Newt Gingrich on Friday blasted media “hysteria” over his comments calling for the United States to “test” U.S. Muslims and then deport those who believe in Shariah law.
Gingrich in several tweets commented on “amazing distortions” of his remarks, indicating he’d take to Facebook Live, a preferred medium for the former Speaker, to explain his comments.
Gingrich in a Fox News interview Thursday night called for the U.S. to “monitor the mosques” in the wake of the terrorist attack on France’s national day that left at least 84 people dead and more injured.
“Western civilization is in a war. We should frankly test every person here who is of a Muslim background and if they believe in Shariah they should be deported,” Gingrich said. “Shariah is incompatible with Western civilization.”
Gingrich’s comments have prompted criticism. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), one of two Muslims in Congress, said Friday that Gingrich “does know better.”
“That’s the sad thing about Newt Gingrich. He’s a very smart man, it’s just calculating, pandering and it’s really sad,” Ellison said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“He’s talking about violent attacks on innocent people. That is what we all must condemn,” Ellison said, mentioning people of different faiths. “We have to confront it together.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations on Thursday night condemned the deadly attack in Nice, France, while slamming Gingrich’s call to “test” Muslims in the U.S. and deport those who believe in Shariah law.
“When former House Speaker Newt Gingrich suggests that American Muslims be subjected to an Inquisition-style religious test and then expelled from their homes and nation, he plays into the hands of terror recruiters and betrays the American values he purports to uphold,” said Nihad Awad, the group’s executive director.