Alabama senator claims ‘enemy is inside the gates’ because new NYC mayor Mamdani sworn-in on Quran
(WASHINGTON, DC, 1/2/26) – The Alabama chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AL), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today reiterated its call for Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) to visit a mosque in that state after he claimed on social media that, “The enemy is inside the gates,” when he learned that the new mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani was to be sworn in using a Quran.
SEE: GOP senator says ‘enemy is inside the gates’ as Mamdani takes office – USA Today
Twice last year, CAIR called on Tuberville to visit a mosque after he made statements denigrating Islam and smearing American Muslims.
In a statement, CAIR-AL Staff Attorney A. Britton O’Shields said:
“Sen. Tuberville’s rhetoric continues to demonize millions of peaceful, patriotic American Muslims simply because of their faith. Suggesting that a Muslim public servant taking an oath on the Quran represents an ‘enemy’ is dangerous, irresponsible and beneath the dignity of the office he holds.
“The Alabama Muslim community’s invitation to Sen. Tuberville remains open. We urge him to visit an Alabama mosque, meet Muslim families in his own state and learn firsthand that Muslims are not a threat. They are an integral part of the American story.”
Last month, CAIR added Sen. Tuberville to its list of anti-Muslim extremists in the United States in the wake of his increasingly hateful and dangerous attacks on Alabama Muslims, including his recent targeting of Alabama Muslim K-12 school children.
That was the first time that CAIR has ever designated a U.S. senator as an anti-Muslim extremist.
SEE: CAIR’s Sen. Tommy Tuberville Profile
CAIR’s designation came in the wake of Tuberville openly celebrating the campaign of anti-Muslim hate that led a K-12 Islamic private school to cancel its planned relocation to Hoover, Alabama, amid safety concerns. Tuberville also flatly declared on Dec. 14 that Islam is not a religion.
In its profile of Sen. Tuberville on Islamophobia.org, CAIR’s research and advocacy team writes, in part:
“The first reported episodes of Tuberville making explicitly anti-Muslim statements date to June 2025 and afterward. At the time of writing this analysis, CAIR researchers could locate no public statements critical of Islam or Muslims prior to June 2025.
“Like many anti-Muslim public figures, Tuberville claims “Islam is not a religion. It is a cult.” This is a common tactic intended to deprive Muslims of the First Amendment protections. He also places his concerns in a counter-terrorism frame—declaring “we are at war” with people “coming here from Muslim countries” to justify blanket measures against Muslims. Tuberville repeatedly uses Sharia as a term to frighten voters and vilify all Muslims and believes Muslims “are getting ready to take over New York.” He has repeated conspiracy theories about Muslim only neighborhoods in Europe and that Islam enjoins perpetual war on its followers.”
SEE ALSO: CAIR-Alabama Calls Sen. Tuberville’s Anti-Sharia Bill ‘Unconstitutional Attack on Religious Freedom’
Following the horrific attack in Bondi Beach Australia CAIR joined Australian Muslims in denouncing the deadly attack on the Jewish community in that nation and commended a Muslim “hero” for acting to disarm one of the attackers.
On his X (formerly Twitter) account Tuberville declared, “ “Islam is not a religion. It is a cult.”
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: 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