The deputy director of America's largest Muslim civil rights organisation has issued a stark warning: Republican governors' efforts to designate his group as a "terrorist organisation" pose a threat to the safety and freedoms of all advocacy and civil rights groups, not just the Muslim community.
Unilateral Power and a Chilling Precedent
In an exclusive interview with the Guardian this month, Edward Ahmed Mitchell of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the actions of Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. In November, Abbott designated CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as "foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organisations." DeSantis followed with a similar order in early December.
"No governor should have the power to unilaterally declare a civil rights or advocacy group he disagrees with a terrorist organisation, take punitive action against them, all in violation of due process and free speech," Mitchell stated. He argued this sets a perilous precedent: "If any governor can get away with abusing that kind of power, then no organisation is safe."
Mitchell cautioned conservatives to consider the implications. "A Democratic governor could declare the Republican party a terrorist group and ban it from state contracts or ban it from owning land," he said. "Anyone could be on the chopping block."
Legal Battles and Unfounded Allegations
The state orders carry tangible consequences. Texas's move bars the groups from acquiring property and allows the attorney general to sue to shut them down. Florida's order prohibits them, and anyone providing them material support, from receiving state contracts, employment, or funding.
CAIR, founded in 1994, has labelled the orders "unconstitutional and defamatory" and has filed lawsuits in both states. The Texas directive accuses CAIR of ties to Hamas, while Florida's links it to the Muslim Brotherhood, which it then connects to Hamas. Mitchell vehemently denies these links. "Cair is an independent organisation," he asserted. "It has never been an offshoot or subsidiary or partner of the Muslim Brotherhood or any other foreign entity, much less a foreign terrorist group."
He pointed to the fact that the Islamic State (ISIS) once called for the assassination of CAIR's national executive director, Nihad Awad, in 2016. "We condemn terrorism so often that ISIS quite literally called for the assassination of our national executive director... that's what real terrorists think of us."
A Spike in Bigotry and Historical Parallels
Mitchell believes CAIR's "advocacy for the Palestinian people" is a primary motivator for these attacks, driving "Israel-first politicians absolutely crazy." He sees a deliberate strategy at play: "Pro-Israel lobby groups and anti-Muslim hate groups are deliberately stirring up anti-Muslim hysteria to try to distract the American public."
He drew a direct parallel to the civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 60s. "Alabama shut down the NAACP in their state for eight years, until the Supreme Court intervened... To me, I see a very clear historical parallel between the targeting of our organisation today and the targeting of Black civil rights groups."
Mitchell reported that after a period of decline, anti-Muslim bigotry has spiked dramatically since the Hamas attacks of October 2023 and Israel's war in Gaza, reaching levels not seen in CAIR's records. Incidents range from discrimination and verbal harassment to vandalism and violent attacks. While 2025 data is incomplete, Mitchell says anecdotal evidence suggests rhetoric this year is "dramatically worse" than in 2024.
Despite the designations, Mitchell dismissed them as "publicity stunts" meant to smear CAIR and satisfy certain political bases. He confirmed that CAIR's Texas and Florida chapters remain open and operational, continuing their work to protect the community while they fight the orders in court.
