A political uproar erupted after Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) responded to remarks by a New York-based Muslim activist about dogs, prompting sharp denunciations from Democratic lawmakers who accused him of bigotry and Islamophobia.

The controversy began with a February 12 social media post from Nerdeen Kiswani, who referenced the November election of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and wrote, “NYC is coming to Islam.” In the same exchange, she added that while dogs have a role in society, they should not be kept as indoor pets, stating that in Islamic tradition they are considered unclean.

“Dogs definitely have a place in society, just not as indoor pets. Like we [Muslims have] said all along, they are unclean [‘najis’].”

As criticism mounted online, Kiswani responded to detractors, writing: “[Laughing] at the Zionists frothing at the mouth at this, thinking they’re doing something. It’s obviously a joke I don’t care if you have a dog, I do care if your dog is … everywhere and you’re not cleaning it.”

Three days later, on February 15, Fine reacted to the exchange with a post of his own: “If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.”

Democratic lawmakers quickly condemned the Florida congressman. “We must call this what it is. Disgusting bigotry,” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) reacted. “Fine must be censured.”

After social media users argued that Khanna had overlooked the broader context of the exchange, he clarified his position: “Taking an alleged comment by one person and attributing it to everyone who shares that person’s faith is the definition of bigotry,” he stated.

Fine responded by mocking Khanna’s use of the phrase “an alleged comment,” noting that the activist’s remarks had been publicly posted. “Perhaps you should have read it before spouting off like an idiot,” the Congressman quipped.

Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) criticized Fine’s statement as harmful, saying the “Islamophobic” comment is “incredibly damaging to Jews trying to combat antisemitism.”

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) wrote, “America is BETTER because of our Muslim community,” adding, “And we are WORSE when ….like this guy spout hate.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) also rebuked Fine, stating, “This is genuinely one of the most disgusting statements I have ever seen issued by an American official. Fine should be censured & stripped of committees.”

Jennifer Jenkins, who previously ran against Fine in November, weighed in as well: “I’m running to kick that bigot out of Washington.”

Rep. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) accused Fine of exploiting controversy for political gain. “This is what it looks like when Islamophobia and outrage are the only two items on your political agenda,” he complained.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom added his voice to the criticism, posting: “Resign now, you racist slob.”

Prominent media figures joined the backlash. CNN’s Jake Tapper described Fine’s remarks as “Disgusting bigotry.” New York Times columnist David French wrote: “Absolutely evil.”

Within Republican circles, reactions were more muted. Some GOP figures, already critical of Fine’s campaign style and political decisions, have avoided publicly defending him, preferring instead to focus attention on advancing President Donald Trump’s populist policy agenda.

“This is a drain-the-swamp presidency,” said Mark Mitchell, polling director at Rasmussen Reports. He noted that swing voters are focused on tangible outcomes, adding that “anything that distracts from it at this point is not helpful,” he told Breitbart News.

At the same time, some conservative activists who view Islam as politically assertive and expansionist have rallied behind Fine’s stance.

Despite the widespread condemnation, Fine has not backed down. In response to critics, he posted “Don’t Tread on Me” posters featuring puppies.

Appearing on Newsmax, Fine defended his comments, arguing that broader cultural issues are at stake. “It’s not enough for Democrats to think anyone who wants to come here illegally should be able to do that. They also think they should be able to get whatever free stuff they want. Now they’re demanding that we change our values and how we live as Americans.”

Many Muslims and commentators have interpreted Fine’s remarks as equating observant Muslims with dogs in a derogatory way.

Kiswani called the statement “genocidal.”

Egyptian-born journalist Mehdi Hassan likewise condemned the post, describing it as “genocidal Rwandan rhetoric” and asserting that it suggested “Muslims are lower than dogs.”

The controversy has also drawn renewed attention to longstanding debates over Islamic teachings regarding dogs. Certain traditional interpretations hold that dogs are ritually impure and should not be kept inside the home except for specific purposes such as guarding property. Some Islamic texts state that the presence of dogs can affect spiritual standing, and historical accounts attributed to Islam’s founder, Mohammed (c. 570–632), include statements discouraging the keeping of dogs as household pets.

{Matzav.com}