Interfaith Alliance Condemns Islamophobia and Extremist Targeting of Public Officials

As a national leader in defending religious freedom and multi-faith democracy, Interfaith Alliance is appalled by the recent surge of Islamophobic hate speech and incitement against NYC Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, and the broader pattern of extreme hate directed against public officials and vulnerable minorities. This hateful rhetoric seeks to spread polarization and division and wrongly pit diverse American communities against one another. 

Following Mamdani’s victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, he has faced vicious Islamophobic attacks and slurs from Republican Members of Congress including Reps. Andy Ogles, Nancy Mace and Marjorie Taylor Greene. Some of these attacks have included flagrantly illegal calls for denaturalization and deportation. 

Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance, released the following statement: 

“The blatant Islamophobia that we are seeing from some Members of Congress and other extreme voices is grotesque, unacceptable and deeply dangerous. We cannot pretend for a minute that it is normal to see a political candidate threatened with violent attack and deportation simply because he is a Muslim.

This kind of hatred not only threatens Muslim Americans, but all religious minorities and diverse identities. It incites political violence, at a time when 91 percent of Americans say they believe politically-motivated violence is a serious problem in the United States. We must be able to have robust and healthy debates on policy, politics and the future of our country – without demonizing, dehumanizing and threatening entire populations because of their ethnicity, religion or political beliefs. 

Responsible public officials and faith leaders across the country must firmly challenge this bigotry - and refuse to allow the voices of hate to ostracize, polarize or divide us. We must work together to confront and reject Islamophobia, antisemitism, racism and hate in all of its forms, and to emphasize that our democracy is strongest when all communities are able to safely thrive, co-exist and work together in pursuit of common ideals.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Ben DePasquale, [email protected]

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‍Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.