CAIR Calls on Speaker Johnson to Stop Protecting Anti-Muslim Fascists in His Caucus

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today called on Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to stop protecting anti-Muslim fascists in his caucus after the speaker refused to condemn Andy Ogles for declaring that Muslims “do not belong in American society.”

CAIR said that Johnson’s attempt to deflect criticism of Ogles by bringing up the baseless conspiracy theory about “sharia law” taking over America gives a green light for further expressions of hate.

Anti-Muslim rhetoric in Congress in recent months has included calls for the destruction of “mainstream Muslims” and the introduction of extreme legislation that, if enacted, would effectively ban the practice of Islam in the United States.

SEE: Mike Johnson declines to condemn Republicans’ anti-Muslim remarks – Politico

SEE: Rep. Randy Fine’s (R-FL) H.R.5512 No Shari’a Act

In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw said:

“Speaker Johnson had a choice: condemn the hateful, un-American extremism coming from members of his own caucus or reinforce such extremism. He chose the latter.

“Andy Ogles, Randy Fine and other members of Congress are anti-Muslim fascists who speak about American Muslims the same way the Nazis once spoke about Jewish Germans. It is completely unacceptable for Speaker Johnson to downplay, excuse or justify their dangerous and despicable rhetoric.

“Ironically, the only people trying to impose their religion on America are those politicians who seek to ban Muslims from our nation, who try to force public school teachers to read the Bible to their students, and who demand that our nation go to war in the Middle East to fulfill their end times prophecies.”

CAIR noted that using “sharia” as a code word for “Islam” was a tactic developed by anti-Muslim extremists in the 2000s to get around America’s Constitutional aversion to attacking entire faith traditions.

McCaw added, “Like canon law for Catholics and halacha for Orthodox Jews, sharia refers to the rules that Muslims follow including giving charity, praying regularly, standing up for what is right, being honest in business practices, and obeying the law of the land.”

SEE: CAIR’s Educational Fact Sheet on “Sharia in American Life”

CAIR pointed to numerous recent statements by House Republicans documenting that Islam, not simply its religious practices, is the target of a growing number of House Republicans, many of them Members of the so called “Sharia-Free America” caucus:

1. In a post to X (formerly Twitter) on Feb. 17, 2026, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) wrote, “No more public displays of Islam please. It is not American.” Archive.
2. On March 9, 2026, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) posted the following to his X (formerly Twitter account), “Muslims don’t belong in American society. Pluralism is a lie.” Archive.
3. A “Sharia-Free America Caucus” graphic shared by Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) features Rep. Ogles saying, “Islam is a religion of violence, abuse of women, and ruthless political conquest. Its laws and practices have no place in American society. That’s why I joined the Sharia Free American [sic] Caucus. Islam is conquering Europe, and I refuse to let it conquer America.”
4. Caucus co-founder Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) posted, “Islam is on the march and seeks world domination” to his X (formerly Twitter) account.
5. During a November 19, 2025 floor speech Rep. Self said he believes “Islam is a culture with a patina of religion.” He later also added, “There is no denying Islam’s intent to dominate Western civilization. Their stated objective is to destroy us from within.” Finally, Self believes, “While Western civilization has evolved, Islam has not. Islam is stuck in the eighth century.”
6. Caucus member Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) has discussed the need to “solve the Muslim problem,” and suggested the need to “destroy” “mainstream Muslims.” Fine has supported the starvation of Palestinian civilians, a war crime, and a religious cleansing of the U.S. via the mass removals of mainstream Muslims from the United States. Fine has faced backlash for implying dogs are preferable to Muslims.
7. During an interview with Newsmax, Rep. Brandon Gill said, “The reality is that Islam is a political ideology that is incompatible with the United States. It’s incompatible with our constitutional system and with Western civilization more broadly.”
8. In an interview with WBAP’s Morning News Podcast on February 3, 2026, Caucus co-founder Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) warned against the “Islamification of our country” which, according to Roy, “is inconsistent with Western civilization

CAIR today released its 2026 Civil Rights Report “The Right to be Different,” which documents a pattern of public officials using their offices to narrow the definitions of what Americans can look like, say, or believe in 2025.

WATCH CAIR’S NEWS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING THE REPORT.

SEE: 2026 Civil Rights Report: The Right to be Different

SEE: Trump crackdown on protests and immigration led to Islamophobia, Muslim group says – Reuters

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