US Muslim Lawmakers Condemn Rising Islamophobia After Attacks on Democratic Candidate
US Muslim Lawmakers Condemn Rising Islamophobia After Attacks on Democratic Candidate
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Amid a renewed wave of incitement and hate speech, Muslim members of the US Congress have condemned the escalating verbal attacks targeting Zahran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for New York City mayor, calling the harassment a blatant example of rising Islamophobia within American political circles.
In a joint statement, Representatives Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, André Carson, and Lateefah Simon described the attacks as “deliberate incitement” aimed at Mamdani because of his faith and his outspoken support for Palestinian rights. They stressed that this is no longer a legitimate political disagreement but has become an organized hate campaign that threatens the fabric of American society.
Mamdani, a political activist known for his social justice work, has faced a smear campaign from lawmakers in both the Republican and Democratic parties, with some even calling for his citizenship to be revoked and for him to be deported because of his pro-Palestinian stance and visible Islamic identity. The attacks echo post-9/11 rhetoric that linked Islam to extremism.
The statement notes that Mamdani’s ordeal mirrors tactics previously used to smear Muslim lawmakers themselves, warning that such campaigns not only target Muslims but undermine American democratic values and fuel new waves of racism and violence. Human rights organizations and several progressive lawmakers have also expressed solidarity with Mamdani, warning against the danger of silence in the face of hate speech.
