8,683 civil rights complaints. 555 reported hate incidents. 1,111 anti-Muslim social media posts by 46 elected officials. Hundreds of online posts containing calls for violence or extreme dehumanization targeting Muslims and their places of worship.
These figures, documented in separate reports by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH), reveal troubling patterns of discrimination, hostility, and threats affecting Muslim communities across the United States.
CAIR’s figures cover complaints received during 2025, while CSOH’s investigations examine political social media activity between February 2025 and March 2026 and violent or dehumanizing content published on X during January–September 2026. The findings represent different categories of documented incidents and research data, rather than a single nationwide count of verified hate crimes.
Together, they highlight a serious civil rights concern that extends beyond online hostility to include political stigmatization, intimidation, threats against religious institutions, and acts of violence.
Against this documented backdrop, the American Center for Justice (ACJ) condemns the spread of anti-Muslim hatred, discriminatory rhetoric, intimidation, and violence, and calls for urgent, coordinated action to protect religious freedom, public safety, and the constitutional rights of Muslim Americans.
The Center warns that portraying an entire religious community as inherently dangerous, disloyal, or incompatible with American society undermines the principles of equality, religious liberty, and democratic pluralism upon which the United States was founded.
I. Documented Patterns of Discrimination and Anti-Muslim Hostility
According to CAIR’s 2026 Civil Rights Report, “The Right to Be Different,” the organization received 8,683 civil rights complaints nationwide in 2025, representing the highest annual total recorded since it began publishing civil rights reports covering 1996.
The total exceeded the 8,658 complaints reported in 2024 by 0.3%, indicating that complaints remained at historically elevated levels.
The reported cases included:
- 1,101 complaints involving employment discrimination.
- 568 complaints concerning immigration and asylum-related discrimination.
- 555 complaints categorized as hate incidents.
- 505 complaints involving the rights of incarcerated individuals.
- 488 complaints relating to government watchlists and travel restrictions.
These figures reflect complaints received and classified by CAIR and do not establish that every allegation constitutes a legally proven violation. Nevertheless, they provide important evidence of the continuing challenges faced by Muslim communities and others affected by the forms of discrimination documented in the report.
The situation becomes more concerning when examined alongside research into public officials’ use of social media.
On April 21, 2026, CSOH published its investigation, “Manufacturing the Muslim Threat,” documenting 1,111 social media posts by 46 Republican elected officials between February 2025 and March 2026 that the researchers classified as containing anti-Muslim bigotry or conspiracy narratives.
According to the study, the monthly volume of such posts increased by approximately 1,450% between the early and late periods examined.
The report identified recurring narratives portraying Muslims as security threats, questioning their loyalty to the United States, describing communities with substantial Muslim populations as being under foreign or religious control, and advocating discriminatory measures targeting Islamic practices.
The same study documented eight pieces of Sharia-related legislation introduced during the research period and the expansion of a congressional caucus addressing the issue.
These findings raise substantial concerns about the normalization of discriminatory narratives within political discourse and the potential implications for equal citizenship and religious freedom.
II. Explicit Threats and Dehumanizing Content on Digital Platforms
A separate CSOH investigation, published on October 13, 2026, examined the enforcement of content moderation policies on X concerning threats and extreme dehumanization directed at Muslims.
Researchers identified 464 posts published between January 10 and September 9, 2026, by United States-based accounts.
Of these:
- 270 posts contained explicit calls for violence against Muslims or Islamic institutions, including calls to kill Muslims or burn mosques.
- 194 posts employed extreme dehumanizing language directed at Muslims.
- 289 posts, approximately 62% of the analyzed sample, remained accessible, either fully or with visibility restrictions, seven days after researchers reported them to the platform.
The findings relate to a specifically identified research sample and should not be interpreted as representing all content published on X.
Nevertheless, they raise serious concerns about the persistence of explicitly violent and dehumanizing content and the effectiveness of platform responses to reported threats.
ACJ emphasizes that threats against religious communities and places of worship require particular attention because they can create widespread fear, discourage religious participation, and undermine individuals’ ability to exercise fundamental freedoms safely.
Digital platforms should address such threats through transparent and consistent enforcement mechanisms while respecting constitutionally protected expression.
III. From Hostile Rhetoric to Threats Against Communities
Recent developments in Dearborn, Michigan, illustrate how anti-Muslim hostility can affect the daily lives and sense of security of local communities.
On August 18, 2026, an anti-Muslim demonstration organized by activist Jake Lang took place in connection with a Dearborn City Council meeting.
