The national headquarters and Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today dismissed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s latest attempt to target CAIR and the Texas Muslim community as “another frivolous, politically motivated anti-Muslim publicity stunt.”

CAIR-Texas also noted that the civil rights organization has already filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block any enforcement of the unconstitutional proclamation signed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott last fall.

In a statement, CAIR and CAIR-Texas said:

“Ken Paxton’s lawsuit is another frivolous, politically motivated anti-Muslim publicity stunt that wastes more taxpayer dollars. CAIR has already filed a federal lawsuit to block enforcement of Governor Abbott’s unconstitutional proclamation. We have also defeated Mr. Abbott’s attacks on Texas Muslims and the Constitution three different times in a row. We look forward to doing so again, God willing. 

“Just as Mr. Paxton’s attempt to shut down a Latino voting rights group failed last week, his latest attempt to silence a minority group also appears doomed to fail. The people of Texas elected Mr. Paxton to serve them, not to silence them for daring to oppose Israel’s genocide in Gaza. CAIR-Texas plans to continue serving and protecting the people of Texas long after Ken Paxton leaves office.”

In his announcement of his lawsuit on X, Paxton repeated debunked anti-Muslim conspiracy theories about American Muslims, “sharia law” and “jihadists,” providing further proof of the anti-Muslim bigotry that has motivated his illegal actions.

Last week, CAIR-Texas congratulated Jolt Initiative, a Texas Latino voter rights organization, for its victory against Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawless attack on the group. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pitman issued a preliminary injunction halting Attorney General Paxton’s attempt to dissolve the corporate charter of Jolt Initiative. In his decision, Judge Pitman found that the Attorney General brought the action against Jolt Initiative in bad faith and had failed to establish any credible evidence of wrongdoing by the organization.

SEE: Federal Court Halts Texas Attorney General’s Attempt to Shut Down Latino Voter Registration Organization – Jolt Initiative

BACKGROUNDER:

Last fall, the Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), the CAIR Legal Defense Fund (CAIR LDF) and Akeel & Valentine, PLC announced the filing of a federal lawsuit against Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton to block enforcement of Abbott’s similar “unconstitutional and defamatory” Nov. 18th proclamation, which decreed CAIR a “foreign terrorist organization” and threatened various civil penalties against the civil rights organization if it continues to serve the people of Texas.

CAIR Op-Ed: Abbott’s attacks on Muslims draw on an old religious bigotry playbook

Instead of defending the merits of Governor Abbott’s Nov. 18th proclamation, Attorney General Paxton has argued that the proclamation does not apply to CAIR’s Texas chapters and that they therefore cannot sue to block its enforcement, that the Attorney General is immune from being sued because he has not yet taken any action against CAIR, and that the court should not rule on the order’s constitutionality at all because, he claims, it raises a “political question” that courts cannot resolve.

CAIR previously sent a letter to Abbott rebutting his false claims about CAIR and detailing the Muslim civil rights organization’s three-decade record of both defending civil rights and condemning all forms of unjust violence, including terrorism. The letter also cites numerous rulings and independent reports debunking efforts to smear CAIR or link it to any foreign entities.

CLICK HERE: LETTER TO GOV. ABBOTT

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.  

CONTACT: CAIR-Austin Operations Manager, Shaimaa Zayan, szayan@cair.com, 512-785-7105;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

The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today applauded the Harris County Commissioners Court for passing a resolution on January 8th recognizing January as Muslim American Heritage Month. 

CAIR-Texas thanks County Commissioner Leslie Briones and her staff for introducing this timely resolution. The resolution formally recognizes the longstanding presence, civic engagement, and cultural impact of Muslim Americans in the region, home to one of the largest Muslim communities in the nation, and across the country. 

SEE: Harris County Muslim American Heritage Month Resolution

Sameeha Rizvi, Civic Engagement Organizer for CAIR-Texas, Austin Chapter, testified during public comment in support of the resolution, stating: 

“This resolution is meaningful not only because it honors our history and contributions, but because it comes at a time when Muslim communities are facing profound harm. Over the past year, we have witnessed the ongoing genocide of Palestinians, alongside rising dehumanization and violence targeting Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims here at home. In this climate, recognition matters. This resolution speaks the truth, countering the disturbing lies being spread about our communities, that we are part of this county, that we share far more in common than what divides us, and that our stories and contributions are woven into the fabric of Harris County.” 

