Calls Grow for Congressional Response to Rep. Fine’s Islamophobic Comments
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil rights organization in the United States, has called on all members of the U.S. House of Representatives to denounce what it describes as “violently anti-Muslim, anti-American, and anti-Palestinian rhetoric” from newly elected Florida Republican Congressman Randy Fine.
This appeal comes after Fine, on May 2, used social media X to refer to a fellow legislator as a “Muslim terrorist” and replied to a photo of emaciated Palestinian civilians with the hashtag “#StarveAway.”
CAIR’s message was sent to over 1,600 congressional staff members, including chiefs of staff and policy advisors involved in civil rights, urging an unequivocal rejection of such language in the legislature, according to the group’s website.
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Robert S. McCaw, Director of CAIR’s Government Affairs Department and the author of the letter, warned that Fine’s statements pose a danger not only to Muslims and Palestinians but to the principles of democratic discourse.
He wrote, “Congress must take a stand against hate before it further poisons our national discourse or incites real-world violence and acts of terrorism.”
The letter also includes a detailed list of 10 previous public statements by Fine that dehumanize Muslims and Palestinians and promote violence. Among these are social media posts in which Fine reportedly applauded the killing of a Palestinian-American protester by Israeli forces, suggested Muslim lawmakers should leave Congress before his arrival, and wrote that “Gaza must be destroyed.”
In another instance cited by CAIR, Fine responded to a question about a media building bombed while U.S. journalists were inside with a single word: “YES.” In a separate case, he is reported to have told a constituent to “go blow yourself up” during an online exchange.
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During a Florida Senate hearing, Fine reportedly told a person wearing a keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian scarf, to “enjoy your terrorist rag.” CAIR claims he then used his authority to threaten to clear the room when challenged.
“We write to request that your office publicly condemn the violently anti-Muslim, anti-American, and anti-Palestinian rhetoric spread by Florida Congressman Randy Fine... Now that he has joined the 119th Congress, it is critical that your office reject any collaboration with this extremist and confront his bigotry whenever it surfaces,” reads parts of the CAIR’s letter.
The organization concluded its message by urging lawmakers to publicly denounce Fine’s statements and ensure that his rhetoric is not normalized within Congress.
Source: Agencies
