Abbott unloads on CAIR, chastises public schools

By Bethany Blankley
The Center Square

In a directive Wednesday issued to a Houston area school district demanding it cancel any planned Islamic Games event, Gov. Greg Abbott blasted the Islamic Council on Foreign Relations (CAIR).

He also chastised public schools, saying any partnership with the group was illegal.

“You cannot invite such dangers through the front doors of our schools. In fact, state law requires public schools to prohibit illegal activities from taking place on school property. It is obvious, then, that you may not use taxpayer-funded public facilities to host events sponsored by a designated terror organization. To do so would violate your duty to taxpayers and the safety of students,” Abbott warned.

“Radical Islamic extremism is not welcome in Texas – and certainly not in our schools.”

At issue is an Islamic Games organization scheduling two events at public school facilities in the Dallas and Houston areas: at Colleyville Heritage High School in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD and Bridgeland High School in Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District.

The Islamic Games claims to be “the premier Muslim sports and athletic event in North America, dedicated to promoting physical excellence, unity, and community development.”

It lists more than 100 sponsors, including the CAIR-New Jersey.

Abbott designated CAIR as a Foreign Terrorist Organization last November and called for investigations into it and other groups, The Center Square reported. CAIR denies the allegations and has sued.

After GCISD was made aware that Abbott had designated CAIR an FTO, it cancelled hosting the Islamic Games, The Center Square reported. CFISD has yet to do so.

On Wednesday, Abbott sent a letter to CFISD directing it cancel any arrangements to host the event and preserve all records and communications about it. Noncompliance would result in legal action, he said.

But his letter also lambasted CAIR.

Islamic Games “event organizers proudly boasted that [CAIIR NJ] would sponsor the event,” Abbott said.

The FTO designation describes “ample evidence collected by the federal government – and relied on by a federal court – showing that CAIR is a ‘front group’ for Hamas,” Abbott said.

Hamas, a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, was designated an FTO by former President Bill Clinton in 1997, which remains in effect. Hamas took responsibility for the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack against Israel, including kidnapping and murdering Americans.

Abbott highlights now deleted CAIR NJ social media posts that “praised Hamas’s slaughter of innocent civilians, including Americans.”

One was published on Oct. 7, 2023, stating of the terrorist attacks, “This is not a war. It is an occupation. End the occupation. Free Palestine.”

Two days later, after videos were publicized of the slaughter and kidnapping of concert goers, CAIR NJ said, “the people of Gaza effectively broke out of prison — resisting an occupation that is not only inhumane but also illegal under international law — is inevitable and should not be unexpected.”

Abbott characterizes CAIR NJ as “anti-American and antisemitic.” He pointed to its director, Selaedin Maksut, claiming “to ‘fight against… the Zionism that has infiltrated’ America and boasting that CAIR was ‘working hand in hand with our partners to fight for Palestine’” at a “Building American Muslim Political Strength” event at the Islamic Center of Passaic County in Patterson, N.J.

“CAIR NJ does not hide that it views public schools as the battleground for promoting terrorism; that is why Mr. Maksut sought to disrupt high school operations with a ‘Walkout for Palestine’ protest,” Abbot said.

“This type of division, disruption, and support for terrorism is exactly why I directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to launch investigations into the Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR, and any of their affiliated entities operating in the State,” and called on the U.S. Treasury to suspend CAIR’s 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit status, he said.

Abbott also warned public school districts that noncompliance with his order would result in legal action. This includes “investigative demands and injunctions to halt public school districts from hosting events sponsored by designated terror organizations like CAIR. Texans deserve immediate action to curb the spread of Islamic extremism, and public facilities funded by their tax dollars will not be utilized to host terrorist related groups.”