Shia Muslim Foundation Meets with Maryland Homeland Security Leadership to Discuss Muslim Community Safety

SMF raises concerns regarding recent Maryland incidents, increasing anti Muslim rhetoric, manufactured confrontations, and the security environment surrounding the November 2026 elections

MARYLAND — This week the Shia Muslim Foundation (SMF) met with the Director of the Maryland Governor’s Office of Homeland Security to discuss emerging safety and security concerns affecting Muslim communities across Maryland and opportunities for continued coordination between state officials, law enforcement, and community institutions.

The meeting continued an ongoing dialogue between SMF and Maryland officials regarding the safety of Muslim residents and houses of worship throughout the state. The discussion focused on recent incidents involving Muslim Marylanders, the broader increase in anti Muslim rhetoric nationally, changing methods of harassment and intimidation, and concerns that tensions could increase as Maryland and the country approach the November 2026 elections.

SMF expressed appreciation for the opportunity to engage directly with Maryland homeland security leadership and emphasized the importance of proactive communication before concerns develop into serious security incidents.

“Maryland has a strong tradition of religious diversity, and we appreciate the willingness of state officials to listen directly to the concerns of Muslim communities and engage with us constructively,” said Rahat Husain, Executive Director of the Shia Muslim Foundation. “Our objective is to strengthen relationships now so that government, law enforcement, and community institutions are communicating with one another before a crisis occurs rather than meeting for the first time after something has already happened.”

Recent Incidents in Maryland

During the meeting, SMF discussed several recent developments involving Muslims in Maryland that have contributed to concern within the community.

In Baltimore County, the discussion included the recent controversy surrounding comments about Sharia law shared by a member of the Baltimore County Board of Education. The board member subsequently apologized and met with Muslim community leaders. During that meeting, a Muslim student described experiencing anti Muslim harassment because she wears hijab.

SMF also raised reports from Montgomery County involving Muslim women wearing hijab who were allegedly followed and confronted while shopping, as well as a reported incident in Howard County involving a Muslim woman wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh who said she was confronted while walking in her neighborhood.

The conversation also addressed the broader security concerns faced by Maryland houses of worship. Religious institutions across the state continue to invest significant resources in cameras, access control, security personnel, coordination with local police, and other protective measures.

SMF emphasized that these incidents vary significantly in severity and circumstance and do not, by themselves, establish the existence of a coordinated threat in Maryland. They nevertheless contribute to a broader environment in which Muslim individuals and institutions are increasingly attentive to their physical safety and to the possibility of escalating confrontations.

A Changing Security Environment

A major focus of the meeting was what SMF described as a changing threat environment facing Muslim communities.

Traditional security planning for Islamic institutions has often focused on direct threats, vandalism, hate crimes, or the possibility of an armed attack. SMF explained that a growing concern involves a different form of activity: deliberately manufactured confrontations.

In incidents around the country, individuals have approached Muslim institutions or visibly Muslim individuals, initiated provocative encounters, recorded or livestreamed the interaction, and subsequently distributed the footage online. Such encounters may be intended to generate confrontation, attract attention, or create material that can then be amplified through social media.

SMF stressed that this type of activity presents unique challenges for Muslim institutions.

A person engaged in inflammatory speech or filming outside a mosque may be exercising constitutionally protected rights. At the same time, community leaders must be prepared to recognize when lawful expression begins moving toward harassment, trespass, threats, intimidation, or conduct that could create a genuine safety concern.

“We are increasingly concerned about situations in which the objective may not initially be to make a direct threat, but to manufacture a confrontation,” Husain said.

SMF emphasizes the importance of training mosque leadership, volunteers, and security personnel to recognize these scenarios, de escalate encounters when appropriate, document suspicious behavior, and communicate effectively with law enforcement.

Anti Muslim Rhetoric and the November 2026 Elections

The meeting also addressed concerns surrounding the political environment leading

into the November 2026 elections.

SMF noted that Muslim communities across the country have experienced periods in which political and geopolitical developments have been accompanied by increases in hostile rhetoric directed toward Muslims, immigrants, and religious minorities.

The Foundation expressed concern that election season messaging could further increase anti Muslim rhetoric or encourage individuals to target Muslim communities with harassment or deliberately provocative activity.

SMF emphasized that political disagreement and criticism are protected parts of American civic life. The concern arises when political rhetoric crosses into broad hostility toward Muslim Americans as a group or contributes to an atmosphere in which intimidation and harassment become normalized.

