Andy Ogles sparked controversy after posting on social media that “Muslims don’t belong in American society” and claiming that “pluralism is a lie.”
Ogles argued that immigration from Muslim-majority countries threatens American safety and suggested Muslims who want to practice Islamic law should live in Islamic countries rather than the United States.
His remarks triggered widespread backlash from Democratic lawmakers and civil rights groups, who condemned the comments as Islamophobic and incompatible with American values of religious freedom.
While some Republicans also criticized the statement, Ogles did not retract his comments and continued defending his position online.