According to Michigan Public, the demonstration included inflammatory statements directed at Muslims, allegations portraying them as a threat to American society, and language suggesting that their continued presence in the country was unwelcome.
The demonstration generated serious concerns among residents and local officials over public safety, religious tolerance, and the targeting of an American city because of the religious and ethnic identities of its inhabitants.
A separate incident resulted in criminal charges.
On September 21, 2026, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office announced that a woman had been charged following alleged threats of violence against a mosque and Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud.
The charges included alleged terrorism-related threats and a hate-crime-related true threat.
ACJ emphasizes that these remain criminal allegations subject to judicial determination and that the accused retains the presumption of innocence.
The Center is also deeply concerned about the May 18, 2026, shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, California, which resulted in the deaths of three adults, including a security officer.
The San Diego Police Department initially announced that the attack was being investigated as a hate crime, with the FBI participating in the investigation.
On August 31, 2026, police and the FBI announced that a grand jury in North Carolina had indicted a 17-year-old suspected of assisting the shooters remotely on three counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. The investigation remained active, and the charges were allegations pending judicial resolution.
ACJ condemns the attack, extends its solidarity to the victims’ families, and calls for full accountability in accordance with the law.
While the relationship between particular political statements and individual criminal acts must never be presumed without evidence, these incidents underscore the importance of responding seriously to threats, intimidation, and violence directed at religious communities.
IV. Political Rhetoric and the Right to Equal Citizenship
The growing use of religious identity in political attacks has become particularly concerning ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections.
On October 25, 2026, President Donald Trump publicly described Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed as a “jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member” during a campaign rally in Port Huron, Michigan.
An independent fact-check published by PolitiFact on October 27 found no credible evidence supporting the allegation, noting that El-Sayed had not advocated violence to advance Islam and had denied membership in the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Associated Press also reported that the President’s remarks questioned the candidate’s loyalty and portrayed him as a national security threat.
On October 29, the Jewish advocacy organization J Street and the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) issued a joint statement expressing concern about anti-Muslim rhetoric by senior political figures and calling for greater solidarity among religious communities.
ACJ stresses that all candidates and public officials may legitimately be subjected to criticism, scrutiny, and political disagreement.
However, political debate must not become a vehicle for collectively stigmatizing religious communities or portraying an individual’s faith as evidence of extremism, disloyalty, or ineligibility for public service.
Religious identity must never be used to diminish an American citizen’s right to full and equal participation in public life.
The Center’s position is grounded in universal civil rights principles and does not constitute support for or opposition to any political candidate or party.
V. Constitutional Protections and the Rule of Law
The developments documented above raise fundamental questions concerning the protection of constitutional rights, religious freedom, public safety, and equal citizenship.
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects religious liberty and freedom of expression.
Article VI prohibits religious tests as qualifications for federal public office, while the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees equal protection of the laws against discriminatory state action.
Federal law also provides protections against specified forms of religiously motivated violence and interference with religious practice.
Under 18 U.S.C. § 247, certain acts involving damage to religious property or obstruction of religious exercise through force or threats of force may constitute federal crimes, subject to applicable statutory requirements.
Under 18 U.S.C. § 249, certain acts involving bodily injury, or attempted bodily injury using specified dangerous means, motivated by protected characteristics including religion, may constitute federal hate crimes.
ACJ recognizes that offensive, controversial, or discriminatory expression does not automatically constitute unlawful conduct.
The constitutional protection of free speech remains essential to American democracy. However, true threats of violence and incitement that meets established constitutional standards may fall outside First Amendment protection.
The Center therefore emphasizes the importance of distinguishing protected political expression from unlawful threats, violence, and discriminatory conduct, and of ensuring that all enforcement measures comply with due process and the rule of law.
VI. ACJ’s Position and Calls for Action
In light of the documented evidence, recent incidents, and continuing threats, the American Center for Justice calls upon federal, state, and local authorities, elected officials, law enforcement agencies, civil rights organizations, and digital platforms to take meaningful action.
1. Reject discriminatory political rhetoric
Public officials and political leaders should reject statements that collectively stigmatize Muslim Americans, portray their religious identity as a threat, or question their citizenship and loyalty solely because of their faith.
2. Strengthen protection for religious communities
Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies should assess credible threats, strengthen preventive security measures for vulnerable religious institutions, and coordinate with community representatives to address potential risks.
3. Ensure impartial investigations and accountability
The Department of Justice, the FBI, and relevant law enforcement authorities should investigate suspected hate crimes, unlawful threats, and religiously motivated violence thoroughly and impartially, pursuing accountability whenever supported by sufficient evidence and applicable law.
