CAIR Urges Congress to Condemn Anti-Muslim Rhetoric as Islamophobia Spikes

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, has issued a stark warning to U.S. lawmakers, sending letters to every congressional office to address a sharp rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric from elected officials, primarily within the Republican party.

In letters dispatched last Friday, CAIR thanked Democratic members who have spoken out against bigotry while issuing a urgent call to Republican leaders to denounce the hateful comments coming from their own ranks.

"We are grateful to the many Democratic members of Congress who have spoken out against anti-Muslim bigotry and defended the First Amendment rights of American Muslims," said Robert S. McCaw, Director of CAIR's Government Affairs Department. "Republican leaders must now show the same commitment by forcefully condemning anti-Muslim bigotry, even when it comes from members of their own party."

The organization’s action comes in response to a series of incendiary remarks made by Republican lawmakers in recent weeks:

• Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) stated that "Muslims are not fit to be in American society" and that "pluralism is a lie."

• Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) called for the destruction of "mainstream Muslims."

• Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) amplified anti-Muslim sentiment by sharing a post that depicted a Muslim mayor as an internal "enemy," juxtaposed with an image of the 9/11 attacks.

Rather than condemning these statements, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has echoed similar themes, warning of the "application of Sharia law" in the U.S. and framing conflicts in the Middle East as a religious war against a "false religion."

CAIR specifically highlighted the "Sharia-Free America Caucus," a group of over 50 House Republicans, which the organization has designated as an anti-Muslim hate group for promoting conspiracy theories that paint Islam as incompatible with American society.

This political climate reflects a broader, troubling trend. CAIR’s 2026 civil rights report, "The Right to Be Different," documented a record 8,687 reports of anti-Muslim bias incidents in 2025, the highest number since the organization began tracking such data in 1996.

In their letters, CAIR urged all members of Congress to support upcoming resolutions recognizing Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, reaffirming the place of Muslim Americans in the nation's civic and religious fabric.

Global Context: UN Warns of Rising Islamophobia

The warning from CAIR mirrors concerns raised on the international stage. Marking the International Day to Combat Islamophobia on March 15, 2026, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of a global surge in anti-Muslim hatred.

"This reality is fueled by anti-Muslim rhetoric, disinformation, and outright hate," Guterres said in a speech in New York. "When discriminatory narratives are echoed by those in positions of authority, prejudice becomes normalized." He called on governments, tech companies, and civil society to protect equality and confront bigotry.