Civil rights group sues anti-Muslim Congressman Randy Fine for blocking US citizen on X
Civil rights group sues anti-Muslim Congressman Randy Fine for blocking US citizen on X
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) announced on Wednesday that it has launched a federal lawsuit against Randy Fine, a Republican congressman from Florida, for blocking an American citizen on the social media platform X. The group alleges that Fine’s actions violate the First Amendment rights of the plaintiff, Amjad Masad, who challenged his anti-Muslim views.
Collaborative Legal Action
The ADC partnered with the Muslim Legal Association to file the lawsuit, emphasizing the discriminatory nature of Fine’s conduct. The complaint highlights how Fine used his official X account to voice opinions on government matters before silencing critics who opposed his statements.
“Fine, a member of Congress known for his prejudiced rhetoric, is being sued for suppressing dissent through his public platform. His blocking of Masad followed a racist diatribe, during which the congressman attacked Muslims and invoked inflammatory language,” stated the ADC.
Fine’s recent X post, “If they force us to choose between dogs and Muslims, it’s not a tough decision,” sparked backlash. Masad responded with a quip, “Are you asking about what’s for lunch?”—an exchange that led to his being blocked. The incident underscores the alleged pattern of viewpoint discrimination.
Targeted Remarks and Reactions
In May 2025, Fine suggested on Fox News that Gaza should be “nuked” like Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Earlier, in September 2024, he drew criticism for celebrating the death of Aysenur Eygi, a Turkish-American activist killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank. His comments on X also included calling Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar a “Somali pirate” and labeling Khalid Turaani, leader of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a “Muslim terrorist.”
The Qatar ambassador to the US recently criticized Fine for Islamophobic remarks during an interview with Laura Loomer. Meanwhile, California Democrat Ro Khanna condemned Fine’s rhetoric as “disgusting bigotry,” urging censure in February. Despite this, no significant action was taken by Democratic leaders in June.
Political Context and Timeline
Fine joined the newly formed “Sharia Free America Caucus” with fellow Republicans late last year, a group aimed at opposing Islamic influence in governance. His re-election campaign faces scrutiny as he seeks to retain his seat in November’s midterms, contingent on winning the Republican primary in August.