According to a Guardian report, anti-Muslim rhetoric used by the Republican Party in its election campaigns in the U.S. state of Texas is translating into attacks and discrimination against Muslims in daily life.
Naila Syed, a member of the Social Justice Council at the Islamic Center of North America in Dallas, said this rhetoric "definitely trickles down into the community," noting that her young daughters face stereotypical questions about Islam at school, including claims that Muslims mistreat women.
The Guardian reported that many Muslims feel unsafe going out alone, and some have had to hide their identities due to online threats and harassment. At the University of Houston, a copy of the Quran was burned while Muslim students were praying, and women wearing headscarves have been verbally assaulted in public spaces.
In a widely circulated social media video, a woman is seen attacking two Muslim women in a store, saying, "This is not a Muslim country, it's a Christian country." A fundraising campaign for the attacker raised approximately $145,000.
Role of Republican politicians
The report highlights the role of Republican politicians in creating this atmosphere. Texas Representative Brandon Gill called for halting immigration from Muslim-majority countries, sending a message to his constituents titled "Stop Islamic immigration now or our children will pay the price."
According to the newspaper, this stance has moved beyond individual positions to become a priority for the Republican Party. At the party's recent convention, the slogan "No Sharia in Texas" was adopted, and calls were made to criminalize Islamic law. Experts emphasize that there are no initiatives to implement sharia in the state.
A Muslim who attended the convention under the pseudonym "Omar" said participants frequently referred to Muslims as "terrorists" and told them to leave the country. Omar said, "We care about the same issues as any American... We are parents, spouses, employees, and business owners. This is not the America I believe in, but I am not going anywhere."
Fear and concern
Sheila Fazli, the Green Party candidate for comptroller, said rising racism is pushing Muslims to "withdraw in daily life," and this environment creates fear among Muslims who want to enter politics. There are only two Muslim lawmakers in the Texas legislature.
Muslim lawmaker Salman Lalani, who founded an interfaith dialogue group in the Texas Parliament, is fighting against attempts to use religion as a tool for political conflict. Lalani said, "Ignorance leads to fear, and fear leads to hate. When we communicate with each other, we learn, raise awareness, and make progress."
The report also covered changes to the state's social studies curriculum. The new curriculum places greater emphasis on "American exceptionalism" and Judeo-Christian influence while reducing lessons on slavery, civil rights, world cultures, and religions. Naila Syed, who attended the curriculum debate session wearing a headscarf, said she felt that speakers objected to teaching about Islamic civilization and talked about Muslims but did not engage with them directly.
Speaking at a symposium on "the politicization of faith," Lalani reiterated the same message. Democratic lawmaker Christian Manuel summed up the situation by saying, "They are weaponizing people's ignorance."
