Islamophobia is surging across Florida and the evidence is caught on camera. Muslim families, including women in hijab and children, are being verbally assaulted in public spaces with expletives and demands to “get out of my country.” Wilfredo Ahmed, a top attorney and communications director for CAIR Florida who was recently featured in the Miami Herald, joins The Deen Show to discuss why law enforcement is failing to protect Muslim victims and what the community must do to fight back through the legal system.
Law Enforcement’s Selective Protection
The most alarming pattern is not just the hate incidents themselves but the response afterward. When Muslims report being harassed or assaulted for their religious appearance, law enforcement and state attorneys are reluctant to prosecute. Excuses range from “he had a bad night” to “he’s an elder” to “he was just drunk.” Yet when Jewish or Christian communities report similar incidents, law enforcement acts swiftly and efficiently. This selective enforcement of existing hate crime laws sends a dangerous message that attacking Muslims carries no real consequences.
“When we are the victims, we’re supposed to tolerate this anti-Muslim conduct. Law enforcement and state attorneys act as if the consequences will be none or limited. That is the most worrisome part of this story.”
These Are Not Ignorant People
One of the perpetrators in a Florida case was a dentist, an educated professional who felt so empowered by the current climate that he used expletives against an entire Muslim family including minors wearing hijab while being filmed. He disregarded any consequences because the environment has taught him there will be none. This is not about ignorance; it is about a culture of impunity that has been created when politicians, media figures, and online provocateurs normalize anti-Muslim hatred without accountability.
“If you practice any of the Abrahamic religions and there is no mercy or justice in your equation, you need to review it. You are not a true Jew, Christian, or Muslim if you think injustice can be justified through faith.”
What Muslims Must Do Now
- Show up to local committee meetings, community gatherings, and civic events to make your presence and voice count
- Report every hate incident to CAIR Florida at careflorida.org, which serves the entire state from their South Florida office
- Florida has specific laws protecting people from harassment based on religious garb, but these laws must be pushed by legal advocates to be enforced
- Build alliances with Jewish, Christian, and other communities who share the common cause of justice and religious freedom
- Document every incident on video and push law enforcement to prosecute rather than accepting excuses for inaction