Maryland officials discussed the importance of remaining attentive to the security environment as the election approaches and indicated that they would coordinate with law enforcement regarding emerging concerns.

SMF welcomed that commitment and stressed that early information sharing can help both law enforcement and community organizations distinguish between constitutionally protected political activity and situations that may present legitimate public safety concerns.

The Importance of Public Leadership

The meeting also included discussion of the role elected officials can play in reinforcing Maryland’s commitment to religious freedom and the safety of its Muslim residents.

Participants discussed the possibility of Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller issuing a public statement addressing the current climate and affirming support for Maryland’s Muslim community.

SMF believes that clear statements from elected leaders can be particularly meaningful during periods of heightened rhetoric.

“Public leadership matters,” Husain said. “Muslim Marylanders should hear clearly from their government that they are an integral part of this state and that harassment, intimidation, and religious hatred are inconsistent with Maryland’s values. Those messages are especially important when national rhetoric becomes increasingly divisive.”

SMF emphasized that such statements are not intended to limit political debate or criticism but rather to reaffirm basic principles shared across political lines: religious freedom, equal protection, public safety, and the right of every Maryland resident to participate fully in civic life without intimidation.

Moving Forward

The Foundation also emphasized the value of continued engagement among homeland security officials, local law enforcement agencies, Muslim community organizations, and houses of worship.

“Our goal is not to create alarm,” Husain said. “It is to build preparedness, communication, and trust. Maryland’s Muslim community wants to work constructively with government and law enforcement to keep our institutions, our families, and our neighbors safe.”

SMF thanks Maryland homeland security leadership for the constructive discussion and for its willingness to remain engaged with concerns affecting Muslim communities.

The Shia Muslim Foundation looks forward to continuing its work with Maryland officials and law enforcement partners to help ensure that Muslims throughout the state can worship, gather, participate in civic life, and exercise their constitutional rights safely and without intimidation.

About the Shia Muslim Foundation

The Shia Muslim Foundation is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the civil rights, security, representation, and civic engagement of Shia Muslims in the United States. Through government engagement, community partnerships, education, and advocacy, SMF works to ensure that Shia Muslims are represented in the institutions and conversations that affect their communities.

After SMF Files Formal Complaint, Baltimore County Board Member Apologizes Over Anti Sharia Post

Baltimore County Board of Education member Maggie Litz Domanowski publicly apologized Tuesday night after the Shia Muslim Foundation filed a formal complaint with the Board over her decision to share and endorse a social media post portraying Sharia law as a threat to women. The apology came after SMF submitted its complaint and as criticism of the post continued to grow.

Domanowski had shared a Facebook image stating, “If you fear MAGA will take away women's rights, then you should learn about Sharia law,” and added her own endorsement, writing “not wrong.” The incident was reported publicly earlier this week and quickly drew concern from Muslim families and community leaders.

SMF Filed a Formal Complaint With the Board

SMF submitted a formal complaint to the Baltimore County Board of Education explaining that the concern went well beyond an offensive social media post. The complaint focused heavily on what rhetoric from an elected education official can mean for Muslim children who attend Baltimore County schools.

When an elected official responsible for public schools shares a message that presents Islam as something threatening, that message reaches far beyond a political discussion on social media. Muslim students see it, their parents see it, their classmates see it, and teachers and staff see it.

The complaint also addressed the effect such language can have on non Muslim students and the atmosphere inside schools.

When those adults publicly use a religious community as a symbol of something dangerous or frightening, it can make stereotypes, jokes, exclusion, and bullying directed at children from that community seem more acceptable.

SMF told the Board that Muslim students throughout Baltimore County include children who wear hijab, fast during Ramadan, attend mosques with their families, observe Muslim holidays, pray, and openly identify with their faith. Those students should not have to wonder whether an elected official responsible for their education views their religion, their families, or an important part of their identity with suspicion.

The complaint also raised a broader issue of trust between Muslim families and the officials responsible for the county school system, stating:

For Muslim families who now have to question how she views them and their children, the damage to that confidence cannot simply be dismissed as disagreement over a Facebook post.

Domanowski Apologizes at Board Meeting

At the conclusion of the August 25 Board of Education meeting, Domanowski publicly apologized after hearing directly from Muslim community members and others who addressed the controversy. The Baltimore Banner reported the apology following the meeting.

I understand now. And I am truly sorry.

The apology is a new development in the controversy, but SMF is not treating it as a declaration that the matter has been resolved, nor is the Foundation accepting the apology on behalf of the Shia Muslim community.

