Press Releases
CAIR Vows to Hold Texas Gov. Abbott Accountable for “Crossing Every Line of Basic Decency” By Targeting Muslim Children’s Sporting Event
Muslim civil rights and advocacy says Abbott is digging himself a “deeper legal hole” in ongoing lawsuit filed by CAIR.
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/21/2026) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today vowed to hold Texas Governor Greg Abbott accountable for targeting Muslim children who are scheduled to participate in an annual youth sporting event known as the Islamic Games, which has occurred in Texas for several years and across America for 35 years.
Today, Governor Abbott sent a letter to Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (CFISD) that falsely claimed CAIR-New Jersey was a sponsor of the 2026 Houston Islamic Games and that his proclamation requires the district to cut ties with the sporting event.
Governor Abbott made this demand despite the fact that Islamic Games has released a public statement noting that CAIR-New Jersey was not and is not a sponsor of the event, and the fact that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has said in court that the governor’s proclamation only applies to CAIR’s national office, not its. chapters.
In a statement, Washington, D.C.-based CAIR said:
“Governor Abbott’s hatred of Muslims and his obsession with silencing critics of the Israeli government has now led him to target innocent children scheduled to participate in an athletic sporting event that has occurred for over 30 years in states across America, including Texas.
“Governor Abbott’s demand that a county cancel a Muslim youth sporting event because of a false claim that was sponsored by CAIR-New Jersey makes no sense: even if Governor Abbott’s lawless proclamation was enforceable, and it’s not, Attorney General Paxton has already sworn in court that the proclamation only applies to CAIR’s national office, not our chapters. Furthermore, CAIR-New Jersey was not and is not a sponsor of a sporting event in Texas—obviously.
“By placing Muslim children at the center of his campaign of hate, Governor Abbott is crossing every line of basic decency and digging himself a deeper legal hole. He is the governor of Texas, not the emperor of Texas, and we look forward to reminding him of that in a court of law. God willing.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com
With thanks,
Edward Ahmed Mitchell, Esq.
National Deputy Director
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Ave SE
Washington, DC 20003
404-285-9530
