CAIR’s Hypocritical Outrage Over Sec Def Pete Hegseth’s ‘Kafir’ Tattoo: A Smokescreen for Islam’s Violent Legacy

Unveiling CAIR’s Desperate Deflection from Islam’s Bloodstained History of Jihad and Terror

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has launched a scathing attack on U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over his new tattoo of the Arabic word "kafir," meaning "infidel" or "nonbeliever," in a post on X dated March 27, 2025. 

CAIR claims the tattoo is a "sign of not only anti-Muslim hostility, but remarkable personal insecurity," accusing Hegseth of being obsessed with Islam and glorifying the Crusades, which they label as genocidal. They further assert that Muslims don’t tattoo themselves with anti-Christian messages because they are "secure in their own faith" and "respect the beliefs of their neighbors." CAIR’s statement reeks of hypocrisy, historical revisionism, and a deliberate attempt to deflect from Islam’s own troubling legacy of violence, intolerance, and supremacist ideology as enshrined in its texts. Let’s dismantle their claims piece by piece, exposing the facts they conveniently ignore while reminding readers of the decades-long shadow Islam has cast through terrorism, jihad, and a doctrine that explicitly calls for violence against Christians and Jews.

CAIR’s Claim: The ‘Kafir’ Tattoo Signals Anti-Muslim Hostility and Insecurity

CAIR’s assertion that Hegseth’s tattoo of "kafir" reflects anti-Muslim hostility and personal insecurity is a gross overreach. The term "kafir" is indeed Arabic for "infidel" or "nonbeliever," a label used in the Quran to describe those who reject Islam, often with derogatory connotations. 

For example: 

• Beheaded- 47:4 When you encounter the kafirs on the battlefield, cut off their heads until you have thor-oughly defeated them and then take the prisoners and tie them up firmly.

• The Koran defines the kafir and says that the kafir is hated (40:35), mocked (83:34), punished (25:77), beheaded (47:4), confused (6:25), plotted against (86:15), terrorized (8:12), annihilated (6:45), killed (4:91), crucified (5:33), made war on (9:29), ignorant (6:111), evil (23:97), disgraced (37:18), cursed (33:60), stolen from (Bukhari 5,59,537), raped (Ishaq 759) and a Muslim is not the friend of a kafir (3:28).

• "Erdogan’s words" demonstrate not only his complete intolerance for criticism and free speech, but also his hatred for non-Muslims, which Islamic scriptures refer to as “kafirs.”This was not the first time Erdogan publicly used the term “kafir.” On October 25, 2019, at another public event, Erdogan again used the term and openly incited violence against non-Muslims. During the Friday prayers at the Great Çamlıca Mosque in Istanbul, he told the congregants: Our God commands us to be violent towards the kuffar [infidels]. Who are we? The ummah [nation] of Mohammed. So [God] also commands us to be merciful to each other. So we will be merciful to each other. And we will be violent to the kuffar. Like in Syria."

Branding Jews and Christians who do not adhere to Islamic law as "kafir," a term of exclusion and condemnation. Hegseth, a devout Christian and military veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, is reclaiming a term that has been weaponized against non-Muslims, particularly by jihadist groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda, who use it to justify violence against "infidels." 

X user @BrotherRasheed,Many Arabic platforms are making a big deal about the tattoo on the arm of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth @PeteHegseth, which features the word Kafir—a term Muslims use to refer to non-Muslims, often in a derogatory manner. However, this word is widely recognized among military veterans, especially those who served in the Middle East, as a symbol of defiance against Islamic terrorists. It’s commonly seen on stickers, the backs of trucks, T-shirts, and mugs. Personally, I had it on a hat, a mug, and even on the door of my office.

CAIR’s claim of "personal insecurity" is a cheap psychological jab with no evidence. Hegseth’s tattoos, including the "kafir" ink and his "Deus Vult" (Latin for "God Wills It") tattoo, reflect his Christian faith and military background, not an obsession with Islam. Hegseth has over a dozen tattoos, many of which, like the Jerusalem Cross on his chest, symbolize his Christian identity and patriotism. If anything, CAIR’s fixation on Hegseth’s body art suggests they are the ones with an insecurity problem, unable to handle a non-Muslim proudly asserting his identity in the face of a term Islam itself uses to dehumanize others.

CAIR’s Claim: Hegseth’s Tattoo Glorifies the ‘Failed Crusaders’ and Their ‘Genocidal Acts’

CAIR attempts to smear Hegseth by linking his "Deus Vult" tattoo to the Crusades, which they describe as "genocidal acts of violence against Jews, Muslims, and even fellow Christians centuries ago." While the Crusades (1095–1291) were indeed marked by violence, including the 1099 massacre in Jerusalem where Crusaders killed Muslims, Jews, and Eastern Christians, CAIR’s narrative is a one-sided distortion. The Crusades were a response to centuries of Islamic aggression, including the conquest of Christian lands in the Middle East, North Africa, and Spain, starting with Muhammad’s campaigns in the 7th century. By the 11th century, Muslim forces had captured Jerusalem, a holy city for Christians, and were harassing pilgrims. The First Crusade was called by Pope Urban II in 1095 to reclaim these territories and protect Christian populations, not to commit genocide (Madden,2005, The New Concise History of the Crusades).

CAIR conveniently ignores Islam’s own history of violence during this period. The Islamic conquests from 632 to 732 saw the rapid expansion of Muslim rule through military campaigns that subjugated Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians, often forcing them to convert, pay the jizya tax, or face death. 

The Quran itself endorses such violence in Surah 9:29: "Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture [Christians and Jews]—[fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled." This verse explicitly calls for violence against Christians and Jews unless they submit to Islamic dominance. CAIR’s attempt to paint the Crusades as uniquely genocidal while ignoring Islam’s own history of conquest and violence is intellectually dishonest.

