Judge Blocks DeSantis’s Declaration of Muslim Group as Terrorist Organization
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- A federal judge ruled that Florida's declaration of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a foreign terrorist organization was unconstitutional, violating First Amendment rights to free speech, petition, and association.
- Judge Mark E. Walker granted a preliminary injunction against Governor Ron DeSantis's executive order, which sought to withhold government benefits from CAIR and its supporters without due process.
- The ruling highlighted that DeSantis's order lacked legislative involvement, substantive authority, and a judicial review mechanism, overstepping gubernatorial powers.
- CAIR cited an example where its free speech was infringed when a podcast production company canceled a project due to the governor's order.
- Florida lawmakers are considering bills to establish
