Top Dems Call Islamic Terrorism in US a ‘Conspiracy Theory’

Democrats on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government sharply criticized a GOP‑led hearing Wednesday that examined concerns about Sharia law and Islamic terrorism in the United States, calling it a “conspiracy theory” rooted in “unconstitutional bigotry.”

“There is no evidence of any plot to impose Sharia law,” Ranking Member Mary Gay Scanlon, D‑Pa., said during the hearing, accusing Republican politicians of “shamefully scapegoating Muslims for political gains.”

“They made up a conspiracy theory about their Muslim neighbors to intimidate voters. Saying lies over and over again doesn’t make them true, and it doesn’t make unconstitutional bigotry legal,” she added.

Sharia law, defined as a religious and ethical system within Islam derived from the Quran and the Hadith, guides Muslims in matters of faith, morality, and aspects of daily life.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D‑Md., argued that extremism is not tied to any one religion, saying the existence of Christian extremist groups shows that terrorism “has no religion.” He accused Rep. Chip Roy, R‑Texas, co‑founder of the Congressional Sharia-Free America Caucus, of seeking to “demonize and vilify those who adhere to the religion.”

In her opening remarks, Scanlon also sought to discredit the hearing by noting that none of the four witnesses were experts on Islam or Sharia law, even though Democrats were tasked with inviting one of the four witnesses.

“Democrats didn’t want them to go on record—that’s why they didn’t call on them to testify,” Roy told The Daily Signal after the hearing.

Rep. Sydney Kamlager‑Dove, D‑Calif., said the spread of Sharia law is “not a pressing issue” and described the concern as a “manufactured crisis.” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D‑Wash., said the hearing should not be held because “Islam is a very important religion.”

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan, R‑Ohio, rejected those claims, saying Sharia law and Islamic extremism “are real issues of concern.”

Roy opened the hearing by raising alarms about what he described as an ideological push by Islamic fundamentalists in Texas who are attempting to impose elements of Sharia law. He cited the East Plano Islamic Center near Dallas—often referred to as EPIC City—claiming it plans to establish radical Islamic rule.

Raskin dismissed the claim, calling the site a “community center,” and said he does not believe Sharia law or Islamist extremism is being promoted there.

During his opening remarks, Roy accused some lawmakers of refusing to call out radical Islamic extremism “by its name” because they fear backlash from their voting base.

After the hearing, Raskin told The Daily Signal that he does condemn “radical Islamic terrorism” and said he would be surprised if his colleagues did not share that view. However, Jayapal, Rep. Max Frost, D-Fla., and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., have all refused to condemn radical Islam when previously asked by The Daily Signal.

Roy then turned to the witnesses, who included Amy Mekelburg, founder and editor‑in‑chief of the Rise, Align, Ignite, Reclaim Foundation USA; Ammon Blair, senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation; Marco Hunter‑Lopez, a student at Wylie East High School in Texas; and Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty.

Mekelburg testified that she believes radical Islam poses a real threat.

“I have documented Islam’s assault on Europe. They stalked us, they harassed us, they fill us with death threats,” she said. “I feel unsafe when I open my front door. Islam has taken that from me. The hard part of this fight is seeing my friends pay the ultimate price.”

Mekelburg referenced a Christian‑Iraqi friend she said was killed by Islamist extremists in Sweden after speaking out against Sharia law, and claimed Sweden enacted laws restricting blasphemy against the Quran.

When Mekelburg accused nonprofit organizations, including the Council on American‑Islamic Relations, of facilitating Islamist extremism, Rep. Steve Cohen, D‑Tenn., began clapping loudly and then left the hearing room.

Hunter‑Lopez criticized public‑school policies he said reflect Islamic influence, including the serving of halal meals.

“Public schools aim to educate, not promote principles that are incompatible with our Constitution and way of life,” he said.

Responding to Raskin’s claim that America has no established religion, Hunter‑Lopez noted that “God is mentioned four times in the Declaration of Independence.”

Amanda Tyler followed by arguing that the hearing was promoting “the imaginary threat of Sharia law.” Republican lawmakers challenged that assertion.

Rep. Mark Harris, R‑N.C., cited a reported 2025 case in Washington state in which parents allegedly attempted to carry out an honor killing after their daughter refused an arranged marriage. “This is not compatible with our way of life,” he said.

Rep. Robert Onder, R‑Mo., questioned Tyler about whether religious liberty is respected by groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood and the Taliban, or in countries including Iran, Sudan, and Afghanistan.

“I’m not familiar,” Tyler replied.

She later said the United States protects freedom of religion so citizens “can believe what we want and act on those beliefs.”

When Roy asked whether Islam is compatible with Western civilization, Tyler declined to answer.

Rep. Wesley Hunt, R‑Texas, closed the hearing by arguing that importing belief systems “not aligned with our way of life” erodes the nation’s social fabric.

Probing Sharia law and Islamist extremism “is not racist,” Hunt said. “I’ve been Black my whole life—for 44 years.”