Gov. Abbott demands Cy-Fair ISD leaders to cancel Islamic Games of North America

CYPRESS, Texas (KTRK) -- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is demanding Cypress-Fairbanks ISD leaders cancel an annual sporting event called the Islamic Games of North America.

The governor says the event is sponsored by a group he has designated as a terrorist organization.

But, Cy-Fair officials say there's no event currently scheduled, much less one that they are hosting.

The Islamic Games of North America bills itself as promoting youth fitness and unity, and is open to all faiths.

Its website shows it has been going on for 35 years, and its Houston-area event is scheduled for this fall in a location to be determined.

Gov. Abbott said the games are being held at Bridgeland High School, and he says they are being sponsored by the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which he has designated as a terrorist organization in the state of Texas.

In a letter to Cy-Fair's superintendent and board, the governor writes, "You cannot invite such dangers through the front doors of our schools. Radical Islamic extremism is not welcome in Texas - and certainly not in our schools."

But Cy-Fair ISD officials say it's too early to even reserve a district facility for an event in the fall.

District leaders are calling the governor's letter, "a disappointing gesture instead of an earnest attempt to obtain facts."

According to Cy-Fair ISD, the Islamic Games were held at a district facility last year, but CAIR New Jersey wasn't involved.

Officials say the district currently has 15 different religious groups using its facilities every week and doesn't distinguish between religions.

The district's letter to the governor ends with this: "CFISD will continue to follow the law. This includes state law, but also the laws that prohibit discrimination."

"This is a very specific type of space," Abbott said. "It's called a forum where the government says we're opening up to anybody who wants to come here. We the government don't endorse your message, we're just asking you to pay a fee and to follow certain general rules."

The Islamic Games is also responding, saying CAIR is not a sponsor.

And CAIR's national office sent out a statement that denies the group's ties to terrorism and reads in part:

"CAIR-New Jersey was not and is not a sponsor of a sporting event in Texas, obviously. By placing Muslim children at the center of his campaign of hate, Gov. Abbott is crossing every line of basic decency and digging himself a deeper legal hole. He is the governor of Texas, not the emperor of Texas."

Gov. Abbott is demanding the district not only cancel any agreements regarding the Islamic Games, but he's also directing district officials to keep any records or communications about the event.

ABC13 reached out to his office, but his spokesperson did not respond directly to our questions regarding CAIR's involvement.

"Sometimes these legal letters aren't meant for necessarily litigation," South Texas College of Law Professor Josh Blackman explained. "They're meant to shine a light on certain topics and things shake out like they often do."

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