Cair shuts down Florida office as judge declines reversal of terrorist designation

The Council on American Islamic Relations (Cair) has shut down its operations in Florida after a judge declined to reverse the terrorist designation of the group that the state legislature and the governor had imposed earlier this year.

Chief Judge Allen C Winsor of the US District Court for the Northern District of Florida made his decision on Wednesday, while acknowledging Florida's “novel - and perhaps unprecedented" new law allowing for terrorist designations of non-profit groups without due process.

But ultimately, he said Cair's emergency request did not adequately prove that the group was suffering a criminal punishment.

Winsor did, however, say Florida officials cannot prevent Cair from accessing legal services. Florida officials also pledged not to prosecute Cair's board, its staff, or its third-party associates.