image sourced from original article at Texas governor Greg Abbott has ordered the state's Department of Public Safety to launch criminal investigations into the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood, following his designation of both groups as foreign terrorist organizations. Abbott cited concerns about the proliferation of radical Islamic ideology and accused the organizations of ties to Hamas and attempts to impose Sharia law in Texas.
The designation bars the groups from owning land in Texas and exposes them to criminal probes. In response, the Council on American-Islamic Relations has filed a lawsuit against Abbott and the state attorney general, alleging violations of free speech and property rights. The move comes amid heightened scrutiny from lawmakers and recent controversy surrounding statements made by the Council on American-Islamic Relations leadership after the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
Abbott stated that the investigations aim to identify, disrupt, and eradicate terrorist organizations operating in Texas, with a particular focus on threats of violence, intimidation, and unlawful imposition of Sharia law.
