DID Press: Muslim advocacy groups in the United States have accused members of Congress of fueling anti-Muslim sentiment after Republicans held hearings centered on the theme of a “Sharia-Free America.”
The Council of American-Islamic Organizations, a coalition representing more than 50 Islamic organizations, condemned the recent congressional hearings, describing them as an effort to “weaponize government against American Muslims.”
Critics say the hearings were designed less to examine legal or constitutional issues and more to amplify fear and distrust toward Muslims and Islamic practices.
Council on American-Islamic Relations Maryland director Zainab Chaudry argued that the sessions aimed to portray Muslim Americans as outsiders and security threats rather than protect constitutional values.
Meanwhile, Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin criticized the hearings as a distraction from major national issues and warned that they undermine religious freedom.
Republican lawmakers titled one recent hearing: “Why Political Islam and Sharia Are Incompatible with the U.S. Constitution,” despite the absence of evidence suggesting organized efforts to impose Islamic law in the United States.
Republican Congressman Chip Roy claimed during the hearing that “political Islamic extremists seek to replace America’s political system,” a statement Muslim organizations called inflammatory and baseless.
Human rights advocates say the hearings come amid a broader rise in Islamophobia in the United States, linked to the legacy of the September 11 attacks, anti-immigration politics, white nationalist rhetoric and tensions surrounding the Gaza war.
According to CAIR, 2025 recorded 8,683 complaints involving anti-Muslim and anti-Arab discrimination — the highest number documented by the organization to date.
A separate study by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate found that anti-Muslim rhetoric among elected Republican officials has sharply increased since early 2025, with more than 1,100 online posts containing anti-Islamic content.
In recent months, Republican governors in Florida and Texas have also labeled CAIR a “terrorist group,” allegations strongly rejected by the organization and civil rights advocates.