Republican Rep. Randy Fine of Florida announced legislation aimed at preventing federal dollars from going to any state or local government that designates dogs as “haram,” a term in Islamic law referring to something forbidden.

Fine unveiled what he is calling the “Protecting Puppies From Sharia Act” after a social media exchange involving a supporter of far-left New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani drew national attention.

The controversy began when activist Nerdeen Kiswani posted a message on X during a late-January snowstorm in New York City referencing dog waste in snow drifts and stating that dogs “definitely have a place in society, just not as indoor pets,” adding that they are considered “unclean.” The New York Times reported that Kiswani later described the post as “mild” and satirical.

Fine responded on social media with a blunt remark defending American cultural norms, writing that if Americans were forced to choose between dogs and those who would seek to ban them, “the choice is not a difficult one.” The statement prompted criticism from opponents and renewed debate online.

Rather than retracting his position, Fine escalated the issue legislatively.

“I am proud to introduce the Protecting Puppies from Sharia Act,” Fine wrote in a subsequent post. He said the measure would bar federal funds from going to jurisdictions that adopt policies treating dogs as forbidden under religious doctrine.

Fine said the broader issue centers on preserving American customs and resisting pressure to alter them.

“It’s not enough for Democrats to think anyone who wants to come here illegally should be able to do that,” Fine said. “They also think they should be able to get whatever free stuff they want, and now they’re demanding that we change our values and how we live as Americans.”

Fine, who is Jewish, argued that his comments were directed at protecting longstanding cultural norms rather than targeting any faith group.