For Immediate Release
December 1, 2025
Contact: [email protected]
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Governor Greg Abbott continues his campaign against the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), designating the Muslim Civil rights group as a foreign terrorist organization and directing the Texas Department of Public Safety to criminally investigate CAIR.
Abbott’s actions follow concerns raised by Texas Republicans about the proposed development from the East Plano Islamic Center, known as EPIC City, which had released plans to change its name to “The Meadow” after the U.S. Department of Justice concluded its investigation, which Texas Senator John Cornyn had called for, without any charges.
TFN’s Executive Director Felicia Martin released the following statement:
“Governor Greg Abbott’s singling out of CAIR and Muslim Texans is a dangerous political stunt that undermines our American freedoms and puts our Texas communities at risk.
“CAIR-Texas has been a crucial partner in our work against private school vouchers, keeping forced religion out of public schools, and supporting an honest and inclusive education via advocacy at the State Board of Education. CAIR and other Muslim community organizations defend civil rights, support families, and help build more connected communities. Their work strengthens our state, and attempts to misrepresent or delegitimize that work undermine the fairness and trust Texans expect from their leaders.
“Texas Freedom Network will proudly continue collaborating with community and interfaith partners, including those within the Muslim community, who are committed to civil rights, inclusion, and the public good. In a moment of escalating rhetoric, it is essential to reaffirm the values that guide our work: respect, justice, and the freedom for every person to live and worship without being targeted for who they are. We call on all Texans to demand Abbott rescind his designation of CAIR.”
There are currently three CAIR chapters in Texas. CAIR-DFW was formed in 1998 and CAIR-Houston was founded in December 2002. Greg Abbott became the Governor of Texas in 2015. Abbott launched his reelection campaign for a fourth term in office one week before his designation of CAIR as a terrorist organization.
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