Texas Governor Greg Abbott yesterday issued a Proclamation (full text) designating the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as Foreign Terrorist and Transnational Criminal Organizations under Texas law. The Proclamation, after three pages of introductory "Whereas" clauses, reads in part:
I, Greg Abbott ... do hereby:
(1) Designate both the Muslim Brotherhood and its successor organization CAIR as Foreign Terrorist Organizations under Texas Penal Code §71.01(e), and thereby subject those organizations, and any persons promoting or aiding their criminal activities, to the heightened penalties authorized by Chapter 125 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code; and
(2) Designate both the Muslim Brotherhood and its successor organization CAIR as Transnational Criminal Organizations and proscribed entities under Texas Property Code §5.254(a)(2)(A), and thereby subject those organizations, and their affiliates and members, to Chapter 5 of the Texas Property Code, which prohibits them from purchasing or acquiring land in Texas.
In a press release announcing his action, Governor Abbott said in part:
The Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR have long made their goals clear: to forcibly impose Sharia law and establish Islam’s ‘mastership of the world... The actions taken by the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR to support terrorism across the globe and subvert our laws through violence, intimidation, and harassment are unacceptable.... These radical extremists are not welcome in our state and are now prohibited from acquiring any real property interest in Texas.
CAIR responded to the Governor's action with a letter (full text) saying in part:
As you know, your proclamation has no basis in law or fact. You do not have the authority to unilaterally declare any Americans or American institutions terrorist groups, nor is there any basis to level this smear against our organization....
CAIR has spent 30 years vocally speaking up against all forms of bigotry, including anti-Black racism, Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism and antisemitism, as well as all forms of unjust violence, including hate crimes, ethnic cleansing, genocide and terrorism. ...
Sadly, your office has spent months stoking anti-Muslim hysteria to smear American Muslims critical of the Israeli government. By defaming another prominent American Muslim institution with debunked conspiracy theories and made-up quotes, you have once again shown that your top priority is advancing anti-Muslim bigotry, not serving the people of Texas.
Unlike your office, which has unleashed violence against Texas students protesting the Gaza genocide to satisfy your AIPAC donors, our civil rights organization answers to the American people, relies on support from the American people, and stands up for American values.
We have successfully sued you three different times for shredding the First Amendment for the benefit of the Israeli government, and we are ready to do so again if you attempt to turn this publicity stunt into actual policy.
Axios reports on these developments.