Federal judge blocks Florida governor’s foreign terrorist label of Muslim groups
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked enforcement of an executive order issued last year by Florida Gov. Ron. DeSantis He describes two Muslim groups as follows: foreign terrorist organizations.
The First Amendment prohibits the governor from continuing the disturbing trend of using an executive authority to make a political statement at the expense of the constitutional rights of others, U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker wrote in the preliminary injunction.
The governor’s order targeted the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood. His office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the judge’s order Wednesday evening.
CAIR and other civil rights groups lawsuit filed DeSantis in December, shortly after the executive order was issued. The group has more than 20 chapters in the United States and its work includes legal action, advocacy, and educational outreach. The lawsuit alleges that the executive order is illegal and unconstitutional, specifically that DeSantis usurps the federal government’s exclusive authority to detect and designate terrorist organizations.
The preliminary injunction will halt enforcement of the executive order while the case is pending.
“The question before the Court is whether, in a non-emergency situation, the Governor could unilaterally designate one of the largest Muslim civil rights groups in America a ‘terrorist organization’ and cut off government aid from anyone who provides material support or resources to the group,” Walker wrote.
Anti-Muslim sentiment continues different forms There has been an increase since September 11, 2001 Islamophobia During the war in Gaza that lasted more than two years.
CAIR said in its Florida lawsuit that it has always condemned terrorism and violence. The lawsuit alleges that DeSantis targeted the group because it defended people’s free speech in situations where government officials and officials elsewhere sought to punish or silence those who support Palestinian human rights.
The decree also gives the label “foreign terrorist”. Muslim BrotherhoodA pan-Arab Islamist political movement. President Donald Trump in january He issued an executive order designating three Middle Eastern affiliates of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations.
The governor’s order instructs Florida agencies to block the two groups and those who provide financial support from receiving contracts, employment and funding from a state executive or cabinet agency.
An estimated 500,000 Muslims live in Florida, according to CAIR.
