Cair shuts down Florida office as judge declines reversal of terrorist designation
Cair shuts down Florida office as judge declines reversal of terrorist designation Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 11/06/2026 - 19:53 Governor Ron DeSantis has made the Muslim civil liberties group a key target alongside foreign political entities and drug cartels The logo of the Council on American Islamic Relations' office in Florida is shown in an undated photo (Facebook/Cair) Off The Council…
The Council on American Islamic Relations (Cair) has suspended operations in Florida following a judge's refusal to overturn the state's designation of the Muslim civil liberties group as a terrorist organization. Chief Judge Allen C. Winsor of the US District Court for the Northern District of Florida dismissed Cair's emergency request on Wednesday, citing lack of evidence that the group was suffering criminal punishment.
Despite this, Winsor ruled that Florida officials cannot prevent Cair from accessing legal services. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement praised the judge's decision, emphasizing its commitment to public safety. Cair's national deputy director, Edward Ahmed Mitchell, expressed concern over the loss of access to the organization's assistance amid the designation, which targets the group alongside foreign political entities and drug cartels.
The designation stems from the state's HB 1471, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in April and implemented in July.
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