OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced Wednesday he will use state resources to investigate a proposed mosque and community center in Broken Arrow, drawing immediate criticism from civil rights advocates who called it a “witch hunt” targeting Muslims.

Drummond, who is running for the Republican nomination for governor, issued a press release saying his office would investigate whether the proposed 42,000-square-foot development complies with state and federal law and examine its funding sources.

Veronica Laizure, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Oklahoma, swiftly condemned the investigation as an improper use of taxpayer dollars and questioned whether Drummond had launched similar investigations into other houses of worship in the state.

“If not, that would seem like a pretty targeted attack on the Muslim community of Tulsa,” Laizure said, calling the probe a “publicity stunt” by the gubernatorial candidate.

The Proposed Development

The land was purchased in 2014 by the North American Islamic Trust, an organization Drummond claims “reportedly has ties to the radical Muslim Brotherhood.” However, the attorney general did not provide evidence to support this allegation in his press release.

The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928, is an Islamic political movement. President Donald Trump last year created a process to designate certain chapters as foreign terrorist organizations.

Islamic Society Responds

In a statement, the Islamic Society of Tulsa said the land was purchased through charitable donations from residents of the Greater Tulsa region. No foreign funding was sought or received for either the acquisition of the property or planning, officials said.

Drummond also raised questions about the project’s ownership structure, governance, and financing, though he did not elaborate on specific concerns beyond the alleged Muslim Brotherhood connection.

Civil Rights Concerns

Laizure said Drummond’s decision to investigate the proposed mosque “mirrors a broader pattern of anti-Muslim initiatives we are seeing from public officials in multiple states.”

She questioned whether the investigation represented an appropriate use of the attorney general’s office and taxpayer resources, particularly when directed at what she described as “an above-board and transparent house of worship for a minority faith community.”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. CAIR has previously challenged what it describes as discriminatory government actions against Muslim communities nationwide.

Drummond’s History on Immigration and Islam

This is not the first time Drummond has drawn criticism for comments about Muslims. In June, the attorney general faced pushback from various sectors after saying Afghan evacuees who resettled in Oklahoma should be sent back.

Tens of thousands of Afghan refugees were resettled in the United States after military forces pulled out of the country. Many of those relocated had assisted the U.S. military during the war.

Legal and Political Context

The investigation comes at a time when religious freedom protections and government scrutiny of faith communities have become flashpoints in American politics. Legal experts note that religious institutions generally enjoy strong First Amendment protections against discriminatory government action.

However, Drummond’s office maintains that investigating potential security concerns and verifying compliance with laws governing religious organizations falls within the attorney general’s duties.

Community Reaction

The announcement has sparked debate in Oklahoma about the balance between security concerns and religious liberty. Supporters of the investigation point to Drummond’s cited examples of terrorism-related incidents in Oklahoma, while critics argue that singling out a mosque for investigation based on unsubstantiated allegations violates principles of equal treatment under the law.

The controversy also highlights the intersection of religion, politics, and public safety in a gubernatorial election year, with Drummond’s actions likely to resonate with both supporters and critics as the Republican primary approaches.

Neither Drummond’s office nor the Islamic Society of Tulsa immediately responded to requests for additional comment on the specifics of the investigation or timeline for its completion.