Muslim Candidates in the US Face Loyalty Questions Instead of Debate Over Their Policies

Muslim Candidates in the US Face Loyalty Questions Instead of Debate Over Their Policies
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An article published by Newsweek recently by law professor Faisal Kutty, argues that Muslim candidates in the United States increasingly face questions about their national loyalty and religious identity rather than scrutiny of their political platforms and records.

Kutty cited remarks by President Donald Trump targeting Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdulrahman al-Sayed, including allegations of links to the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as similar rhetoric directed at Muslim politicians Ilhan Omar and Zohran Mamdani. The article said such accusations often rely on religious stereotypes rather than credible evidence.

Citing research on Islamophobia in election campaigns and a survey by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, the article noted that the Islamophobia Index rose from 25 in 2022 to 33 in 2025. Kutty stressed that candidates should be judged on their policies and qualifications, arguing that questioning their loyalty because of their faith undermines equal citizenship. He urged political parties and media outlets to reject collective accusations based on religious identity.