Hussam Ayloush says Hibbs's remarks are rooted in bigotry and cast Muslims as less American
Hussam AyloushExecutive director of the Greater Los Angeles office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA), in a press release
In a CAIR-LA press release, Executive Director Hussam Ayloush condemns Hibbs's remarks about Muslim elected officials as hateful and irresponsible, says they encourage suspicion of Muslim neighbors, and says such rhetoric is rooted in bigotry and treats Muslims as less American.
Responding to
Muslims elected to office in the United States cannot swear allegiance to the Constitution because it is forbidden in Islam, and must swear allegiance to Sharia law instead.
“We strongly condemn these hateful and irresponsible remarks targeting the Muslim community and questioning their participation in American civic life. Pastor Hibbs is contributing to a broader climate of fear and prejudice, encouraging his congregation to view their Muslim neighbors with suspicion and hostility. Such rhetoric is rooted in bigotry and perpetuates the false notion that Muslims are somehow less American or less deserving of a voice in our democracy.”
Official statement
Where this statement fits
Pastor Jack Hibbs says Muslim officeholders cannot swear allegiance to the Constitution; CAIR-LA condemns the remarks
In a sermon to his congregation at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Southern California after the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, senior pastor Jack Hibbs said 255 Muslims had been elected to office on Tuesday and said they "cannot swear allegiance to the Constitution. It is forbidden in Islam. They must swear allegiance to Sharia law, which is a completely different government." He said the country had said no to the republic and "yes to the very government and military and religion that hit us on September 11th, 2001," and he posted the 2:24 clip on YouTube and on X, where he captioned it "The Republic is over." A slide shown during the remark credits its counts to CAIR's 2026 directory, which CAIR and CAIR Action released in August 2026 and which counts Muslims already serving in office. Hussam Ayloush, executive director of CAIR's Greater Los Angeles office, said the remarks are "rooted in bigotry," and the Freedom From Religion Foundation said Muslim Americans "have every right to serve." Commentator Gunther Eagleman wrote that the pastor is right, and author Eric Metaxas wrote that he agrees with every word except the conclusion that the Republic is over. We did not find a public response from Hibbs to the criticism as of November 12, 2026.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Press release from the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA), dated November 10, 2026. It condemns a series of sermons Hibbs gave around the 2026 midterm elections, quotes his remarks from a video shared on X, carries a statement by Executive Director Hussam Ayloush and asks faith leaders to reject the rhetoric.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
In a sermon video shared on X after the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, Hibbs told his congregation that 255 Muslims elected to office "cannot swear allegiance to the Constitution" and must swear allegiance to Sharia law.
After the quotation
The release calls on faith leaders of all backgrounds to reject such rhetoric and asks community members to report bias incidents to CAIR-LA. In the same statement Ayloush says Muslims honor Jesus and all the prophets of God.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is Jack Hibbs's sermon remarks that Muslim officeholders cannot swear allegiance to the Constitution. Ayloush expressly condemns those remarks and calls the rhetoric rooted in bigotry. That is a direct condemnation of the remarks rather than a dispute over how Hibbs described Islam, so a label that only challenges the characterization does not fit.
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- Jack Hibbs
More from this case
Read the full caseEric Metaxas says he agrees with every word of Hibbs's clip except that the Republic is over
“I agree w/every word, except Jack's conclusion that the Republic is over. It is our job to pray, pray, pray for a miracle from God. And to FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT. This is the ultimate wake-up call. Is your pastor awake or sleeping?”Read statement
Gunther Eagleman says the pastor said what most won't and is right
“THIS PASTOR SAID WHAT MOST WON'T: After the midterms, an American pastor stood in front of his church and warned of an "Islamic takeover of America." Then he put up the faces of the Muslim candidates who just won seats in American government. His message to every Christian who stayed home: "Those of you who didn't vote, you voted." He's RIGHT. Every seat you didn't fight for, someone else took. Churches can't sit out elections anymore. Neither can you.”Read statement
FFRF says the Constitution bars religious tests and Muslim Americans have every right to serve
Freedom From Religion Foundation
“The Constitution prohibits religious tests for office. Muslim Americans have every right to serve. A constitutional republic requires respecting everyone's rights, something these candidates appear more committed to than the Christian nationalists Hibbs supports.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Hussam Ayloush says Hibbs's remarks are rooted in bigotry and cast Muslims as less American". First published: 2026-11-12. Last updated: 2026-11-12. https://disputeindex.com/events/8677-in-a-cair-la-press-release-executive-director