U.S. Congressman Tells Shia Muslim Journalist to “Go Back to the UK”; Indian Politician Defends Ban on Halal-Certified Products
U.S. Congressman Tells Shia Muslim Journalist to “Go Back to the UK”; Indian Politician Defends Ban on Halal-Certified Products
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Some recent developments have put a spotlight on growing Islamophobic trends worldwide as Muslims face continued harassment and restrictions.
A U.S. lawmaker has come under heavy criticism after making Islamophobic remarks toward British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan during an online exchange over the Islamic call to prayer, as reported by NDTV World.
Republican Congressman Brandon Gill told Hasan to “go back to the UK” after the journalist defended the public broadcasting of the adhan (call to prayer) in the United States. The remark, shared on social media, quickly drew condemnation from journalists, advocacy groups, and civil rights organizations, who called it an example of rising anti-Muslim sentiment in American politics.
Hasan, a prominent Shia Muslim journalist known for his interviews on politics and social justice, responded that the call to prayer is a symbol of religious freedom and pluralism protected under the U.S. Constitution. Muslim advocacy groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), demanded an apology from Gill, saying that such rhetoric “targets faith communities and undermines American values of inclusivity.”
Gill has not issued an apology or clarification. His comments come amid increasing scrutiny of anti-Muslim language in public discourse in the U.S.
Islamophobic attacks also persists across the globe. In India, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in India defended his government’s ban on halal-certified products, alleging misuse of funds linked to extremism and “religious conversion” activities, according to The Logical Indian.
The ban, announced in November 2023 and reiterated in October 2025, comes amid allegations that profits generated from halal certification, which reportedly amounts to around ₹25,000 crore, are being misused to fund terrorism, forced religious conversions, and ‘love jihad’.
Amid the controversial climate, Adityanath emphasized that no one in Uttar Pradesh would dare sell halal-certified products now, highlighting items such as soaps, clothes, and matchsticks that bear halal labels.
His remarks are deemed as politically driven to grant him an advantage in the upcoming elections, while highlighting the intensified efforts to mainstream the Hindutva agenda.
