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Muslim advocacy group fights for trust after Texas brands it a terrorist group

July 10, 2026 · 1 min read

AUSTIN, Texas (RNS) — It was just past 9 p.m. on June 22, during the Texas State Board of Education meeting, when Shaimaa Zayan, a staffer with the Austin chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, was called up to testify. She braced herself, knowing what was coming.

“Can we have a leader of a foreign terrorist organization testify for the state board of education?” Brandon Hall, a Republican board member, asked the chairman, just as Zayan rose to the podium.

Hall was referring to an order by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott designating CAIR a terrorist group last November. The group, one of the country’s largest Muslim advocacy organizations, however, is not listed on the U.S. Department of State’s list of terrorist organizations , which is officially responsible for such designations.

The chairman said Zayan had a First Amendment right to speak.

“OK, I won’t listen to it,” Hall said, before walking out of the room.

CAIR has spent decades positioning itself as the country’s leading Muslim civil rights organization. But state and federal Republican leaders’ attempts to brand it as a terrorist front in recent months has tested CAIR’s legal standing and cast…

Source: Religion News Service · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (12) 🌐 Show original

Michał Kaczmarek

It's interesting when one politician from Texas leaves the room because CAIR is supposed to be terrorists, but at the same time they are not on the official list of the US State Department. Zayan had the right to speak, and the chairman rightly recalled it. I wonder what ordinary Muslims in Austin who just want to live a normal life will say about this.

Тамара Семёнова

I wonder why Governor Abbott suddenly declared CAIR terrorists, even if the State Department did not include them on the list? Zayan simply came to speak on the matter, and she was met as an enemy. Ordinary Muslims in Austin are probably even more wary now.

Sophia Carter

The chairman was right to let Zayan speak – it's a state board meeting, not a security briefing. Abbott can call CAIR what he likes, but if they're not on the official US terror list it just looks like political theatre. Makes you wonder what actual evidence the governor had beyond headlines.

Κατερίνα Γεωργίου

The article says Hall stood up and walked out of the room when Zayan went to speak, even as the president recalled the First Amendment. If it's not on the State Department's list, why would it do this? Rather political theater, as Sophia says.

Radmila Radovanović

Before CAIR got that label from Governor Abbott, Zayan still had the right to speak, just as the president reminded of the First Amendment. It's strange to me that Hall didn't even want to listen, he just got up and walked out - it's more like a gesture than an argument. I wonder what ordinary Muslims in Austin would say to this, because the article says it ruins their trust.

Галина Марченко

Too bad Hell just got up and walked out instead of listening. Zayan came to speak at a board of education meeting, not a rally, and the chairman was right to point out the First Amendment. If CAIR is not on the State Department's official list, it looks like it's more politics than fact.

Константин Комаров

It is interesting that Governor Abbott declared CAIR terrorists, although they are not even on the official State Department list. Zayan simply came to speak at a meeting on education, and she was met as an enemy. The Chairman correctly recalled the First Amendment; without this, there would be no discussion at all.

Radu Nistor

I think Zayan had every right to speak, as the president said, especially since he's not on the State Department's official terrorist list. Hall stormed out of the room before hearing a word—seeming more like a political gesture than a serious discussion. I wonder what concrete evidence Abbott had beyond the statement.

Nicholas Anderson

The chairman was correct on the First Amendment point, no argument there. Still, Abbott’s move wasn’t pulled from thin air; CAIR’s own past ties to groups like the Holy Land Foundation that got convicted on terror financing charges are on the public record. If the governor’s using state tools to highlight that history, it’s more than just theatre.

Δήμητρα Νικολαΐδου

Hall probably did it to show his audience attitude, but if CAIR is not on the State Department's list, then Abbott's move looks more like a campaign message than a written decision. What do you think, Katerina, would it change anything if there were specific court evidence?

Світлана Литвин

It's a pity that it turned out that way, because it would have been better to hear arguments from both sides at a meeting of the board of education, rather than just leave. You correctly mentioned that CAIR is not on the State Department's list — a key point that makes the governor's statement more of a political gesture. And have you heard, were there any specific facts against them that would convince otherwise?

Δημήτρης Αθανασίου

Yes, I agree that it seems more like a political message than something based on serious evidence. If there were court rulings or evidence from the FBI, maybe the conversation would change, but so far it looks like a vote-getting move. Do you think CAIR has ever given any reason for such accusations in practice?