By John Dobberstein, Editor
OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt has ordered the Oklahoma law enforcement and homeland security officials to investigate whether the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Muslim Brotherhood, “or individuals and entities acting on their behalf” present a terrorism or public safety threat in Oklahoma.
Stitt released an executive order Wednesday asking the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety and Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security to conduct, “an intelligence-based assessment and take lawful preventative and investigative action supporting by the resulting intelligence.
Stitt did not reveal what prompted the action. Questions directed to his press office Wednesday were not immediately answered. The Sentinel also reached out to CAIR and did not receive an immediate response, although the group has previously rejected any suggestion the organization is tied to terrorist networks.
The order also directs state public-safety leaders to, “advocate for federal action designating the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as Foreign Terrorist Organizations under federal law.”
“Oklahomans expect their government to take terrorism seriously and to act before threats become tragedies,” Stitt said in a statement. “My administration will use every lawful tool available to protect our people, defend our values, and make sure taxpayer-funded state resources are never used to support terrorism or those who enable it.”
Stitt noted Hamas is recognized as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Hamas emerged from the Muslim Brotherhood. Oklahoma will not turn a blind eye to organizations or networks that may support terrorism.”
CAIR rejected the characterizations Wednesday in a statement.
“Throughout CAIR’s long history in Oklahoma, our civil rights organization has worked to protect the Constitution’s guarantees of free speech, religious freedom and equality under the law. We have also pursued justice for all people, including Oklahoma Muslims impacted by hate,” the statement read.
“We filed the lawsuit that ultimately struck down Oklahoma’s unconstitutional anti-Islam amendment, and just days ago, we filed a lawsuit challenging the City of Broken Arrow’s illegal denial of a mosque’s establishment.
“Our successful civil rights work in Oklahoma is exactly why Gov. Stitt is targeting our organization with debunked conspiracy theories. We look forward to continuing our civil rights work in Oklahoma and proving once again that the Constitution is stronger than any politician’s bigotry.”
Stitt’s order follows similar actions taken in other states. The states of Texas and Florida have issued executive actions to designate CAIR as a terrorist organization, although they face active federal lawsuits and legal challenges regarding their constitutionality.
The United Arab Emirates included CAIR on its list of designated terrorist organizations in 2014 as well.
CAIR’s Oklahoma office has been active in Broken Arrow since the Islamic Society of Tulsa proposed a mosque and retail center on Olive Avenue, just south of the Creek Turnpike. The Broken Arrow City Council voted 4-1 in January to deny IST’s rezoning application and conditional use permit for the 15-acre property, which is owned by the North American Islamic Trust. The city’s Planning Commission and planning staff reviewed the project and recommended approval.
The denial triggered a federal lawsuit by CAIR and IST against the city of Broken Arrow and city councilors Debra Wimpee, David Pickel, Justin Greene and Lisa Ford, claiming the project was unfairly denied while other similar developments in the area were approved.
Civil rights officials at the U.S. Department of Justice have also opened an investigation into the city’s zoning and land-use practices after the January vote.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond — who said last January his office was investigating the legality of the mosque project — asked the Trump Administration and U.S. Attorney Todd Blanche to step in and quash the DOJ probe. A spokesperson for Drummond’s office told the Sentinel Drummond’s office did receive a response and discussions are ongoing.
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