4. Protect equal civic and political participation
All Americans must be able to seek public office, participate in elections, engage in democratic debate, and exercise their constitutional rights without discrimination, intimidation, or threats of violence based on religion.
5. Improve digital platform accountability
Social media companies should strengthen the consistent enforcement of policies addressing violent threats and targeted dehumanization, improve reporting mechanisms, and provide greater transparency about enforcement decisions while safeguarding lawful expression.
6. Expand prevention and interfaith cooperation
Civil rights organizations, religious institutions, educational bodies, and community leaders should strengthen initiatives that counter prejudice, address misinformation, and promote cooperation and mutual respect among different religious and ethnic communities.
7. Strengthen hate crime reporting and public transparency
Relevant government agencies should continue improving the collection, classification, and public reporting of hate crime data, while distinguishing criminal incidents, reported bias incidents, civil rights complaints, and verified legal violations.
Reliable data and transparent reporting are essential to developing effective prevention strategies and evaluating institutional responses.
VII. Protecting One Community Means Protecting the Rights of All
The documented complaints, online threats, discriminatory narratives, and violent incidents outlined in this statement demand more than expressions of concern.
They require a sustained commitment to constitutional protections, public safety, accountability, and the equal dignity of every person living in the United States.
Muslim Americans are an integral part of the nation’s civic, economic, cultural, scientific, and political life. Their religious identity must never become grounds for exclusion, intimidation, suspicion, or unequal treatment.
ACJ condemns anti-Muslim hatred and violence in all forms and reaffirms its opposition to antisemitism, racism, xenophobia, and discrimination against any religious or ethnic community.
The Center calls upon public institutions and leaders across the political spectrum to fulfill their constitutional and legal responsibilities, protect religious communities without discrimination, and ensure that political disagreement never becomes a justification for threats or violence.
The protection of Muslim Americans is not a matter of preferential treatment. It is a test of the United States’ commitment to constitutional equality and the rule of law.
Religious freedom is not a privilege granted to a particular community. It is a fundamental right guaranteed to all.
The American Center for Justice reiterates its commitment to documenting human rights concerns, advocating for affected communities, promoting accountability, and advancing justice, peaceful coexistence, and respect for human dignity.
Issued by: American Center for Justice (ACJ)
Dearborn, Michigan, United States Website: https://acjus.org
Sources and Supporting Documentation
- Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). 2026 Civil Rights Report: The Right to Be Different.https://islamophobia.org/civil-rights-reports/2026-civil-rights-report-the-right-to-be-different/
- Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH). Manufacturing the Muslim Threat, April 21, 2026.https://www.csohate.org/2026/04/21/manufacturing-muslim-threat-in-america/
- Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH). X’s Enforcement Gaps on Dehumanization and Threats of Violence Against Muslims, October 13, 2026.https://www.csohate.org/2026/10/13/x-enforcement-gaps-on-threats-against-muslims/
- Michigan Public. “Christian Crusader” Rally Meets Resistance in Dearborn, August 19, 2026.https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2026-08-19/christian-crusader-rally-meets-resistance-in-dearborn-where-officials-extol-diversity-tolerance
- Michigan Attorney General’s Office. Two Charged with Terrorism Following Threats to Elected Officials, Supreme Court Justices, September 21, 2026.https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2026/09/21/two-charged-with-terrorism-following-threats-to-elected-officials-supreme-court-justices
- San Diego Police Department. Islamic Center Shooting Information and investigation updates, May–August 2026.https://www.sandiego.gov/police/news-center/news-releases/islamic-center-shooting-information
- Associated Press. Trump Escalates Anti-Muslim Attacks Against El-Sayed in Michigan, October 2026.https://apnews.com/article/162330c3d193ecb94538f8dd8083f916
- PolitiFact. Fact-check of President Trump’s Allegations About Abdul El-Sayed, October 27, 2026.https://politifact.com/factchecks/2026/oct/27/donald-trump/el-sayed-muslim-brotherhood-jihadist-michigan/
- J Street and Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). Joint Statement on Rejecting Islamophobic Rhetoric Ahead of Midterm Elections, October 29, 2026.https://www.mpac.org/mpac-statements/nbspjoint-statement-by-j-street-and-the-muslim-public-affairs-council-on-rejecting-islamophobic-rhetoric-ahead-of-midterm-elections
- United States Department of Justice. Federal Hate Crime Laws and Policies.https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/laws-and-policies
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