A Republican lawmaker is seeking formal condemnation of a Texas imam after he posted a message on social media celebrating the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, touching off a debate over the conduct expected of public religious leaders, according to a Fox News report.
Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, announced plans to introduce a House resolution criticizing Omar Suleiman, president and co-founder of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research. The proposal comes after Suleiman responded to news of Graham’s death by writing, “Bye Lindsey. May you live an eternity in ruins for the ruins you helped create in Gaza. Ameen.”
Lawmaker says remarks crossed a line
Van Duyne said the imam’s comments were inconsistent with the message a faith leader should represent.
“This type of action from a religious leader that claims to preach about love and not hate needs to be condemned,” she told Fox News Digital. “That was anything but love. That was depravity.”
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She also challenged the idea of pronouncing eternal judgment over someone because of political disagreements.
“Is this really what you believe—that you’re going to take a sitting senator who has just died, and you’re going to condemn his soul to an eternity of ruins because you don’t agree with his politics?”
Van Duyne said she hopes lawmakers from both parties will back the measure, arguing that the issue rises above politics.
Resolution revisits previous concerns
Suleiman was invited to offer the House’s opening prayer in 2019 by then-Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas. The proposed resolution also references earlier controversies involving the imam, including allegations that he defended convicted terrorists, voiced support for members of the Muslim Brotherhood and made inflammatory statements about Israel and Zionism.
Van Duyne said increasingly hostile rhetoric has contributed to a decline in civil discourse and expressed concern that religious figures are participating in that trend.
“The words are getting more hateful. The call for violence is getting more dangerous,” she said.
The resolution also recognizes Graham’s years of public service. Reflecting on her relationship with the late senator, Van Duyne said he never allowed sharp disagreements to become personal attacks.
“When he didn’t agree with somebody, he would tell them,” she said. “But it was never in a hateful, malicious manner, and I think we have lost the soul of debate. We have lost the soul of actual compromise in this country.”
The proposal now heads to the House, where Van Duyne is urging colleagues to formally denounce Suleiman’s remarks and affirm that public expressions celebrating another person’s death have no place in civil or religious leadership.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