Imran Ghani, Director of Operations for CAIR-Texas, Houston Chapter, said:

“Houston is one of America’s true global cities, and Muslims are a part of this diversity as business owners, doctors, lawyers, engineers, and more. In a time when politicians at all levels of government are antagonizing the Muslim community, we applaud Harris County for bravely recognizing January as Muslim American Heritage Month. We will continue our advocacy until such resolutions reach the federal level, God willing.”

CAIR-Texas encourages county commissioners courts and city councils across Texas to adopt similar resolutions recognizing Muslim American Heritage Month and affirming the dignity, belonging, and contributions of Muslim communities statewide.  Elected officials interested in pursuing such resolutions are encouraged to contact CAIR-Texas for recommended language and support. 

SEE: CAIR-Austin Welcomes City Recognition of January as Muslim Heritage Month, Urges Other Cities in Texas to Follow Suit 

Community members interested in advocating for Muslim American Heritage Month resolutions are encouraged to review CAIR and CAIR Action’s civic engagement toolkit.  

SEE: Community Advisory: CAIR, CAIR Action Release 2026 Toolkit to Empower Muslim Civic Engagement in Local and State Governments  

 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.  

END

CONTACT: CAIR-Houston Director of Operations Imran Ghani, ighani@cair.com, 713.922.5270; CAIR-Austin Civic Engagement Organizer Sameeha Rizvi, srizvi@cair.com, 512-893-1371 

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced that it has filed an open records request with the State of Texas seeking any communications between Governor Greg Abbott and anti-Muslim extremists, anti-Palestinian lobby groups, and Israeli government officials, as well as any internal communications among Abbott’s staff about the Texas Muslims he has smeared and targeted in recent months.

[NOTE: members of the press can contact CAIR Communications Manager Ismail Allison at iallison@cair.com for a copy of the records request]. 

In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:

“The people of Texas elected Greg Abbott to serve and protect them, not to attack Texans for the benefit of hate groups or a foreign government. Yet over the past two years, Governor Abbott has repeatedly attempted to manufacture hysteria about Texas Muslims, Texas mosques, and now the state’s largest Muslim civil rights group. He has also attempted to smear and silence Texans critical of the Israeli government, including college students.

“The people of Texas have a right to know whether the anti-Muslim and pro-Israel extremists claiming that they influenced Governor Abbott’s recent attacks on the Texas Muslim community are telling the truth. That’s why CAIR has filed this comprehensive open records request. 

“Governor Abbott must reveal the extent of his communications with anti-Muslim activists and Israeli officials, as well as any bigoted remarks that Abbott or his staff have made about Texas Muslims behind closed doors. The people of Texas have a right to know whether their governor works for them.”

The Texas Public Information Act (PIA) CAIR has filed specifically seeks communications among Governor Greg Abbott and his executive staff referencing Muslims, Islam, Sharia, CAIR, CAIR-Texas, the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC), as well as any communications with certain anti-Muslim activists and any Israeli government officials between 2023 and 2025.

The request, sent to the Office of the Governor’s General Counsel, seeks the emails, text messages, encrypted app communications, briefing materials, meeting notes, directives, calendar entries, call logs, and other records that may reveal the extent of coordination behind the state’s unprecedented actions targeting Muslim communities and organizations in Texas.

CAIR’s filing comes in response to a series of alarming actions by Governor Abbott, including his November 18, 2025 proclamation falsely designating CAIR and CAIR-Texas as “foreign terrorist” and “transnational criminal” organizations; his March 2025 announcements ordering frivolous investigations and a criminal probe into the East Plano Islamic Center; his public meetings with Israeli government officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; and an anti-Muslim activist’s claim of meeting with Abbott days before he issues his proclamation targeting CAIR-Texas.

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