Republican US lawmaker doubles down after criticism of his anti-Muslim comments
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Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) speaks to reporters ahead of a vote to pass the American Relief Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., December 19, 2024. The legislation failed to pass the House in a 174-235 vote. REUTERS/Anna Rose Layden
By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON, March 10 (Reuters) - Republican U.S. Representative Andy Ogles doubled down on Tuesday after saying "Muslims don't belong in American society," which had sparked widespread condemnation and prompted a Muslim advocacy group to designate him as an "anti-Muslim extremist."
Here are some details:
• Top Democrats like California Governor Gavin Newsom and House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called those comments "disgusting" and Islamophobic.
• Muslim advocacy group Council on American-Islamic Relations, which documents anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bias in the U.S., said it designated Ogles as "an anti-Muslim extremist" after his social media comments.
• "Muslims don't belong in American society. Pluralism is a lie," Ogles said on X on Monday.
• He called for expulsion of Muslims from the U.S. on Tuesday. "Muslims are unable to assimilate; they all have to go back," he posted.
• Over the years, rights advocates have attributed Islamophobia to the September 11, 2001 attacks; and more recently to anti-immigration sentiment, white supremacy and the fallout of Israel's war in Gaza.
• Muslim advocacy groups have also previously condemned Republican lawmakers like U.S. Representative Randy Fine for their anti-Muslim comments.
• They have also criticized the crackdown by Republican President Donald Trump's administration on immigration and pro-Palestinian protests.
• Republican House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, in comments to reporters on Tuesday, declined to condemn Ogles' remarks.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Stephen Coates)
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