Civil rights group sues anti-Muslim Congressman Randy Fine for blocking US citizen on X
Civil Rights Organization Files Lawsuit Against Congressman Randy Fine for Blocking US Citizen on X
On Wednesday, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) announced it had initiated federal legal action against Randy Fine, a Republican congressman from Florida, for blocking a U.S. citizen on the social media platform X after the individual challenged his anti-Muslim views.
Collaboration with Legal Advocates
The ADC partnered with Muslim Legal representatives to pursue the case, alleging that Fine’s actions violated constitutional rights.
“Fine, a notably prejudiced and racially charged figure in federal politics, is facing legal action for infringing on the First Amendment rights of plaintiff Amjad Masad. Following a discriminatory outburst on his official X account, he blocked Masad for critiquing his anti-Muslim statements,” the ADC stated in a public declaration.
The lawsuit asserts that Fine’s behavior constitutes viewpoint discrimination, as he used a public forum to discuss governmental affairs yet silenced critics who engaged with his rhetoric.
Earlier this month, Fine sparked controversy by asserting on X: “If we must choose between dogs and Muslims, it’s not a tough decision.” Masad responded with a witty remark—“Are you referring to lunch?”—after which Fine blocked him.
On Thursday, Fine’s X profile displayed further inflammatory remarks. He labeled Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar a “Somali pirate” and advocated for the deportation of Khalid Turaani, the leader of the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, whom he called a “Muslim terrorist.”
Historical Context of Anti-Muslim Rhetoric
Before his recent post about dogs, Fine had previously equated “Palestinian” with “evil.” This trend of hostility has drawn repeated criticism, including from California’s Ro Khanna, who in February denounced his remarks as “disgusting bigotry” and urged his party to censure him.
In September 2024, Fine faced backlash for celebrating the death of Aysenur Eygi, a 26-year-old Turkish-American activist killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank.
By May 2025, Fine had again stirred controversy by suggesting on Fox News that Gaza should be “nuked” like Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II following the assassination of two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington, DC.
Political Reactions and Allegations
Top Democrats in the House criticized Fine in June for his “racist” and “Islamophobic” remarks targeting Congresswoman Omar. However, no formal action was taken. Later in October, Qatar’s ambassador to the United States issued a direct rebuke of Fine for his Islamophobic comments during an interview with Laura Loomer, a far-right social media influencer.
Fine, who took office last year to replace Mike Waltz—the former national security advisor and current U.S. ambassador to the United Nations—now faces re-election in November’s midterms, contingent on winning the Republican primary in his Florida district this August.
Sharia Free America Caucus and Constitutional Concerns
As a founding member of the recently established “Sharia Free America Caucus,” Fine’s stance on Islamic law has raised questions about its compatibility with the U.S. constitutional principle of church-state separation.