Muslim lawmaker says the community feels targeted by Texas Republicans
Concern about ongoing Republican focus on Islam, Sharia Law, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reflects a community under siege, says politician
Muslim State Rep. Salman Bhojani says his community feels targeted by Texas Republicans, amid growing concern about the ongoing Texas Republican focus on Islam.
Bhojani said the heavy focus on Islam, Sharia Law, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) suggests a community under siege.
Representing D-District 92, and one of two Muslims in the Texas Legislature, Bhojani said he gets calls expressing alarm over attacks by politicians from Muslim families daily.
“I get calls from Muslim community members that they’re being targeted just for wearing a hijab.”
The corporate lawyer and politician, who is a former member of the Euless, Texas, City Council, was the first Muslim American to hold elected office in Euless.
In October 2021, Bhojani announced his candidacy for the Texas House of Representatives. He was elected to the Texas House in November 2022, becoming one of the first Muslims and Pakistanis elected to the Texas Legislature.
He spoke on the current anti-Muslim push by Republicans with Inside Texas Politics, which opined that Texan Republicans aren’t talking about the border much anymore, as the policies of the Trump Administration have led to a 55-year low in crossings.
“They’ve instead turned their attention to Islam, Sharia Law, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), with some Republican campaigns sending near daily texts on the matter.”
Bhojani told the broadcaster:
“The Muslim community is devastated. It’s living under sort of a blanket of fear, a blanket of suspicion that, oh, if you’re Muslim, then you must be doing something illegal or these organizations that are fighting for your civil rights are also terrorist organizations.”
He also expects legal action to allow Muslim private schools to participate in the state’s voucher program.