CAIR’s Claim: Muslims Don’t Tattoo Opposition to Other Religions Because They’re ‘Secure’ and ‘Respectful’

CAIR’s assertion that Muslims don’t tattoo themselves with anti-Christian messages because they are "secure in their own faith" and "respect the beliefs of their neighbors" is laughable given Islam’s historical and doctrinal stance toward other religions. The Quran and Hadith are replete with commands to fight and kill non-Muslims, particularly Christians and Jews. Surah 9:5, known as the "Verse of the Sword," states, "And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush." While this verse primarily targets polytheists, Islamic scholars like Ibn Kathir have interpreted it to include Christians and Jews who reject Islam (Tafsir Ibn Kathir). The Hadith also fuels this hostility. Sahih Muslim (Book 41, Hadith 6985) quotes Muhammad saying, "The last hour would not come unless the Muslims will fight against the Jews and the Muslims would kill them until the Jews would hide themselves behind a stone or a tree and a stone or a tree would say: Muslim, or the servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him."

This doctrine has manifested in centuries of violence, from the early Islamic conquests to modern-day jihadist terrorism. The 21st century alone has seen countless attacks by groups like Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Boko Haram, who often call themselves "martyrs" for dying in the name of jihad. The 9/11 attacks in 2001, carried out by Al-Qaeda, killed nearly 3,000 people in the name of Islam. ISIS’s campaign in Iraq and Syria from 2014 onward saw the genocide of Yazidis, the enslavement of women, and the beheading of Christians, all justified by their interpretation of Islamic texts (Wood, 2015, The Atlantic). CAIR’s claim of "respect" for other beliefs is undermined by this legacy of violence and the explicit intolerance in Islamic scripture, which continues to inspire terrorism today.

As for tattoos, CAIR notes that "most Muslims do not wear tattoos for religious reasons," citing Islamic teachings that discourage body modification (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 77, Hadith 594). Yet, their implication that this reflects moral superiority is absurd. Hegseth’s tattoo is a personal expression of his identity, not a call to violence, unlike the Quran’s commands to kill non-believers. CAIR’s attempt to shame Hegseth for his tattoo while ignoring Islam’s own history of hostility toward other faiths is a blatant double standard.

CAIR’s Claim: Hegseth Should Consider American Muslims in the Military and Population

CAIR’s final point—that Hegseth should "keep in mind that he leads the U.S. armed forces, which includes thousands of American Muslims, and that he is sworn to defend the American people, who include millions of American Muslims"—is a veiled threat, implying that Hegseth’s tattoo makes him unfit to lead. This is a manipulative tactic to silence criticism of Islam by invoking the presence of Muslims in the U.S. Hegseth’s tattoo does not target American Muslims; it is a symbol of defiance against the jihadist ideology that has killed thousands of Americans and others worldwide. As Secretary of Defense, Hegseth has made counterterrorism a priority, focusing on groups like the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have attacked U.S. interests (The Guardian, 2025). His tattoo reflects his resolve to confront this threat, not to discriminate against Muslim Americans.

Moreover, CAIR’s own history raises questions about its credibility to lecture on American values. CAIR has been criticized for its ties to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, and was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2007 Holy Land Foundation trial, which uncovered funding networks for Hamas (U.S. Department of Justice, 2008). While CAIR denies these allegations, its history of defending controversial figures and causes, including opposition to Hegseth’s nomination over his past statements on Islam, suggests an agenda more aligned with protecting Islamist interests than promoting genuine interfaith harmony (CAIR, 2025).

CAIR’s Disrespectful Tone on X

CAIR’s X post on March 27, 2025, doesn’t even address Hegseth with his proper title, referring to him as "Pete Hegseth" rather than "Secretary of Defense Hegseth," a subtle but telling sign of disrespect for his position (CAIR National, 2025). This lack of decorum from an organization claiming to champion "respect" further undermines their moral posturing. If CAIR truly valued respect, they would address Hegseth appropriately while engaging in substantive dialogue, not name-calling and character assassination.

Conclusion: CAIR’s Outrage Is a Distraction from Islam’s Violent Legacy

CAIR’s attack on Pete Hegseth’s "kafir" tattoo is a hypocritical attempt to paint him as an Islamophobe while ignoring Islam’s own history of violence, intolerance, and supremacist ideology. The Quran and Hadith explicitly call for violence against Christians and Jews, a doctrine that has fueled centuries of conquest and modern-day terrorism by groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS, who proudly call themselves "martyrs" for their jihad. Hegseth’s tattoo is a personal expression of defiance against this ideology, not an attack on American Muslims. CAIR’s outrage is a distraction, a way to silence criticism of Islam while projecting a false image of victimhood. It’s time to hold CAIR accountable for its double standards and confront the real threat: the extremist ideology that continues to inspire violence in the name of Islam.

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Sources:

• CAIR National X Post, March 27, 2025: https://t.co/lmtK0QKnc0
• TRT Global, "After Signalgate, Hegseth sparks uproar with 'Kafir' (infidel) tattoo on arm," March 28, 2025: trt.global
• The Daily Beast, "Pete Hegseth Sparks Outrage With Wild New Arabic Tattoo," March 28, 2025: www.thedailybeast.com
• The Guardian, "Pete Hegseth’s Arabic tattoo stirs controversy: ‘clear symbol of Islamophobia’," March 27, 2025: www.theguardian.com
• Madden, Thomas F., The New Concise History of the Crusades, 2005.
• Wood, Graeme, "What ISIS Really Wants," The Atlantic, 2015.
• U.S. Department of Justice, Holy Land Foundation Trial Documents, 2008.
• Quran and Hadith translations from Sahih International and Sahih Muslim.