US Congressman Brandon Gill Faces Backlash After Telling Muslim Journalist to "Go Back to UK" Over Islamic Prayer Call Defense

US Congressman Brandon Gill and British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan

US Congressman Brandon Gill has faced significant criticism for suggesting that Mehdi Hasan should "return to the UK" following the British-American journalist's defense of Islamic prayer calls in America.

The controversy began when Hasan, who serves as editor-in-chief and CEO of Zeteo, addressed American Christians with the statement: "If you can play your church bell, you can play the call to prayer. We are as American as anyone else, and we don't take any BS from anyone."

In response, Gill mockingly posted on X, quoting what he implied was Hasan's position: "We can move here en masse and fundamentally transform the landscape of American public life."

Hasan countered by highlighting Gill's personal connection to immigration, noting, "Your wife is an Indian American, the daughter of an Indian immigrant."

Gill's reply escalated the situation: "My wife is a Christian and doesn't want to hear your oppressive Muslim prayer calls, either. If you want to live in a Muslim country, go back to the UK."

The exchange quickly went viral across social media platforms.

One X user commented: "Church bells and the Muslim Adhan (call to prayer), when used by private religious institutions outdoors, are both protected as free religious expression under the First Amendment of the US Constitution, provided they are not government-sponsored. Local noise ordinances may apply but cannot single out religious expression for restriction."

Another user remarked: "Odd sort of a Christian that, who doesn't show tolerance and compassion? Not very Christ-like behaviour."

A third person questioned: "How is a call to prayer - PRAYER - oppressive unless you are hateful?"

This controversy follows previous inflammatory comments from Gill. The Texas Congressman previously criticized Indian-origin Democrat Zohran Mamdani, a New York City mayoral candidate, after footage emerged showing Mamdani eating rice with his hands.

Gill wrote: "Civilised people in America don't eat like this. If you refuse to adopt Western customs, go back to the Third World."

That post generated significant backlash, with many pointing out that Gill is married to Danielle D'Souza Gill, the Indian-American daughter of conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza. Critics shared photos of both Gill and his father-in-law eating with their hands.

In response to the criticism, Danielle D'Souza Gill distanced herself from Indian dining practices, stating: "I did not grow up eating rice with my hands and have always used a fork. I was born in America. I'm a Christian MAGA patriot. My father's extended family lives in India and they are also Christian and they use forks too."