LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Indiana's lieutenant governor is facing criticism from Muslim advocacy groups after comments he made about Islam during a Christian talk show appearance.
According to reporting from FOX59, Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith appeared on the Christian talk show "Flashpoint" on May 21. Around the 43-minute mark in the video, he expressed his hatred for Islam, saying they have "radical, jihadi mindsets."
"I am going to call on others to hate it because I hate Islam," Beckwith said. "It is a death cult. Now, I love Muslims, because they make great Christians when Jesus gets a hold of them. But I hate Islam. And we need to be OK with hating again."
The Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network responded to Beckwith's comments, calling him a "religious bigot" and his rhetoric "dangerous."
"Comments like these from elected officials are dangerous because they give people permission to hate and dehumanize Muslims, contributing to the growing climate of anti-Muslim rhetoric and violence across the country," wrote Executive Director Maliha Zafar.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR — the largest Muslim civil rights group in the country — said Beckwith has "every right to express his own religious views" but that he was "spread[ing] panic about an imaginary Muslim takeover of Indiana."
Beckwith's comments did not end with the talk show appearance. On social media this Thursday — the day before the end of Eid al-Adha, an Islamic holiday — he doubled down on his views.
"On the close of Eid, after much prayer and consideration after my recent interview, I would like take [sic] this opportunity to wish all Muslims in Indiana the best," Beckwith wrote on Twitter. "And by best I mean I hope you all become Christian."
U.S. Rep. André Carson, D-Ind. District 7, took to social media shortly after Beckwith's post, calling the comments "outrageous and unacceptable."
"I’m a Hoosier and a Muslim," Carson said. "There are tens of thousands of Hoosier Muslims in our state. First responders. Teachers. Doctors. Small business owners. Veterans. We deserve the same dignity and respect as anyone else."
 Beckwith's office gave the following statement to FOX59:
"I love and support all groups of people who come to our country legally and assimilate to our culture. Sharia Law does the exact opposite of that and promotes the destruction of our country, our Constitution, and our way of life. I will never apologize for saying the United States of America is now and always should be one nation under God."
CAIR invited Beckwith to visit a mosque in Indiana to educate himself.
"Lt. Gov. Beckwith should respectfully engage with the Indiana Muslim community," the organization said. "Not put a bullseye on them, or cast doubt on his commitment to uphold religious freedom for everyone in Indiana."
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