Washington, D.C., based civil rights group calls on all lawmakers to similarly repudiate hate-filled attacks
The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today applauded U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) for his unwavering stand against the alarming surge of anti-Muslim bigotry targeting New York Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani.
SEE: Attacks on Muslims flood mainstream after Mamdani win
In a social media post, Senator Van Hollen wrote in part:
“Shame on the members of Congress who have engaged in such bigotry and anyone who doesn’t challenge it.”
CAIR is calling on lawmakers at every level of the government to exhibit moral courage and similarly publicly repudiate these attacks and urges members of Congress and public officials to take a firm stance against hate speech and bigotry in all its forms.
SEE: CAIR-NY Condemns Death and Bomb Threats Against Zohran Mamdani
“We should all be appalled by the flood of anti-Muslim remarks, both blatant and latent, that have surfaced against Mr. Mamdani,” said CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry. “Such hate-filled rhetoric not only undermines the core values of inclusion and respect but also threatens the safety and dignity of Muslim communities across the country. It is our shared responsibility to stand against hate and promote a society rooted in justice, understanding and equality.”
Last week, Washington, D.C.-based CAIR sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi urging the Department of Justice to swiftly and publicly reject Representative Andy Ogles’ (R-TN) racist and Islamophobic demand that the federal government pursue denaturalization proceedings against Mamdani.
Rep. Ogles’ announcement of his request to the Justice Department was accompanied by an unhinged public post on social media in which he referred to Assemblymember Mamdani as “little muhammad,” a bigoted reference meant to demean both Mamdani and the Muslim faith. In his letter to the Justice Department, Ogles—who has previously been accused of saying that all children in Gaza should be killed—baselessly cites Mr. Mamdani’s political speech as grounds for stripping him of his citizenship.
CAIR remains committed to advocating for the rights and dignity of all Americans, regardless of faith or background.
Earlier this year, CAIR released its 2025 Civil Rights Report “Unconstitutional Crackdowns,” which reveals that Islamophobia continues to be at an all-time high across the country. CAIR said viewpoint discrimination against those speaking out against genocide and apartheid was a key factor in many cases.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062;
CAIR Maryland Outreach Coordinator Kimberly Syuardi, ksyuardi@cair.com, 202-850-9293