'If you want to live in a Muslim country, go back to the UK': Republican tells Mehdi Hasan

Republican Brandon Gill represents Texas’ 26th Congressional District. (Right) Mehdi Hasan is a British born Indian - American broadcaster, writer, and founder of the media company Zeteo. (Image credit: X)

Republican Congressman Brandon Gill has locked horns with British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan over religious freedom in the US. Gill has been opposing Muslims' call to prayers or azaan being played from mosques, while Hasan has been defending it.

In a video, Hasan said, “I think if you can play church bells, you can play the call to prayer. We are as American as anyone else and don't take any BS from anyone.” Quoting Hasan’s past remarks, Gill posted: “We can move here en masse and fundamentally transform the landscape of American public life.”

Hasan responded by pointing out the irony in Gill’s stance. “Your wife is an Indian American,” he wrote, “the daughter of an Indian immigrant.”

Gill’s reply was swift. “My wife is a Christian and doesn’t want to hear your oppressive Muslim prayer calls, either,” he wrote. “If you want to live in a Muslim country, go back to the UK.”

The exchange quickly snowballed into a broader debate on religion, immigration, and cultural tolerance. Social media users were quick to call out Gill’s remarks, questioning both the religious intolerance and the gender dynamics implied in his response.

“Odd sort of a Christian that, who doesn’t show tolerance and compassion?” one user wrote on X. “Not very Christ-like behaviour!”

Another added, “You speak for your wife? Interesting! Do you also choose what she eats and order her food for her too when you both go out?”

Others pointed out the hypocrisy in Gill’s framing of religious freedom. “My wife is an atheist and doesn't want to hear your oppressive Church Bells either,” one user noted. Another wrote, “Here in America we have freedom of religion! If YOU and YOUR WIFE can’t handle that maybe you should move to some oppressed country that only supports one religion… BUT THAT ISN’T AMERICA!”

Some mocked Gill’s geographical logic. “Bro called the UK a Muslim country… lol.”

And others questioned his personal choices. “Also, why didn’t you marry a white American if you were going to be a bigot?”

This isn’t the first time Gill has drawn criticism for comments on cultural practices. In June, a video of New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani eating rice with his hands sparked a furious debate. Mamdani, who had just defeated Andrew Cuomo, was seen eating a traditional Indian meal while discussing the Palestinian struggle.

Gill responded harshly: “Civilised people in America don’t eat like this. If you refuse to adopt Western customs, go back to the Third World.”

The backlash was immediate. Social media users pointed out that Gill’s own wife, Danielle D’Souza Gill, is of Indian origin. Danielle, an author and commentator, attempted to distance herself from traditional Indian eating habits: “I did not grow up eating rice with my hands and have always used a fork,” she said. “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.”

But the internet was quick to respond. Users dug up old photos of Danielle’s father, right-wing commentator Dinesh D’Souza, eating with his hands. Others unearthed images of Gill himself eating pizza and hot dogs with his hands.

Gill, who represents Texas’ 26th Congressional District, is known for his hardline conservative views on immigration and cultural assimilation. He and Danielle have two children—Marigold and Winston.