The Alabama chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AL), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate reported death threats targeting a Muslim candidate in that state as hate crimes.
Tanveer Patel, who is running for a seat on the Hoover City Council, has reportedly been targeted by hateful and threatening comments online since she launched her campaign Facebook page. One comment reportedly stated: “How come we’re not allowed to just shoot and kill these people and get them out of our f****** country.” Another comment referred to being “shot to death.”
SEE: Muslim Hoover City Council candidate declares ‘hate will not win’
[Disclaimer: As a 501(c)3, CAIR does not support or oppose any candidate for office. CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.]
In a statement, CAIR-AL Staff Attorney Britton O’Shields said:
“Threats and intimidation targeting a Muslim candidate are not just attacks on one individual—they are attacks on democracy, inclusion, and the constitutional rights of all Americans. No one should be targeted for their faith or identity when seeking public office. We urge state and federal law enforcement to investigate these threats as hate-motivated crimes and to ensure the safety and dignity of the candidate and the broader community.”
O’Shields added that earlier this year, CAIR-AL invited Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) to visit a mosque in Alabama after comments that people from blue states coming are not welcome if they bring a “communist, Islamic atmosphere.”
She noted that last year, CAIR called on law enforcement authorities to investigate an alleged threat to shoot up and bomb a mosque in Mobile, Alabama.
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.
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CONTACT: A. Britton O’Shields, Staff Attorney – Alabama Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Alabama), aoshields@cair.com, 205-206-6399, 205-616-0733; 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