Southern Methodist University will not allow a CAIR-Texas-promoted Muslim youth leadership symposium branded “Unapologetically Muslim: Youth in Action” to take place on its campus after reviewing the planned event and citing what the university called the State of Texas’ “current designation of the symposium’s organizer.”
SMU announced the decision in a statement to The Dallas Express after DX requested comment about the September 19 Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium, which CAIR-Texas had advertised for the SMU campus.
SMU says event will not take place
SMU described the symposium as unaffiliated with the university and said allowing it to proceed on campus would conflict with its mission and policies.
“SMU welcomes a wide range of organizations and perspectives to campus as part of our commitment to open inquiry and the free exchange of ideas. After reviewing plans for an upcoming unaffiliated youth leadership symposium advertised to take place at SMU, the University has determined that permitting the event to take place on campus, given the State of Texas’ current designation of the symposium’s organizer, is inconsistent with our mission and related University policies. As a result, the event will not take place on campus.”
CAIR-Texas’ website describes the Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium as a program for high school students and rising college freshmen and sophomores focused on leadership and civic engagement. The organization says students will hear from community leaders and professionals, participate in workshops and learn how to become more involved in issues affecting their communities.
The promotional material carries the slogan “Unapologetically Muslim: Youth in Action” and advertises “mock testimony,” “interactive sessions” and “powermapping.” The graphic prominently identifies SMU as the Dallas-Fort Worth location and displays CAIR Texas branding.
The same CAIR-Texas promotional material identifies the University of Houston-Downtown as the symposium’s Houston location. UHD had not responded as of publication. Its inclusion on CAIR-Texas promotional material does not establish that the university sponsors or endorses the symposium. The Dallas Express will update this story if the university provides a response.
The graphic also displays an “SMU MLSA” logo. SMU’s Dedman School of Law lists the Muslim Law Students Association as a student-run organization that serves Muslim law students and collaborates with other organizations. SMU, however, specifically characterized the symposium itself as “unaffiliated” with the university in its statement to The Dallas Express.
CAIR-Texas had not responded as of publication to The Dallas Express’ request for comment on SMU’s decision. DX will update this story if the organization provides a response.
Abbott designated CAIR under Texas law
Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) issued a proclamation on November 18, 2025, designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations under the Texas Penal Code and as transnational criminal organizations under the Texas Property Code, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Abbott’s proclamation specifically names CAIR, not CAIR-Texas or individual Texas chapters. The proclamation also states that specified Property Code provisions apply to the designated organizations “and their affiliates and members.”
The distinction between national CAIR and Texas CAIR entities has become part of the litigation surrounding Abbott’s action.
In a December 22, 2025, federal court filing, Attorney General Ken Paxton (R-Texas) argued that the CAIR entity designated by Abbott is “a different legal entity” from the CAIR-DFW and CAIR-Austin plaintiffs challenging the proclamation.
Paxton also argued that neither local plaintiff was specifically named as a foreign terrorist organization or transnational criminal organization in Abbott’s proclamation.
Paxton later announced a separate February 5, 2026, lawsuit against the Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR and CAIR entities in Austin, Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth, seeking to stop their operations in Texas.
CAIR and CAIR-Texas dispute the state’s allegations. In a February 5, 2026, response, the organizations called Paxton’s lawsuit “another frivolous, politically motivated anti-Muslim publicity stunt” and said CAIR-Texas would continue its work in the state.
Texas officials previously scrutinized CAIR-linked school events
Texas officials have previously scrutinized educational institutions over CAIR-linked events. Paxton demanded records on January 28, 2026, from Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and Grapevine-Colleyville ISD while investigating proposed Islamic Games events and relationships with CAIR chapters.
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD previously stopped negotiations for an Islamic Games event advertised for Colleyville Heritage High School after district officials learned a CAIR chapter had been listed in connection with the event, as The Dallas Express reported.
The district said the facility reservation remained under negotiation and had not been finalized when it severed the negotiations.
SMU has now reached its own decision regarding the Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium. “As a result,” the university said, “the event will not take place on campus.”
Provided by Dallas Express
