(WASHINGTON, D.C. – 5/15/2026) – The US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), America’s umbrella group of National and local Muslim associations, today applauded members of Congress who defended religious freedom and the rights of American Muslims during a dishonest and bigoted Republican-led congressional hearing about the imaginary threat of “sharia law” taking over America.
Earlier this week, Republicans on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution held a second hearing focused on attacking the faith of Islam and inciting hatred against American Muslims. During the hearing, the committee entered a statement that USCMO issued debunking anti-Muslim bigotry into the congressional records.
USCMO notes that the anti-Muslim rhetoric coming from House Republicans appears to be a political ploy by elected officials who are using Muslims as a political football to win elections. USCMO particularly condemns Republican elected officials in Texas who used the hearing to smear and endanger innocent American Muslim school children at a public school in Texas, among other targets.
USCMO Secretary General Oussama Jammal said in a statement:
“This farce of a hearing was an incredible waste of taxpayer money and congressional time in an hour of grave seriousness for Congress and our nation. Weaponizing Congress to attack an entire religion and faith community using ‘sharia hysteria’ marks a new low in moral bankruptcy for these House Republicans.
“We commend those members of the committee who forcefully spoke up against this bigotry, including Rep. Scanlon, Rep. Jayapal, and Rep. Raskin, among others. We also commend witness Amanda Tyler, who spoke as both a constitutional attorney and a Christian Baptist.
“Ms. Tyler documented with clear evidence the sharp rise in anti-Muslim discrimination and bullying of Muslim children in schools. Moreover, she made shamefully clear how this hateful hearing was itself a deliberate weaponization of Congress’s power against these innocent American children.”
The Council strongly condemns the Republicans on the House Judiciary Subcommittee for their waste of the American people’s resources and trust and for abusing their platforms to endanger American Muslim institutions and community members, including innocent school children who have been subjected to further hate because of this hearing.
We pray for the safety, security, and healthful nurturing of these children.
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