Florida’s Misguided Designation Sets a Dangerous Precedent for Civil Liberties
Washington, D.C. | www.mpac.org | December 10, 2025 — The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) strongly condemns the State of Florida’s designation of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as “foreign terrorist organizations.” Florida’s action relies on long-discredited allegations and sweeping ideological claims that have been repeatedly reviewed and rejected by the U.S. government.
The rationale offered rests on a chain of unsupported assumptions: asserting that CAIR is connected to the Muslim Brotherhood, and that the Muslim Brotherhood is inherently tied to terrorism. These claims have no legal foundation and bear no relationship to CAIR’s decades-long record of civic engagement and civil-rights advocacy. While the order targets CAIR specifically, it sets a dangerous precedent by suggesting that ideological narratives, rather than evidence, can be used to label American Muslim institutions as security threats.
By grounding such a consequential designation in political arguments rather than factual findings, Florida’s order opens the door for expanded surveillance and selective investigations of Muslims and Muslim organizations without cause. This is particularly alarming for advocates for Palestinian human rights, who already face heightened scrutiny. While not explicitly naming other organizations, the order establishes a framework through which state authorities could justify broader monitoring, recruitment of informants, or restrictions on lawful charitable and advocacy work.
MPAC stands firmly against any effort to use the machinery of the state to intimidate, silence, or marginalize American Muslims. We call on leaders across the political spectrum to reject this misuse of counterterrorism language and reaffirm the constitutional protections that safeguard every community. Our commitment remains rooted in justice, human dignity, and the belief that a secure and free society cannot be built through fear or discrimination.
