Zaki Siddiqui

[Dr. Yasir Qadhi @YasirQadhi]

Governor Abbott,

Government should never discriminate against any religion—but neither should it mistake reasonable accommodation for religious favoritism.

A small ablution facility, paid for by private individuals, is no more an “establishment of religion” than nursing rooms are an establishment of parenthood, kosher meal options an establishment of Judaism, vegetarian options an establishment of vegetarianism, or accessible restroom facilities an establishment of disability. They are practical accommodations that allow ordinary citizens to use public facilities safely and with dignity.

And in this case, any traveler, of any faith, could use the facility to wash their feet—something, I suspect, quite a few weary travelers would appreciate.

Muslims are not asking airports to endorse Islam. They are asking for the same principle that has long guided our nation: people of different faiths should be able to practice their sincerely held beliefs while participating fully in public life.

As Texans, we all benefit when our public institutions are welcoming to everyone. Protecting the religious liberty of one community strengthens the religious liberty of every community.

There is no “Shariah takeover” of Texas. It is deeply disappointing to see you amplify this false trope about your Muslim constituents in order to appeal to anti-Muslim sentiment. The closest thing we have to a Muslim takeover of the Lone Star State is the proliferation of shawarma and falafel shops—along with a few truly outstanding halal Texas BBQ joints. Any time you would like to actually talk to your Muslim constituents, I would be happy to meet you over some meat at any one of them.

What makes this episode especially ironic is the glaring double standard. In 2017, you signed legislation restricting Texas governmental entities from contracting with companies that boycott Israel. In other words, Texas has been willing to condition access to government contracts on a company's commercial conduct toward one particular foreign country. Yet a privately funded facility designed to accommodate the religious practices of some Texas citizens is suddenly portrayed as impermissible religious favoritism.

Why the radically different standards? Why is accommodating the religious needs of Muslim Texans treated with suspicion, while the State of Israel has been afforded extraordinary statutory protection?

Governor Abbott, this latest manufactured controversy—and the continued willingness to use Muslims as a political foil—may well serve short-term political purposes. But elections are not the final measure of public leadership. Eventually, all of us will return to our Lord and be judged by Him. And history has an uncanny ability to revisit the moral failures that politics once rewarded.

Do you really wish to be remembered as the George Wallace of our time?

I am a proud Texan, Governor Abbott. I was born here. I studied here. I graduated from here. I married here. I work here, I live here, and I pay my taxes here. Texas is my home.

I respect the office you hold. But your repeated willingness to malign and marginalize your Muslim constituents has, sadly, caused me to lose my respect for the man who holds it.

[Jonathan AC Brown @JonathanACBrown]

If you’re in Dallas and need free medical care, you can go to this clinic.

[Dan Qayyum @DanQayyum]

I'm sorry but how on earth is this not front page news everywhere? A child. Cigarettes extinguished on his body. A metal rod inserted into his feet. In front of his father. This is documented, filmed, and handed over through the Red Cross. Where is the ICC? Where is the outrage from those who lecture the world about human rights?

[Containeristan @guldaar]

The saddest thing is the father deliberately walking slow so that the IOF beasts would attack him instead of his son, and that his son will get a chance to run away.

This is what Israel does to ordinary peaceful Palestinians.

[Mark Moriarty @MbyM]

"Adding more “management” agents often hurts performance, just like in human orgs."

[Thomas Morstead @thomasmorstead]

Back to Back!

[Mark Moriarty @MbyM]

When two of your best friends get together 😍

[Shadi Hamid @shadihamid]

Very heartening to see Israel being called out for its genocide against Palestinians in the White House. To my knowledge, that's the first time anything of the sort has happened.

[Karri Saarinen @karrisaarinen]

Quality first.

People should have a life outside of work. Place to enjoy life, develop their tastes, gather inspiration. When you feel better, your work is better. It naturally bleeds into what you make.
https://t.co/GaGDB5DMfl

[Muhammad Jalal @jalalayn]

Trump is more gracious towards Mamdani than the Democratic establishment

[Muhammad Jalal @jalalayn]

We live in a surreal world.

[Lydia Polgreen @lpolgreen]

This Trump/Mamdani meeting really makes Jeffries and Schumer look like fools.

[tyson brody @tysonbrody]

Calling the ADL's Mamdani Watch to report Trump as one of the mayor's problematic supporters

[Brad Lander @bradlander]

Pretty sure Zohran just charmed Donald Trump into agreeing that he’s a fascist.

[Asad🗽🍎 @AsadFromNYC]

Mamdani consciously seeks to model his administration after that of Mayor La Guardia. A key element is the tall order of federal cooperation. If tonight didn’t set the stage to secure billions more in funding NYC, it *at the very* least prevented defunding NYC.

And that’s good.

[jasper nathaniel @infinite_jaz]

@SenSchumer @SenGillibrand now would be a great time to demand that Israel release the American child it has detained for 9+ months

[jasper nathaniel @infinite_jaz]

My mom is going to single-handedly change US policy on Israel through the sheer, unstoppable force of a scorned Jewish mother

[Dr. Yasir Qadhi @YasirQadhi]

What happened at USF a few days ago was disgusting. Muslim students were praying peacefully when a group of middle aged men walked up, harassed them, hurled insults at them, and mocked their worship. This is not an isolated incident; it is part of a pattern.

It is not just Florida. In Texas, students at UTD, UT, UNT, and even high schools like PESH MSA here in Dallas are being harassed, profiled, and intimidated. The level of open hatred across this country is unreal.

What makes it worse is that our politicians stay silent. School administrators are scared to speak out. Our own governor is trying to ban the very organization that protects against incidents like this.

Yet even with all this pressure, the students have stayed calm and dignified. Muslims do not stoop to the level of those who try to provoke us. We stay firm in faith, make dua, and stand for justice.

[Shaun King @shaunking]

To be clear - CAIR - the Council on American Islamic Relations - is like the NAACP for Muslims. It's the single most mainstream Muslim organization in America.

It's a civil rights organization that fights against Islamophobia. Designating it as a terrorist organization is WILD

[Dr. Omar Suleiman @omarsuleiman]

While our hearts stay with Gaza and Sudan, don’t miss the homeless neighbor, the family grieving a loved one, the recently unemployed, the abandoned prisoner, or the struggling refugee.

Global compassion sharpens local duty, and your heart softens with pain that is near.