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When Florida Muslims came to Tallahassee for the annual Muslim Day at the Capitol, Attorney General James Uthmeier posted on social media calling for “heightened alert for any possible security threats.” Armed police filled the rotunda. Then former House Speaker Paul Renner, now running for governor, vowed to “take any legal means” to remove Muslim groups from the state.
A Florida House subcommittee voted 14-3 to advance HB 1471, which gives the state the power to designate organizations as domestic terrorists, cut off their funding, and expel students who support them. The bill was filed one month after Gov. DeSantis asked lawmakers to codify his executive order targeting CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood.
On January 9, Rep. Hillary Cassel withdrew her “No Shari’a Act” and filed HB 1471 — a sweeping bill that absorbs the anti-Shari’a provisions and adds the power to designate domestic terrorist organizations, expel students, cut off school vouchers, and prosecute supporters. A companion bill makes the process secret. It is exactly what DeSantis called for one month earlier.
Eight days after Gov. DeSantis branded CAIR a “foreign terrorist organization” by executive order, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights group filed a federal lawsuit challenging the designation as unconstitutional. DeSantis welcomed the suit, saying he looked forward to “discovery — especially the CAIR finances.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order designating CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as “foreign terrorist organizations” — a designation the federal government has not made. That same evening, he told Florida lawmakers to make it permanent law. CAIR called it unconstitutional and announced plans to sue.
Jewish leaders and Democrats are calling Florida’s proposed Shari’a ban hypocritical and unconstitutional. The bill’s sponsor and sole Democratic co-sponsor are both Jewish and pro-Israel. Critics say the bill, filed on the Oct 7 anniversary, amounts to collective punishment of Florida’s Muslim community.
The Orlando Sentinel reports that Florida Republicans are calling for stripping voucher funding from Islamic schools while defending billions in public money for Christian ones. AG Uthmeier calls it a national security threat. There are roughly 24 Islamic schools in a program serving 2,278 campuses.
Hillary Cassel Switched Parties Over Israel. Now She’s Leading Florida’s Anti-Muslim Legislative Push
Hillary Cassel switched from Democrat to Republican over Israel. Within months, she filed Florida’s anti-Shari’a bill on the October 7 anniversary. The sole Democratic co-sponsor is also Jewish and pro-Israel. Critics say the bill amounts to collective punishment of Florida’s Muslim community.