Michigan Gubernatorial Candidate John James Faces Islamophobia Criticism After Comments on Ashura Procession
By Fatmeh Atieh – Alenteshar Newspaper
Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Representative John James is facing criticism after remarks he made about an Ashura procession in the city of Dearborn, home to one of the largest Arab and Muslim communities in the United States.
During an interview on the conservative television network Newsmax, footage of the Ashura procession—where thousands of Shia Muslims gathered to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein—was shown under the headline: “Radical Islam’s Grip on America Continues.”
Responding to the segment, James said, “I didn’t go to Iraq to fight extremists only to find them on our doorstep here. Michigan will never be a sanctuary for extremism.”
His comments quickly drew criticism from elected officials and community leaders, who argued that he had wrongly associated a peaceful religious observance with extremism and contributed to anti-Muslim stereotypes.
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud condemned the remarks, calling them “ignorant and bigoted,” and said the city represents “the very best of America” through its diversity and strong sense of community.
Michigan State Representative Abbas Farhat also criticized James, saying that rather than taking the time to understand one of the state’s largest communities and the religious significance of the Ashura procession, the candidate chose to promote harmful stereotypes that are unworthy of someone seeking Michigan’s highest elected office.
In response to accusations of Islamophobia, James’ campaign rejected the criticism, insisting that his comments were directed at extremism—not at Muslims or the practice of Islam.
Campaign spokeswoman Olivia Bailey said in a statement that James “will be a governor for every Michigander” and will “strongly defend religious freedom and the safety of every law-abiding citizen.” She added that he “will not pretend the threat of extremism does not exist, nor will he be intimidated into silence.”
The campaign also criticized the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and pledged to pursue action against the organization, a position that has generated additional criticism from civil rights advocates.
The controversy comes as Michigan prepares for its gubernatorial election, with Arab American and Muslim voters expected to play a significant role in one of the nation’s key battleground states. The debate has renewed attention on issues of religious freedom, public safety, and political rhetoric toward minority communities.
