Governor Candidate Says He’ll Ban Mosques and Non-Christian Religions If Elected

A Republican candidate for Tennessee governor is drawing national attention after declaring that he would attempt to ban Islam, Hinduism and other non-Christian religions from the state if elected.

State Rep. Monty Fritts made the controversial proposal with only days remaining in Tennessee’s early primary voting period.

Fritts, 62, is running against U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and U.S. Rep. John Rose for the Republican nomination. Current Gov. Bill Lee cannot seek another term because of the state’s term limits.

During an interview published Tuesday, July 28, Fritts said he would seek to prohibit mosques and gathering places connected to several other non-Christian faiths.

“Islam is a little different story than perhaps other religions are, in that it’s not necessarily a religion, it’s a political movement,” Fritts told Memphis television station WMC.

He went on to claim that people who do not submit to Islam could be executed and argued that the religion is incompatible with both the Tennessee and U.S. constitutions.

Fritts also suggested that the First Amendment’s protections for religious freedom apply only to the federal government because the amendment begins with the word “Congress.”

“I think that what we miss oftentimes in the First Amendment is the first word: Congress,” he said. “That’s the only one of the Bill of Rights that specifically starts with that word. And it limits that power of Congress.”

However, that interpretation conflicts with established constitutional law. The First Amendment’s religion protections have long been applied to state and local governments through the 14th Amendment.

The Establishment Clause prevents the government from establishing or favoring a particular religion, while the Free Exercise Clause protects the right of people to practice their faith. Government authorities are also generally prohibited from regulating or outlawing religious beliefs themselves.

Fritts previously expressed similar views during a May interview with Nashville station NewsChannel 5, when he reportedly said he wanted to ban Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism.

During that interview, he also called for outlawing same-sex marriage, criminalizing abortion in every circumstance and preventing rape victims from receiving emergency contraception.

His latest remarks have placed renewed attention on religious freedom in Tennessee, a state strongly associated with Christian churches but also home to Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and other religious communities.

Fritts has continued defending his proposal, arguing that states should have the authority to restrict religious movements he considers incompatible with their constitutions.

Legal experts and federal court guidance, however, make clear that a state government cannot simply ban a religion or its houses of worship because elected officials object to its teachings.

Fritts’ campaign has been contacted for additional comment about the proposal.