Florida designates the Muslim Brotherhood and the CAIR Islamic Council as terrorist organizations

The governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, designated the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as "foreign terrorist organizations", a decision that sparked national controversy.

The executive order, which took effect "immediately," instructs state agencies to take all possible legal measures to prevent any "illegal or supportive" activities related to those organizations.

Among the measures is the prohibition of contracts, funds, or state privileges to individuals or entities that maintain ties with them.

The measure was adopted unilaterally by the state government, without coordination with the State Department or the United States Department of Justice, which are the competent entities for making formal designations of terrorist groups at the federal level.

Ni la Muslim Brotherhood ni CAIR figuran actualmente en la lista federal de Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO), lo que ha generado cuestionamientos sobre la legalidad y el alcance real de la medida.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, based in Washington D.C. and with offices in several U.S. cities, described the decision as “a dangerous political action aimed at stigmatizing American Muslims” and announced that it will undertake legal actions against the state of Florida.

"CAIR is a civil rights organization that has been defending religious freedom, justice, and equality for over 30 years. Such political attacks threaten the safety and coexistence of Muslim communities in the United States," the organization stated in a press release.

Constitutional law experts also warned that the decree could violate rights protected by the First Amendment, including the freedoms of association and religion.

The measure in Florida follows a similar path to that adopted weeks ago by the governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, who declared the same organizations as terrorists and ordered legal actions to limit their presence in that state.

The decision comes amid a tense political climate in the United States, with an increase in anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric driven by conservative sectors.

DeSantis, a key figure within the Republican Party, has been a strong advocate for stricter security policies and a tough stance against political Islam.