BREAKING: CAIR Calls for Resignation of Islamophobic Indiana GOP Official Who Replaced Resigned Islamophobic Official

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/18/20) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for the resignation of a newly-appointed Indiana Republican official who has posted Islamophobic material online.

In January, CAIR welcomed the resignation ofKokomo Common Council Member Greg Jones after Islamophobic posts to his Facebook page in 2015 were found calling Muslims “goat humpers” and referring to Islam as “a Theocratic Moon Cult.”

SEE: Jones Resigns from Kokomo Common Council

Last week, the Howard County Republican Party selected Roger Stewart to replace Jones as the council representative of District 4. On Friday, Islamophobic posts were discovered on Stewart’s now-deleted Facebook page, including one 2019 meme stating, “I refuse to bend, twist or change to make Muslims feel comfortable in MY COUNTRY.”

SEE: Kokomo Native Replaces Greg Jones, Who Resigned Over Fallout from Offensive Facebook Posts

Another post shared on Stewart’s page criticized officials taking their oath of office on the Quran, Islam’s revealed text. It stated: “Let me say about the QURAN, if you take the Oath of Office on a book recognizing Sharia Law swearing to defend honor and uphold the United States Constitution, then you have committed treason.” Stewart say he does not recall making the posts and says apologizes “if anybody is offended.”

SEE: Jones’ Replacement Also Shares Anti-Muslim Content on Facebook

“Just as we called for the resignation of the previous Islamophobic official, we urge Mr. Stewart to resign from his post and for a person who understands constitutionally-guaranteed religious freedoms to be appointed in his place,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. 

Hooper said CAIR has reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims, immigrants and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president.