United Voices is calling on Alabama state and federal law enforcement to open hate crime investigations into death threats targeting Tanveer Patel, a Muslim woman running for a seat on the Hoover City Council.

Since launching her campaign Facebook page, Patel has been targeted by a wave of hateful and threatening comments online. One commenter wrote: “How come we’re not allowed to just shoot and kill these people and get them out of our f****** country.” Another referenced being “shot to death.” These are not political disagreements — they are threats, and they must be treated as such.

See: Muslim Hoover City Council candidate declares ‘hate will not win’

“Threats and intimidation targeting a Muslim candidate are not just attacks on one individual — they are attacks on democracy, inclusion, and the constitutional rights of all Americans,” United Voices said. “No one should be targeted for their faith or identity when seeking public office. We urge state and federal law enforcement to investigate these threats as hate-motivated crimes and to ensure the safety and dignity of the candidate and her community.”

The threats against Patel did not emerge in a vacuum. Earlier this year, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) made remarks suggesting that people from blue states are not welcome in Alabama if they bring a “communist, Islamic atmosphere.” When elected officials use that kind of language, it emboldens those who believe Muslims have no place in American civic life — including in public office.

Alabama has seen this pattern before. Last year, law enforcement was called on to investigate an alleged threat to shoot up and bomb a mosque in Mobile. The threats against Patel are part of a broader, documented rise in anti-Muslim hostility. United Voices’ 2025 Civil Rights Report found that Islamophobia complaints are at an all-time high nationally, with viewpoint discrimination against those speaking out on human rights issues emerging as a key driver.

United Voices is clear: threatening a Muslim candidate for office is a federal matter. Law enforcement at every level has a responsibility to act — not issue statements, but act — to protect Tanveer Patel and send an unambiguous message that anti-Muslim intimidation will not be tolerated in American elections.