The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the ongoing anti-Muslim, racist hate targeting Minnesota State Senator Omar Fateh, who is of Somali heritage, calling them factually inaccurate, dangerously inflammatory and reflective of a broader trend of Islamophobic fearmongering nationwide.
In recent days, Sen. Fateh has been subjected to baseless and hateful attacks that question his loyalty and character, echoing long-standing Islamophobic and racist tropes used to discredit Muslim public servants. These comments have appeared across political platforms and social media, despite offering no substantiated evidence.
In a statement, CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein said:
“The racist, anti-Muslim attacks against state senator Omar Fateh, an American citizen born in our nation, are not only bigoted—they are factually wrong and dangerously inflammatory. These kinds of anti-Muslim smears have no place in our political discourse, especially at a time when elected officials and their families are being targeted with violence.
“In the wake of the politically motivated killing of Speaker Hortman’s husband and the shooting of Senator Hoffman and his wife, we cannot ignore how this kind of rhetoric fuels hatred and violence. We stand with Senator Fateh and condemn these attacks for what they are: anti-Muslim fearmongering that puts lives at risk.”
He added that CAIR-Minnesota is urging community leaders, media outlets, and elected officials to reject and denounce anti-Muslim rhetoric in all its forms and to protect the dignity and safety of Muslim public servants across the state.
Hussein noted that last month, CAIR’s New York chapter condemned the series of Islamophobic death threats targeting New York State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, including a disturbing threat to bomb his car.
Earlier this year, CAIR’s national office released its 2024 civil rights report, which revealed the highest number of complaints it has ever received in its 30-year history. Titled “Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate,” the report documented 8,061 complaints.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: Jaylani Hussein, Executive Director of CAIR-MN, 612-406-0070, jhussein@cair.com; Suleiman Adan, Deputy Director of CAIR-MN, 612-408-7183, sadan@cair.com