Florida designates CAIR as domestic terrorist organisation

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the state cabinet on September 29 designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Muslim Brotherhood, and Antifa as domestic terrorist organisations. The move expands Florida's state framework to include over 90 entities previously classified as foreign terrorist organisations by the federal US government. The designations take effect on November 5.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement cited CAIR's involvement in the 2008 Holy Land Foundation terror financing trial in Texas. CAIR and over 200 organisations were named as unindicted co-conspirators in the 2007 case of US v. Holy Land Foundation for Relief & Development. DeSantis stated the action aims to cut off financial support to such movements.

Documents submitted to the governor noted that founding members of CAIR have connections to Hamas leadership, including Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook, regarded as a Hamas co-founder. The submission also cited ties between CAIR co-founder Ghassan Elashi and designated terrorist organisations.