BREAKING NEWS: CAIR Calls on Ted Cruz to Apologize to Family of Slain NYPD Officer Islam, NY Governor Hochul for Mocking Hijab at Funeral Service
The Texas, New York and national headquarters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) to apologize to the family of slain NYPD officer Didarul Islam and New York Governor Kathy Hochul for mocking her decision to respect Islamic custom by wearing a, Islamic hair scarf, or hijab, at the religious funeral service for the murdered officer.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), a user published a photo of Governor Hochul seated inside a mosque while wearing a head scarf that partially covered her hair. The user wrote, “Why in TF is the Governor of New York wearing a fcking hijab?!” Cruz retweeted that comment and the photo, writing “Um, wut?”
Numerous X users responded by pointing out that Cruz himself has worn a Jewish yarmulke during Jewish religious events, and that it is common for visitors to various houses of worship to wear clothing that respects the environment, such as women who wear veils while visiting popes at the Vatican.
In a statement, CAIR, CAIR-New York and CAIR-Texas said:
“If Ted Cruz has any remaining sense of human decency, he will apologize to both the family of slain New York City Police Department Officer Didarul Islam and Governor Kathy Hochul for his despicable and disrespectful conduct. Senator Cruz should be ashamed of himself for daring to use a murdered Muslim NYPD officer’s funeral as an opportunity to amplify anti-Muslim hate.
“The fact that Mr. Cruz has repeatedly shown respect for Jewish beliefs by wearing a yarmulke at Jewish sacred spaces makes his attack on Governor Hochul for similarly respecting a Muslim space all the more hateful and hypocritical. The next time Mr. Cruz visits a Catholic church, he should look up, notice the statues depicting Mary mother of Jesus, may God’s peace be upon them, wearing a scarf, and then ask himself why he hates the sight of the hijab so much.”
CAIR-NY's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: The Texas, New York and national headquarters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) to apologize to the family of slain NYPD officer Didarul Islam and New York Governor Kathy Hochul for mocking her decision to respect Islamic custom by wearing a, Islamic hair scarf, or hijab, at the religious funeral service for the murdered officer.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), a user published a photo of Governor Hochul seated inside a mosque while wearing a head scarf that partially covered her hair. The user wrote, “Why in TF is the Governor of New York wearing a fcking hijab?!” Cruz retweeted that comment and the photo, writing “Um, wut?”
Numerous X users responded by pointing out that Cruz himself has worn a Jewish yarmulke during Jewish religious events, and that it is common for visitors to various houses of worship to wear clothing that respects the environment, such as women who wear veils while visiting popes at the Vatican.
In a statement, CAIR, CAIR-New York and CAIR-Texas said:
“If Ted Cruz has any remaining sense of human decency, he will apologize to both the family of slain New York City Police Department Officer Didarul Islam and Governor Kathy Hochul for his despicable and disrespectful conduct. Senator Cruz should be ashamed of himself for daring to use a murdered Muslim NYPD officer’s funeral as an opportunity to amplify anti-Muslim hate.
“The fact that Mr. Cruz has repeatedly shown respect for Jewish beliefs by wearing a yarmulke at Jewish sacred spaces makes his attack on Governor Hochul for similarly respecting a Muslim space all the more hateful and hypocritical. The next time Mr. Cruz visits a Catholic church, he should look up, notice the statues depicting Mary mother of Jesus, may God’s peace be upon them, wearing a scarf, and then ask himself why he hates the sight of the hijab so much.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
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CONTACT: Afaf Nasher, Esq., CAIR-NY Executive Director, CAIR-NY, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com; CAIR-NY Communications Team, comms@ny.cair.com; Shaimaa Zayan, CAIR-Austin Office Director, szayan@cair.com, 512-785-7105; Rawan Harirah, Chair and President of CAIR Texas-Houston, 713-254-2016, rharirah@cair.com; John T. Floyd, Board Member, CAIR Texas-Houston, 713-254-2016, jfloyd@cair.com; CAIR-DFW Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll, 469-200-0273, mcarroll@cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com