12/16/25 Reposted from wcjb.com
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCJB) – In response to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis designating a Muslim civil rights organization as a terrorist organization, groups have filed a lawsuit arguing the move is unconstitutional.
On Tuesday, Akeel & Valentine, CAIR Legal Defense Fund (CAIR LDF), the Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) announced the filing of a federal lawsuit against DeSantis’ executive order.
The lawsuit argues that DeSantis’ order designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) a terrorist organization is “blatantly unconstitutional.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s order claims the group has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, and other Islamic terrorist organizations. CAIR officials deny the allegations that the organization supports terrorism.
The order directs state agencies, as well as local governments, to deny contracts, employment, funding, benefits, and privileges to CAIR and anyone known to provide “material support” to CAIR, including advice and assistance.
The lawsuit filed in the Northern District of Florida argues the order is unconstitutional on three grounds.
First, the order allegedly usurps the sole federal authority to designate organizations as terrorist groups. The federal government doesn’t consider CAIR a terrorist group.
Second, the order doesn’t allow the terrorist designation to be appealed, allegedly violating the group’s due process rights.
Finally, the order allegedly violates Americans’ free speech rights by designating “advice” and “assistance” as material support for terrorism and by retaliating against CAIR for expressing support for Palestinian rights.
