The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned anti-Muslim rhetoric and hostility reportedly directed at supporters of a proposed mosque in New Mexico during a public hearing on the project.
According to local reports, a proposal to build a mosque in Albuquerque’s North Valley drew opposition from some residents, with portions of the public discussion marked by anti-Muslim comments and inflammatory rhetoric targeting the Muslim community.
The Albuquerque Journal reports: “Arguments about noise and traffic gave way to concerns about polluting future generations and Sharia law inhabiting the historic agricultural neighborhoods.
“When the commission deferred the proposal to July 1, requested by the Albuquerque Islamic Center due to safety concerns, chants of ‘USA’ erupted in the chambers.”
SEE: Proposed North Valley mosque spurs resistance, vitriol – Albuquerque Journal
In a statement, Washington, D.C, based CAIR said:
“Every faith community has the constitutional right to establish houses of worship free from discrimination, intimidation, or bigotry. Opposition to a mosque based on anti-Muslim prejudice is unacceptable and undermines the fundamental American principle of religious freedom.
“Public officials and community leaders should reject rhetoric that demonizes Muslims and instead foster respectful dialogue rooted in facts, mutual understanding, and equal treatment under the law. Muslims are an integral part of the fabric of this nation and deserve the same rights and respect afforded to followers of every other faith.”
CAIR said the incident comes amid a continuing rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric and threats targeting Muslim communities and houses of worship nationwide and urged local officials to ensure that any review of the proposed mosque is conducted fairly, transparently, and without regard to religious bias.
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.
Last month, national Muslim leaders with the US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) held a news conference today at the annual Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) conference taking place in Baltimore, Maryland, to address what political leaders must to do to confront anti-Muslim hate and protect houses of worship in the wake of last week’s deadly terror attack on a mosque in San Diego.
At the news conference, the Muslim leaders expressed solidarity with Islamic Center of San Diego and the families of the three martyrs, said politicians must confront rampant anti-Muslim hate and urged mosques and Islamic schools to take steps to improve security.
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 National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@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