Quick Summary: State Rep. Monty Fritts, a Republican candidate for Tennessee governor, said he would seek to ban mosques and other non-Christian worship sites if elected, calling Islam more of a political movement than a religion. He argued the First Amendment applies only to Congress, a claim that legal experts and many critics dispute. Fritts also said he would outlaw same-sex marriage and identified as a "Christian nationalist," prompting widespread criticism and constitutional concerns.
Tennessee Gubernatorial Candidate Says He Would Ban Non-Christian Religions If Elected
Facebook/Monty Fritts for TN House District 32; ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
State Representative Monty Fritts, a Republican candidate for Tennessee governor, told local media he would seek to ban mosques and other non-Christian places of worship if elected. His comments — made in interviews with Memphis outlet WMC and Nashville's NewsChannel 5 and widely shared online — have prompted legal questions and public criticism.
Details Of The Remarks
Fritts specifically said he would move to prohibit Islamic houses of worship, including mosques, and other meeting places used by Buddhists, Hindus and what he described as "other pagan religions." When asked to explain his position, he told reporters:
Facebook/Monty Fritts for TN House District 32
"Islam is a little different story than perhaps other religions are, in that it's not necessarily a religion, it's a political movement. It's that movement that if you don't submit, perhaps are executed. I feel that Islam is incongruent with both our U.S. and Tennessee Constitution."
Constitutional Context
Fritts argued the First Amendment limits only Congress and suggested state and local governments could restrict religious activity. Legal resources, including the U.S. Courts website, summarize the First Amendment as containing both an Establishment Clause (which bars government endorsement of religion) and a Free Exercise Clause (which protects individuals' rights to practice their faith unless doing so conflicts with public safety or a compelling government interest).
Other Positions And Reactions
In the same interview cycle, Fritts said he would outlaw same-sex marriage and criminalize certain consensual sexual acts between adults. He also described himself as a "Christian nationalist," saying he is "an America-first, Tennessee-first person."
Facebook/Monty Fritts for TN House District 32
Clips of Fritts' remarks circulated widely on social media and drew sharp criticism. Critics pointed to constitutional protections for religious freedom and condemned the comments as discriminatory; supporters framed his remarks as a defense of perceived cultural values.
Demographics And Source Notes
National surveys show sizeable non-Christian populations in the U.S. South: the Pew Research Center's Religious Landscape Study estimates about one-third of U.S. Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists live in the South. The reporting on Fritts' comments has been published by local outlets WMC and NewsChannel 5 and republished by national outlets.
Why This Matters: A gubernatorial candidate proposing bans on entire faith communities raises immediate constitutional, legal and civil-rights concerns and is likely to be a focal point in both the campaign and wider public discussion.
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