Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Constable Ali Sheikhani, a Muslim Republican, is facing racist attacks from within his own party. Conservative activist Amy Mekelburg, founder of the RAIR Foundation USA, targeted Sheikhani with accusations of attempting to "Pakistanify" law enforcement in a video posted on Tuesday. Mekelburg referred to Sheikhani, who is of Pakistani descent, as an "Islamic Pakistani operative" and claimed his role represented "another Republican Party infiltration."
Mekelburg's video, which included footage of Sheikhani at his job and visiting Pakistan, was amplified by Bo French, the Republican nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission. French shared the video, describing its content as exhibiting "third-worldery."
Sheikhani, who began his career as a businessman in Fort Bend before entering law enforcement, was elected constable in November 2024. He defeated the Democratic incumbent with just over 52 percent of the vote in a district with a significant South Asian population. Sheikhani stated he chose to run as a Republican due to his respect for the party's values, such as adhering to the law and respecting diverse religions and backgrounds.
When asked about the attacks, Sheikhani expressed his disappointment but declined to engage with the rhetoric, stating, "It's unfortunate they felt the need to put that video out... It's not actually accurate but I maintain the respect for them, so I'm just not gonna say anything else." He also indicated he was unaware of French's specific meaning by "third-worldery."
The incident occurs amidst broader internal debates within the Texas Republican Party concerning Islam. At the state GOP convention in Houston, "Don't Sharia Our Texas" became a focal point, with Governor Greg Abbott reiterating calls to ban Sharia law. During the convention, Muslim Republican delegates reportedly faced confrontations about their faith, with some being told to leave the country.
French has previously been associated with efforts to challenge Muslim delegates at party events, with reports suggesting he supported attempts to expel delegates and allegedly called for the deportation of one delegate's son. His campaign website now describes him as a "proven conservative fighter who has stood up to the Chinese Communist Party and radical Islam."
Sheikhani, however, offered a message of inclusion, stating, "This is our country too. Just do the right thing, do everything by the law and let people talk."