North Carolina Democratic Party Muslim Chair Says Zionists Are Nazis, and a ‘Threat to Humanity’

Elyas Mohammed, president of the North Carolina Democratic Party’s (NCDP) Muslim Caucus,  recently posted on social media, “Zionists = Modern day #Nazis.”

Mohammed, also a member of the NCDP’s State Executive Committee (SEC), posted, “#Zionists are a threat to #Humanity.” He has publicly referred to Israel as “IsraHell.”

The Muslim Caucus was founded in 2024, is in the review process, and seeking final approval by the party.

Jibril Hough, first vice president of this same caucus, publicly said, “Zionism is a branch of racism/white supremacy and must be fought with the same intensity.” He has described Zionists as the “worst of humanity.”

Numerous leaders and members of the NCDP are out of step with the Democratic Party’s platform, which expresses its support for Israel nearly 30 times, prominently leading with an endorsement of Israel as “a Jewish and democratic state.”

I contacted NCDP leadership for comment on Mohammed’s posts, including Governor Josh Stein and his Communications Director; State Party Chair Anderson Clayton; and First Vice Chair Jonah Garson. None responded.

The NCDP’s acquiescence and silence concerning the extreme and hateful remarks made by some of its leaders about Israel is anticipated at this point. The NCDP has been targeting Israel for years instead of focusing on statewide issues. For example, on Saturday, June 28, 2025 — during Shabbat — the NCDP’s State Executive Council passed six anti-Israel resolutions.

Rather than publicly clarify these actions, the NCDP quickly removed information about the resolutions from public view. This decision, or coverup, has left many with the impression that the party is attempting to bury the issue. Before the resolutions were taken offline, I made a copy.

One of the resolutions that passed, titled “Resolution for Democratic Unity,” actually claimed that Israel had taken “Palestinian hostages.”

Just a few months after this resolution passed, Mohammed shared a grotesque post on Facebook, suggesting that the hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7 could or should be considered “prisoners of war.” The post continued, “If they [the hostages] were CIVILIANS, ISRAEL IS GUILTY OF A WAR CRIME FOR PLACING THEM THERE.”

Many Democrats have left the party over its obsessive focus on Israel. Former Raleigh City Council member Stefanie Mendell recently switched her party affiliation to Unaffiliated, telling me:

While in my heart I am a Democrat, after the anti-Israel resolutions passed at last year’s NC Democratic Party convention, I am no longer comfortable being associated with the party. I feel like they bent over backwards to focus negatively on Israel when there were so many more critical issues that North Carolinians care about — the cost of living, education, healthcare, etc. I will vote for, campaign for, and support individual Democrats, but I will no longer contribute to the party itself until and unless they stand up to this extremist fringe that seems more intent on virtue signaling than on electing people who can positively impact the people in our state.

According to the NCDP Plan of Organization, SEC members, such as Mohammed, are expected to uphold the values of the Code of Conduct.

The “Code of Conduct for the North Carolina Democratic Party Officers and Leaders” clearly states that leaders are expected to act in ways that do not “negatively impact other members … or the party’s reputation” and “to be sensitive to other people’s feelings.” When communicating electronically, the Code of Conduct encourages leaders to ask, “Am I acting in the party’s best interest?”

Leaders are also asked to consider, “Is what I am doing in line with our Plan of Organization and the Spirit of the Party Platform?”

According to a document recently posted to the NCDP’s website, “The Muslim Caucus is being recommended for Conditional Approval until the Summer SEC Meeting.”

I firmly believe that the Muslim community, as with any religious group, should be robustly represented and included in government and political parties. The question I ask is: What will the North Carolina Democratic Party do concerning caucus leaders who are making hateful and divisive statements that contribute to Democrats leaving the party?

Lisa Jewel, president of the NC Democratic Jewish Caucus, told me:

We understand that Mr. Mohammed is resigning his position as Chair of The NCDP Muslim Caucus. It is our hope that, under its next Chair, as the Muslim Caucus works its way through the approval process — and beyond — it will pivot its focus and efforts, to uplifting democracy here in North Carolina.

Last summer, Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt, and former Democratic Gov. and senatorial candidate Roy Cooper expressed their opposition to their party’s anti-Israel resolutions. It is now the moment for Democratic Party leaders at the state level to announce a reset and reclaim the party from the divisive, anti-Israel extremists within it.

The North Carolina Democratic Party needs to decide if they want to represent all Democrats in the state or just those Democrats who hate Israel.

Peter Reitzes writes about antisemitism in North Carolina and beyond.