AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Statements by some Republican candidates in the United States concerning Muslims have triggered a wave of criticism and concern over the growing prevalence of anti-Islam rhetoric in electoral contests, particularly in the state of Texas.
In the latest instance, Larry Brock, a candidate for state office, called during a campaign event near Dallas for a ban on forms of Islamic dress such as the burqa, hijab, and niqab, as well as restrictions on halal food and the observance of Ramadan ceremonies. His remarks prompted extensive reactions across political and media circles.
Reports also indicate that other Republican politicians have advanced similar positions, including the circulation of campaign advertisements alleging the large-scale entry of Muslims into the United States and an increase in security threats. Some candidates have likewise called for measures to counter what they described as the “expansion of Sharia.”
At the state level, Greg Abbott, the Governor of Texas, previously issued an executive order designating certain Islamic entities, including the Muslim Brotherhood and a Muslim civil organization, as terrorist organizations, a move that provoked significant legal and political reactions. Additionally, Ken Paxton, the Texas Attorney General, described a proposed residential complex associated with an Islamic center as a “potential Sharia city” and pledged to investigate the matter.
Political observers believe the intensification of such positions comes at a time when immigration, traditionally a central theme in electoral competition, has lost some of its previous effectiveness, prompting certain factions to shift toward identity and cultural issues. These developments have heightened concerns over the social and political consequences of rising Islamophobia in the U.S. electoral landscape.
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