take action against you,鈥� Swift said. They're ignoring the law. I do think that it's not a coincidence that CAIR was targeted.鈥�
Abbott鈥檚 designation of CAIR drew criticism from Muslim activists and lawmakers across the country, including U.S. Rep. Ilan Omar, D-Minn.
Greg Abbot called CAIR, the largest Muslim civil rights organization, a 鈥渢errorist organization鈥� and said Muslims are a 鈥渢hreat to our freedom.鈥�
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN)
The normalization of anti-Muslim hate speech is vile.
This bigot should have no place in elected office.
It also received backlash calling Abbott鈥檚 order 鈥渄angerous, racist and Islamophobic.鈥�
Texas House in a statement Abbott鈥檚 designation could cause racial profiling and hostility towards the Muslim community.
鈥淎llowing the Governor to be the sole arbiter of which American is or is not welcome in our state is incredibly dangerous,鈥� Wu said. 鈥淭his is the emergence of thought crimes, and it should be deeply concerning to every Texan who values Liberty.鈥�
Penelope Rivera is 四虎影院's Breaking News Reporter. Got a tip? Email Penelope Rivera at privera@kera.org.
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