Sharia Free Caucus rallies around Randy Fine amid censure threats

The Sharia Free America Caucus is rallying around U.S. Rep. Randy Fine as he faces a punishment threat following anti-Muslim remarks.

“I stand with Rep. Fine — and will fight any move to censure him,” posted U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, a Texas Republican and co-founder of the caucus, on X.

The comments came amid growing indications from Democrats that a censure resolution will be brought against the Atlantic Coast Republican. The threat came after a social media post by Fine stating: “If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.”

Fine has said the comments referenced a call by Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani in New York City supporting a ban on dogs as indoor pets. The woman, Fine noted, was a supporter of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the first Muslim elected Mayor of America’s most populous city.

Roy, with his post backing Fine, shared video of a woman walking her dog when a Muslim man kicked the animal.

U.S. Rep. Mark Harris, a North Carolina Republican, supported Fine during a segment on Newsmax and said it was “ridiculous” Democrats would call for a censure over the remarks.

“I support him. I think his post was on the spot,” Harris said. “And the reality is, people don’t want to talk about the fact that what has happened in New York City is a shift like we’ve never seen before. We warned it was going to come, and I think it’s a major, major concern.”

The post prompted calls for Fine’s resignation from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which has also called the Sharia Free Caucus an “anti-Muslim hate group.”

Fine’s remarks also drew criticism from the Right. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood retracted his endorsement of Fine over the comment and prior ones about Palestinians, while GOP Primary opponents Aaron Baker and Charles Gambaro have attacked Fine as “divisive” and “flawed” over his repeated rhetoric.

But U.S. Rep. Keith Self, a Texas Republican who co-founded the Sharia Free Caucus with Roy, said Fine’s remarks did not come from nowhere. He shared an article about Kiswani’s remarks that predated Fine’s remarks.

“You will not take away our dogs. You will not take away our individual liberties,” Self posted. “And you will certainly not impose any form of Sharia on the American people.”

Other members repeated similar messages as Fine, albeit with less caustic language.

“I’m pretty sure if my family had to choose between me and our INDOOR dog, I would lose,” posted U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison, a Missouri Republican.

“I’m a hard pass on any religion that bans having a pet dog. How can you reject so much love and joy in your home, it explains a lot. I stand with my colleague Rep. Fine.”