Florida’s CAIR and Muslim Brotherhood Decision Draws International Attention

by Anamika October 7, 2026

Florida’s September 29 move to designate the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as part of the state’s new terrorism framework has transcended a domestic political dispute and is now attracting the attention of international publications and civil-liberties groups. The ruling has also spurred a wider debate on the extent to which individual US states can go in imposing restrictions tied to terrorism.

What Florida Decided on September 29

On Sept. 29, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet voted to add CAIR, the Muslim Brotherhood and other groups to Florida’s state-level terrorism framework. The move comes after legislation that gives Florida authorities new powers to label organizations and restrict their access to public resources. If the designation takes effect, Florida state and local governments could be barred from providing taxpayer funding, contracts and other public support to designated organizations. In addition, public colleges, universities and other public institutions may be limited in their use of public resources to support or promote them. The statute provides for enhanced penalties under certain circumstances. The designation is now expected to go into effect Nov. 5 unless it is blocked by the courts.

CAIR and ACLU Challenge the Move

Both CAIR and CAIR-Florida have refused to accept the Florida move and are fighting it in federal court. The organizations are being represented in a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Florida and Southern Poverty Law Center. The ACLU says the designation violates First Amendment and due-process protections. CAIR and CAIR-Florida had no meaningful opportunity to respond before the Cabinet vote, it says. A court filing after the Sept. 29 vote seeks emergency relief before the designation takes effect.

Meanwhile, Florida officials say the state’s new legal framework is meant to stop public support for organizations that the state identifies as terrorist threats. DeSantis’ office has described the measure as part of a wider effort to combat what it calls terrorist and extremist influence in Florida.

Why the Federal Distinction Matters

International discussion includes the point that Florida’s action is not equivalent to a U.S. federal Foreign Terrorist Organization designation. Federal terrorism designations are decided by federal authorities under federal law. Florida’s September 29 action is based on a separate state statute and has effects that are largely “limited to Florida.” This distinction is important because a state designation does not mean the federal government has designated the same organization under federal law.

For instance, federal records show individual Foreign Terrorist Organization designations for entities like the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood. CAIR is not listed in the federal FTO documents examined in the course of this article.

A Dispute With Wider Implications

What has been brought out by the international coverage is not only the label of terrorism, but also the legal and constitutional questions that have been raised by the way Florida has handled the matter. The case could test the boundaries of state authority, federal terrorism policy and First Amendment protections. Political and media debates have included claims about alleged historical ties between CAIR and Hamas or the Muslim Brotherhood. Such claims are still debated, and citing them in arguments for the designation should not be taken as an established fact. CAIR has denied such allegations. The matter is now in the courts. Nov. 5 could be the next flashpoint in a dispute with implications far beyond Florida, especially for civil rights groups, universities and public institutions dealing with state-level terrorism designations.