Texas Designates Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as Terrorist Organizations

The US state of Texas announced on Tuesday that it had blacklisted two Muslim organizations, including the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a prominent Muslim civil rights advocacy group, on the state's list of terrorist entities.

Rationale and Legal Implications

• Texas Governor Greg Abbott (Republican) stated on the X platform that the decision aims to "prohibit them from purchasing or acquiring land in Texas" and allows state authorities "to initiate legal proceedings to shut them down."

• Context: The decision comes amid Abbott's steadfast support for Israel and his description of pro-Palestinian student protests in the state as "anti-Semitic."

• State Precedents: Classifying entities as terrorist organizations is typically under federal jurisdiction, but Abbott previously designated the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as a "Foreign Terrorist Organization" in September 2024, months before his ally Donald Trump did the same federally.

CAIR's Response

CAIR, which has three branches in Texas, condemned the decision as a "defamatory" move lacking any "factual or legal basis."

• Accusation against Abbott: The organization, a strong opponent of US policy regarding the Gaza war, accused Governor Abbott of promoting a "pro-Israel agenda" and fueling "anti-Muslim hysteria" to tarnish the reputation of American Muslims who criticize the Israeli government.

• Previous Legislation: Last September, Abbott also signed a law banning the establishment of Sharia-compliant complexes in Texas, in response to a proposed Muslim residential project that included a mosque.