The Arab American Civic Council strongly condemns far-right political activist Laura Loomer’s recent dangerous comments on her X account targeting Orange County–based Imam Moustafa Qazwini and disparaging the broader Arab, MENA, and Muslim communities.

These attacks jeopardize the safety of local community leaders at a time of heightened tensions due to the Israeli–U.S. war involving Iran and Lebanon, and the involvement of many other countries.

While Loomer has a well-documented history of inflammatory rhetoric, her remarks reflect a broader and more troubling symptom of Islamophobic hate that seeks to dehumanize Muslim, Arab, and Iranian communities. Such rhetoric does not exist in a vacuum and occurs during a climate of anti-Arab and Islamophobic hostility that has, in the past, escalated into real-world violence.

Members of every community must be able to speak openly about their beliefs, values, and traditions without fear of harassment or intimidation. Targeting community spaces undermines that freedom and sends a chilling message to those who simply seek to participate in civic and religious life safely. They increase fear and insecurity among local communities and risk emboldening individuals who may seek to harass or harm members of our community. Just as importantly, they threaten the ability of marginalized communities to gather, speak, and practice their faith freely in spaces that are meant to be safe and welcoming.

We applaud the efforts of local leaders and community members who are working to protect both free expression and community safety. We call upon our elected officials and civic leaders to stand with our communities, unequivocally reject hate, and ensure that all communities are protected. Political disagreement must never serve as a pretext for racism, religious intolerance, or the targeting of community leaders or the safe spaces that marginalized communities depend upon.