CAIR Announces Plans to Sue DeSantis

(MENAFN) The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) declared on Monday that it intends to pursue legal action against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis following his “defamatory and unconstitutional” order designating the organization as a "foreign terrorist organization."

In a collaborative statement with CAIR-Florida, the organization accused DeSantis of favoring international interests over the welfare of Floridians and of targeting the group due to its civil rights advocacy.

"From the moment Ron DeSantis took office as Florida governor, he has prioritized serving the Israeli government over serving the people of Florida," the statement said.

The group highlighted several actions by DeSantis, noting that "He hosted his very first official cabinet meeting in Israel.

He diverted millions in Florida taxpayer dollars to the Israeli government’s bonds. He threatened to shut down every Florida college’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter, only to back off when CAIR sued him in federal court."

This statement was issued shortly after DeSantis announced that Florida would designate the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as "foreign terrorist organizations."

CAIR additionally likened DeSantis to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, calling both “Israel First politicians” and claiming that the designation aims to suppress Americans, particularly American Muslims, who are "critical of US support for Israel's war crimes."

"We look forward to defeating Governor DeSantis’ latest Israel First stunt in a court of law, where facts matter and conspiracy theories have no weight. In the meantime, we encourage all Floridians and all Americans to speak up against this latest attempt to shred the Constitution for the benefit of a foreign government," the group added.

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