Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen lobbed the latest bomb in the 2026 race for Lt. Governor of Alabama against John Wahl, accusing him of participating in and supporting an event honoring Ramadan at an Anniston Islamic center.
In a press release Tuesday, Allen’s campaign shared photographic evidence appearing to show Wahl at what a March 5 Facebook post described as a “Ramadan Interfaith Dinner in Anniston.”
The post, appearing under the account of Monther Sahir Ibrahim, listed Wahl among the attendees and included multiple photos from the event.
Also according to Allen’s campaign, a 2025 Anniston Star piece previously described the annual gathering as an ‘Iftar dinner’, which is the traditional meal by which Muslims break their daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan.
Allen did not mince words — and Wahl quickly responded.
“When John Wahl chose to enter an Islamic Center to celebrate the Muslim holiday of Ramadan earlier this month, he showed us that he does not share the same values as the majority of Alabamians. He can’t spin this. There is no excuse for participating in the celebration of Islamic Ramadan,” Allen said in a statement on Tuesday.
“There is no excuse to go to a place that operates a mosque and a school to indoctrinate children into Islam, even if you are invited to do so. You will never find me in an Islamic Center or a mosque. I am a committed Christian. I want no part in Islam and the vast majority of Republicans in this state and across this country agree with me.”
In his news release, Allen took aim at the Anniston Islamic Center itself, which, according to its own website, lists among its stated goals the propagation of “Islamic principles and teachings to both Muslims and non-Muslims” and the development of institutions “to serve Islam and Muslims.”
Wahl wasted no time responding. He pushed back on both the political and theological bases of Allen’s attack.
Wahl has been Allen’s opponent in the race since late January after he received the public blessing of President Donald Trump.
On Tuesday, Wahl insisted he was invited by local officials and community leaders to what was presented to him as a community interfaith gathering, and said the invitation he received made no mention of Ramadan.
He said his sole purpose in attending was to openly share his Christian faith.
“I was invited by local officials and community leaders to attend a community interfaith gathering, not a celebration of Ramadan. Wes Allen knows this, and he knows there were dozens of elected officials and other candidates there as well. This is nothing more than a desperate attempt by the Allen campaign to deceive voters.
I attended this event for one reason—to speak openly about my faith and the values that guide my life and public service.
As a committed Christian, I will never hesitate to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ—anywhere, with anyone. Scripture calls us to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. That means showing up, engaging with others, and boldly sharing the hope of Christ with everyone. Questioning my faith for doing exactly that is absurd, and it reflects politics at its very worst.
The suggestion that I somehow embrace Muslim values or Ramadan is not only false—it is ridiculous. Anyone familiar with my life, my record, and my service knows that my Christian faith is central to who I am.
Wes Allen’s attempt to use my faith as a political weapon shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the Gospel. He claims that a ‘committed Christian’ stays away from those who believe differently. I would remind Wes that Jesus did not stay in the synagogue—He went to the well to speak to the Samaritan woman, He entered the homes of the rejected, and He commanded us to go into all the world.”
The 2026 Alabama Republican Party primary election will be held on May 19 — now 56 days away.
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
