US Congressman faces backlash for telling Mehdi Hasan to ‘go back to Britain’ after supporting call to prayer

US Congressman Brandon Gill is facing intense public backlash after he told British-born American journalist Mehdi Hasan to “go back to Britain” following Hasan’s defense of the Muslim call to prayer (Adhan) in the United States.

According to a report by NDTV, the controversy began when Mehdi Hasan — Editor-in-Chief and CEO of Zeteo — voiced support for allowing the Adhan in America, saying, “If church bells can ring, then the call to prayer should be allowed too. We’re just as American as you are, and we won’t tolerate bigotry.”

Responding sarcastically on social media platform X, Congressman Gill wrote, “We can come here in large numbers and fundamentally change the landscape of American public life.”

Hasan countered by pointing out Gill’s personal background, replying, “Your wife is Indian-American, the daughter of an Indian immigrant.”

Gill then escalated the exchange, writing, “My wife is a Christian, and she doesn’t want to hear your oppressive Muslim call to prayer. If you want to live in a Muslim country, go back to Britain.”

The exchange quickly went viral, prompting a flood of reactions online.

One user noted, “Both church bells and the Adhan fall under the First Amendment’s protection of religious freedom — as long as they’re not government-sponsored. Local noise restrictions can apply, but religious expression cannot be singled out.”

Another commented, “What kind of Christian refuses tolerance and compassion? That’s against Christian teachings.”

A third user remarked, “How can a call to prayer be ‘oppressive’ unless there’s hatred in your heart?”

This is not the first time Gill has drawn criticism for controversial remarks. Previously, he targeted Indian-origin Democrat and New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, mocking a video showing Mamdani eating rice with his hands.

At the time, Gill wrote, “Civilized people in America don’t eat like that. If you refuse to adopt Western customs, go back to the Third World.”

That comment also sparked widespread outrage — particularly because Gill’s wife, Danielle D’Souza Gill, is Indian-American and the daughter of right-wing commentator Dinesh D’Souza.