The Council on American-Islamic Relations suspended its operations in Florida after state officials enforced a measure allowing the designation of groups as terrorist organisations. Both the group and state officials confirmed the decision.
Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the measure into law earlier in the year. The legislation gives the governor, cabinet, and the state chief of domestic security the power to classify any group engaging in extremist acts as a terrorist organisation. Designated groups can face forced dissolution and freezes on state funding. The law also mandates the expulsion of students who promote a domestic or foreign terrorist organisation.
A federal judge recently denied a request by the advocacy group to reverse the state designation. The organisation stated it will appeal the ruling. The judge described the measure as novel, but concluded the group failed to show the designation constituted criminal punishment.
A notice on the website of the group’s Florida branch explained the decision. "We have suspended our operations in Florida because of Governor DeSantis and other state officials’ baseless and unconstitutional enforcement of the state’s unprecedented new ‘domestic terrorist organization’ laws against us," the statement said.
Governor DeSantis and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier celebrated the judicial ruling and the resulting suspension. The governor defended the legislation as a framework to combat extremism and ensure accountability within the education system. Donald Trump’s administration and several Republican-governed states have previously cracked down on left-leaning organisations and pro-Palestinian groups, framing them as antisemitic, anti-American, and extremist.
Human rights organisations have condemned the legislation. Civil liberties groups argue the law suppresses free speech and places undue pressure on individuals to avoid specific viewpoints, protests, and organising activities. Critics also contend that Republican officials conflate peaceful criticism of Israeli military actions in Gaza and the occupation of Palestinian territories with antisemitism, and merge pro-Palestinian advocacy with support for extremism.
The American Civil Liberties Union and PEN America both issued condemnations of the legislation. PEN America warned that the rules create severe pressure that chills free speech. The Council on American-Islamic Relations tracks anti-Muslim incidents in the United States and attributes rising Islamophobia to federal immigration crackdowns and crackdowns on pro-Palestinian protests.
Late last year, Governor DeSantis issued an executive order labelling the advocacy group a foreign terrorist organisation, a move that was subsequently blocked by a judge. United States rights advocates have expressed deep concern regarding political rhetoric and actions targeting Muslims.
