The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said Indiana Governor Mike Braun must make clear that “hate has no place in Indiana” after he continues to avoid clearly repudiating Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith’s recent anti-Islam statements – including saying “I hate Islam.”
Yesterday, an interfaith coalition gathered at the statehouse at an event called “Faith Over Fear” to call for unity in the wake of Beckwith’s anti-Islam statements. Participants called on the governor to take a stronger stance his lieutenant governor’s anti-Islam hate. The governor did not respond to media requests.
Video: Interfaith Coalition Gathers at Indiana Statehouse in Wake of Lt. Gov. Beckwith’s Anti-Islam Rant
SEE ALSO: Faith, political leaders celebrate religious freedom after Indiana LG’s Islam comments
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In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“Governor Braun must make clear that hate has no place in Indiana. Elected leaders have a responsibility to reject bigotry directed at any faith or minority community, especially when that bigotry comes from the second-highest-ranking official in the state. Silence in the face of such rhetoric risks normalizing anti-Muslim prejudice and undermining Indiana’s commitment to religious freedom for all.
“The interfaith leaders and officials who gathered at the Statehouse demonstrated the best of Indiana by standing together in defense of mutual respect and religious liberty. We urge Governor Braun to join them by unequivocally repudiating Lt. Governor Beckwith’s anti-Islam comments and affirming that Muslim Hoosiers are valued members of their communities.”
CAIR previously invited Lt. Governor Beckwith to visit a mosque in that state and engage with his Muslim constituents after he denigrated the religion of Islam and declared that people need “permission to hate again.”
In an interview, Beckwith said, “I hate Islam. It’s a demonic death cult.” He also reportedly claimed there is a need to give people “permission to hate again.”
CAIR recently commended Democratic members of Congress who defended American Muslims and constitutional religious freedom during House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on “Sharia law.” CAIR also condemned Republican members and witnesses for promoting anti-Muslim fearmongering and dangerous smear tactics amid rising anti-Muslim hate incidents nationwide.
The civil rights organization noted that its latest civil rights report documented 8,683 anti-Muslim bias complaints in 2025 – the highest number ever recorded by the organization since it began publishing civil rights reports in 1996.
The Center for the Study of Organized Hate showing an approximately 1,450 percent increase in anti-Muslim extremist rhetoric by public officials in the 15 months after February 2025, warning that many such statements satisfy criteria for speech likely to inspire violence.
After the deadly terror attack on the San Diego mosque, CAIR is also calling on Muslim community leaders to utilize its “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” bookletto help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to all houses of worship.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com