Civil Rights Group Welcomes Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s (D-Md.) Forceful Denunciation of Hateful Rhetoric
The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) strongly condemns the morally repugnant and dangerous Islamophobic rhetoric from Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and is calling on Maryland’s congressional delegation to join U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in speaking out forcefully against the calls for mass expulsion and collective punishment of American Muslims.
In a statement, CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said:
“Fine and Tuberville’s reprehensible comments represent an alarming escalation of anti-Muslim extremism in American political discourse. These views fuel Islamophobia and the dehumanization of Muslims, and echo some of the darkest chapters of U.S. history. This kind of talk is fundamentally incompatible with the responsibilities of public office and would rightfully not be tolerated against any other community. Constituents deserve to know that our representatives and senators have our communities’ backs. Calls to expel, exclude, or collectively punish American Muslims are not policy positions; they are expressions of deep-rooted bigotry that fuel violence and have no place in a democratic society.”
CAIR has called on Congress to censure Fine for his repeated Islamophobic statements and efforts to portray American Muslims as a collective threat. These patterns reflect not isolated missteps, but a sustained embrace of hate-based politics that undermines constitutional values and endangers real communities.
TAKE ACTION: Join CAIR in Urging Congress to Censure Anti-Muslim Extremist Rep. Randy Fine
https://action.cair.com/a/nohateincongress
CAIR recently designated Tuberville as an anti-Muslim extremist for repeatedly invoking George Wallace-era bigotry and celebrating discrimination against Muslim students, including remarks praising the denial of educational access to Muslim children.
SEE: CAIR Designates Sen. Tuberville as Anti-Muslim Extremist, Condemns Use of ‘George Wallace-Era’ Bigotry
Read CAIR OP-ED: Senator Tuberville casts George Wallace’s shadow over Alabama Muslims: op-ed – AL.com
CAIR thanks Senator Van Hollen for his consistent, clear and principled condemnation of Islamophobic hate, noting that his response demonstrates moral clarity at a moment when silence is complicity.
The civil rights group noted that at a time when anti-Muslim bigotry is being openly voiced from the halls of Congress, Senator Van Hollen’s willingness to call it out reflects leadership rooted in basic human decency and respect for the Constitution. His statement affirms that hatred, fear-mongering, and religious discrimination have no place in our nation’s governing institutions. American Muslims contribute substantially every day to our nation. Attempts to single out Muslim communities for exclusion or expulsion are an attack on the foundational principles of religious freedom, equal protection, and pluralism.
CAIR urges congressional leaders from both parties to hold accountable those who promote hate.
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 Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; 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