Statement of 82 Civil, Human Rights, and Faith Based Groups Serious Concerns Regarding Harm to American Muslim Civil Society from Terrorism Designation Media reports suggest that the Trump administration is considering designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. The undersigned coalition of organizations is deeply concerned that such a designation could lead to the stigmatization and targeting of American Muslim civil society, including non-profits, charities, religious organizations, and activists. For several years, fringe anti-Muslim voices have called for the designation of the Brotherhood as a terrorist group, and framed American Muslim civil society and leaders as suspect or criminal through guilt by spurious association. We note that numerous scholars and national security and foreign policy experts from across the political spectrum have voiced concern regarding the validity of such a designation. We are particularly concerned about the effects of such a designation on American Muslim civil society, including non-citizens, refugees, and asylum seekers. Even without a formal designation, some have used false “six degrees of separation” accusations about the Muslim Brotherhood as a way to smear prominent Muslims, American Muslim civic and religious institutions, as well as a range of other people. Accusations from government officials can have the power to destroy reputations and chill lawful activity, including freedom of worship, association, expression, and charitable giving. A designation would intensify this smear tactic. Indeed, many baseless accusations have already come from White House officials, as well as members of Congress. For example, Steve Bannon, the President’s Chief Strategist, has stated that his former news organization, Breitbart, has linked Tim Kaine, the 2016 Democratic nominee for vice president, to the Muslim Brotherhood. Witnesses called before Congress have, without evidence, claimed that the two American Muslim members of the House of Representatives, Keith Ellison and Andre Carson, supported terrorism because they attended Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) events. Designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization could lead to a witch-hunt against Muslim civil society in the U.S. It could also open the door to the threat of legal action by the government against Muslims and civil society organizations by invoking overbroad and unfair laws and executive orders regarding designated entities. For example, individuals could be criminally prosecuted for providing support, services, resources, expert advice or assistance to the Muslim Brotherhood without any intent to support terrorist activity. A designation could also result in unconstitutional asset seizures and effective shut-downs of civil society and rights groups. Despite court rulings requiring probable cause and due process when the Treasury Department seizes Americans’ assets, the Department has not changed its internal regulations. The Department takes the view that it can block or freeze the assets of any individual or organization that is providing ‘financial, material, or technological support for, or financial services to,’ or is broadly ‘otherwise associated’ with a designated terrorist organization. There is no requirement of actual intent or knowledge of wrongdoing. The Treasury Department’s decision can rely on classified information the targeted person or organization cannot see or meaningfully refute, and a blocking order can be issued pending investigation into whether the target is somehow associated with a designated group. As a result, the potential negative impact on American Muslim civil society of false and unjust smears and investigation resulting from a terrorism designation of the Muslim Brotherhood is high. It runs the serious risk of stifling religious and political freedom and the ability to assist and represent Muslim communities without fear of retaliation. American Muslim organizations are part of the rich fabric of our democracy. They provide social services to their own communities and work with other faith-based organizations to provide support to others, such as those affected by natural disasters and mass shootings. They run mosques that give Muslims space to exercise their faith and promote inter-faith understanding and dialogue. Muslim civil rights groups work to protect communities against discriminatory laws and policies, a role that is critical at a time when the threat of anti-Muslim measures is extraordinarily high and hate crimes against those perceived as Muslim have soared. We stand in support of American Muslims and more recent Muslim immigrants in all their rich diversity and against the discrimination, fear, and stigma that we are deeply concerned a terrorism designation is likely to increase. Signatories Act Now Worcester American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee American Civil Liberties Union American Friends Service Committee Amnesty International USA Arlington Street Church - Social Action Committee (Boston) Asian American Psychological Association Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Asian Law Caucus Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Los Angeles Beloved Community Interfaith Network Bill of Rights Defense Committee/Defending Dissent Foundation Brennan Center for Justice Center for Constitutional Rights Center for New Community Charity & Security Network Coalition to Preserve Human Dignity CODEPINK for Peace Codepink Women for Peace, Golden Gate Chapter Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Council on American-Islamic Relations - Arizona Emerge USA Every Voice First Church Cambridge Mission and Social Justice Committee First Church Unitarian, Littleton, MA Greater Cleveland Immigrant Support Network Harvard Islamic Society Human Rights Watch Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center Interfaith Action for Human Rights Iowa Unitarian Universalist Witness/Advocacy Network Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Jewish Voice for Peace Maryland United for Peace and Justice Media Alliance Montgomery County (MD) Civil Rights Coalition Montgomery County Muslims MoveOn.org Muslim Public Affairs Council Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity Muslim Advocates Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative (MuslimARC) Muslim Justice League National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) National Lawyers Guild - Massachusetts Chapter National Network for Arab American Communities National Religious Campaign Against Torture New England Translators Association New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good Nicaragua Center for Community Action Old Cambridge Baptist Church People For the American Way Prince George's County Peace and Justice Coalition Project SALAM (Support And Legal Advocacy for Muslims) RootsAction.org South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) Southern Poverty Law Center St. Francis of Assisi Pax Christi St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Columbia, MD T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry The Aafia Foundation The Constitution Project Therapists for Peace & Justice Unitarian Universalist Association Unitarian Universalist Mass Action Network Unitarian Universalist of York Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network (UUPLAN) Unitarian Universalist Service Committee United For Peace and Justice United Voices for America Veterans for Peace Women's International League for Peace & Freedom Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - Houston Women's Voices Women Vote Action Fund Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, Southern Methodist University Yemen Peace Project