MPAC Welcomes Federal Court Decision in Florida Regarding CAIR
Washington, D.C. | www.mpac.org | March 6, 2026—The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) stands with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) following a federal court ruling that blocked Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s attempt to officially designate the organization as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
The court has made it clear what should have been evident from the outset: the governor’s order violated fundamental First Amendment protections simply due to CAIR’s political stance in support of Palestine. Yet, labeling them a “terrorist” group without due process undermines the constitutional guardrails that protect civil rights groups’ lawful advocacy, free association, and civic participation in this country.
Even without a lawful designation, CAIR still bore the consequences of this political targeting—including the loss of an audio production contract and disruptions to its receipt of government benefits.
The broader concern is the precedent this kind of action sets. Advocacy, even when controversial, should never be grounds for political retaliation or stigmatization.
The Constitution protects the rights of all Americans to organize, speak, and advocate without fear of political retaliation. That principle must remain non-negotiable.
