(RNS) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist and criminal organizations, which he said would ban them from purchasing land in the state.
His designation on Tuesday (Nov. 18) will subject the groups to criminal penalties and “heightened enforcement” against them and their affiliates, Abbott said. It also allows the Texas attorney general to initiate legal action to shut the groups down.
Neither group is listed on the U.S. Department of State’s list of terrorist organizations. CAIR, one of the country’s largest Muslim advocacy groups, called the designation “defamatory and lawless” and said the organization has consistently condemned all forms of unjust violence. The group also threatened legal action against the state.
The governor’s move comes amid growing opposition from some Texas political officials to Muslim groups and mosques in the state. Muslim advocates have said they fear anti-Muslim rhetoric from Abbott could lead to violence against Muslim communities.
“Although we are flattered by Greg Abbott’s obsession with our civil rights organization, his publicity stunt masquerading as a proclamation has no basis in fact or law,” CAIR’s statement said. “By defaming a prominent American Muslim institution with debunked conspiracy theories and made-up quotes, Mr. Abbott has once again shown that his top priority is advancing anti-Muslim bigotry, not serving the people of Texas.”
It’s unclear if enforcing penalties against the group would hold up in court, but a state law passed earlier this year gave the governor additional power to ban companies, entities and individuals named in threat asse …