Muslim civil rights organization says reported suggestion that a K-9 be trained to bite Muslims is an unacceptable attack on religious freedom and equal treatment

The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-TX) today called on the Republican Party of Texas and the Young County Republican Party to apologize for a reported anti-Muslim question posed during the party’s interview of a candidate seeking the Republican nomination for Young County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1.

According to a report by KAUZ-TV, Joshua Gallardo was interviewed on August 18 by the Young County Republican Committee as a potential Republican nominee. During the interview, the conversation reportedly turned to Gallardo’s experience as a K-9 handler for the Young County Sheriff’s Office.

Young County Republican Party Chairman Lane Burgess acknowledged that a precinct chair asked whether Gallardo thought his dog could be trained to “bite” Muslims. Burgess described the comment as a mistake and declined to identify the committee member who made it. Gallardo subsequently withdrew from consideration for the Republican nomination and said he would instead run as a write-in candidate.

“Suggesting that a law-enforcement dog should be trained to attack people because they are Muslim is not a political disagreement or a harmless mistake—it is an appalling expression of anti-Muslim bigotry,” said CAIR Texas Government Affairs and Legislative Manager Sameeha Rizvi.“The Republican Party of Texas and the Young County Republican Party should unequivocally condemn this conduct, apologize to Muslim Texans, and make clear that religious identity has no place in determining who deserves equal protection under the law.”  

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CONTACT: CAIR-Austin Director, Shaimaa Zayan, szayan@cair.com, 512-785-7105; CAIR-DFW Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll, mcarroll@cair.com, 832-549-1042; CAIR-Houston Director Imran Ghani, ighani@cair.com, 713-922-5270; CAIR Texas Government Affairs and Legislative Manager Sameeha Rizvi, srizvi@cair.com, 512-893-1371; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com