Shia Muslim Community Remains Deeply Upset

The Shia Muslim community remains deeply upset by the original post and by the fact that an elected education official publicly endorsed language that many Muslim families understood as portraying their faith as something Americans should fear. An apology does not immediately erase the hurt or restore the trust that was damaged.

For parents, the concern is especially serious because this involves a public school system. Muslim children should be able to enter Baltimore County classrooms without wondering whether their faith makes them less welcome, less trusted, or more likely to be viewed through stereotypes. Their parents should be able to expect that the officials overseeing those schools understand the weight their public words carry.

SMF will continue listening to Shia Muslim families and monitoring how Baltimore County Public Schools and its elected leadership respond to the concerns raised by this incident. What happens after an apology matters, particularly when rebuilding trust with children and families who felt targeted by the original message.

SMF Calls on Baltimore County School Board Member to Apologize and Resign Over Anti Muslim Post

The Shia Muslim Foundation is calling on Baltimore County Board of Education member Maggie Litz Domanowski to publicly apologize and resign after she shared a Facebook post invoking Sharia law to portray Islam as a threat to women's rights. According to a report syndicated by Yahoo News, Domanowski shared the image on Sunday and added her endorsement, writing, “not wrong.”

The image showed the Peanuts character Linus holding a sign that read, “If you fear Maga will take away women's rights, then you should learn about Sharia law.” Domanowski's decision to amplify that message is unacceptable for an elected education official entrusted with serving Muslim students, parents, teachers and staff.

SMF condemns this post as anti Muslim fearmongering. Using Islam and Sharia as political scare words to portray Muslims as a threat to American women is irresponsible, prejudicial and incompatible with the obligations of a public school board member.

SMF is calling on Domanowski to remove the post, issue an unequivocal public apology to the Muslim community and resign from the Baltimore County Board of Education. An apology is necessary, but it does not erase the judgment shown by an elected official who chose to endorse a message that reduces an entire faith tradition to a warning about the loss of women's rights.

Maryland Muslim lawmakers demand an apology

The Maryland Legislative Muslim Caucus also called on Domanowski to apologize, saying her post was anti Muslim and offensive to members of the Muslim community. The statement was issued by Delegate Sean A. Stinnett, chair of the caucus.

Words matter, particularly when they come from individuals who hold positions of influence and public trust.

The caucus said remarks that stereotype Muslims or cast suspicion on them because of their faith contribute to division and intolerance and can make Muslim Americans less safe. It asked Domanowski to acknowledge the impact of what she shared, apologize publicly and state that religious discrimination and hatred have no place in public discourse.

CAIR Maryland calls for apology or resignation

CAIR Maryland condemned Domanowski's post on Monday and called on her to remove it, publicly apologize and reaffirm her commitment to Muslim students and families, or resign.

CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said public officials serving on school boards have a special responsibility to treat every child and family with dignity and respect regardless of faith. SMF agrees with that assessment and believes resignation is warranted even if an apology follows.

A public official responsible for Muslim students

Domanowski is an elected member of the Baltimore County Board of Education representing District 3. She was elected in 2022 and is seeking another term this year.

The Maryland State Board of Elections candidate list shows Domanowski and Kelli Slattery McClelland as the active candidates for the District 3 seat in the November 3, 2026 general election.

For SMF, the issue is not that Islamic jurisprudence, Muslim governments or religious doctrines are immune from criticism. Muslims themselves debate religious law and public policy. The issue is a sitting school board member endorsing a political meme that uses Islam as a generalized threat while holding authority over a school system that serves Muslim children and families.

Muslim families should not have to wonder if an elected official overseeing their children's schools views their faith as a threat. Maggie Litz Domanowski should apologize to the Muslim community and resign from the Baltimore County Board of Education.

American Muslims remain subject to the same federal, state and local laws as every other American. The Constitution also prevents government from establishing religious law while protecting the right of Americans to privately practice their faith.

SMF said those basic distinctions matter when elected officials discuss Islam.

Domanowski Is Seeking Another Term

Domanowski was elected to the Baltimore County Board of Education in 2022 and currently represents District 3. She is seeking another term in the November 3, 2026 general election. Maryland election records list Kelli Slattery McClelland as her opponent in the nonpartisan race.

McClelland has also condemned Domanowski’s post, describing it as fearmongering and offensive toward Muslims.

The controversy therefore comes only weeks before Baltimore County voters begin deciding who will represent District 3 for the next four years.