Gov. Abbott and CAIR head to federal court over ‘foreign terrorist organization’ label

AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) are heading to federal court as CAIR tries to clear its name.

On Tuesday, CAIR gathered supporters near the State Capitol to demand the governor retract his designation of CAIR as a “foreign terrorist organization.”

At the same time, Abbott sent a letter to the U.S. Treasury Secretary requesting the suspension of CAIR’s tax-exempt status.

It is the latest development in the ongoing political battle.

Last May, a security camera captured a masked suspect vandalising an Austin mosque with spray paint near the University of Texas at Austin campus. It is one of the most recent examples of hate crimes that Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza says have increased by more than 400% over the past five years.

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“Political grandstanding and dangerous rhetoric that is rooted in bigotry and hate create instability in our community, and that makes all of us less safe,” said Garza.

On Tuesday, the DA joined with state legislators and Austin city council members to denounce Governor Greg Abbott’s recent designation of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist organizations. The designation prohibits the groups from purchasing land in Texas.

“If the Governor can, with a single declaration, label an advocacy organization a terrorist group, restrict the rights of the people associated with it, and chill civic participation, then no community is safe from political retaliation,” said State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, District 47.

CAIR is suing Governor Abbott and the State of Texas, asking the courts to strike down the Governor’s proclamation. Abbott called it a “flimsy lawsuit”, and the Travis County Republican Party is asking CAIR to demonstrate the group has no ties to terrorism.

“We’re claiming that CAIR is supportive of what’s known as Islamofascism. It is not to be confused with Islam in general, but a specific strain that promotes fascism under the guise of Islam. We’re opposed to that. We’re asking CAIR to distance themselves from that, but instead they’re doubling down and calling us racists,” said Andy Hogue with the Travis County Republican Party.

The governor’s letter to the U.S. Treasury Secretary requests that the Treasury Department launch an investigation into CAIR and suspend its status as a tax-exempt nonprofit organization.