Nadine Osman
A Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor in Georgia has sparked widespread condemnation after sharing a campaign advertisement depicting the state being overtaken by “Sharia law.”
State Senator Greg Dolezal posted an artificial intelligence-generated video on social media on March 3, showing scenes of “Islamic extremists” appearing to take control of Georgia. The video opens with two women in hijab entering a state building and a man in black breaking into a home to slash an Easter cake with a machete. Later, another figure in traditional Islamic dress tells a woman, who resembles the actress Claire Danes, that she is not allowed to drive. There is no suggestion that Danes was involved.
Further imagery in the ad showed armed men and large black military tanks moving through suburban neighbourhoods. The post included a caption warning, “London has fallen. Europe is under siege,” and claimed, “In America, the invaders who would rather pillage our generosity than assimilate are roaming Minnesota, New York, and LA. As Lt Governor, I will fight the enemy before they’re within the gates and keep Georgia safe and Sharia free.” The video concluded with an AI-generated woman in a hijab and the message, “Keep Georgia Sharia Free.”
Dolezal, who has served in the Georgia State Senate since 2018 representing District 27, describes himself on social media as a “Father. Husband. Entrepreneur. State Senator. Trump Conservative running for Lt Governor of Georgia.” He has positioned himself as a far-right Republican, opposing diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes, supporting overturning the 2020 presidential election results, and advocating bans on transgender athletes in sport.
The video quickly went viral online, eliciting strong reactions. Critics called it racist and Islamophobic. One comment read: “This is disgusting. Hate, including Islamophobia, has no place in Georgia.” Another said: “Greg Dolezal used AI to fabricate a fake invasion scenario, portraying Muslims as violent enemies. That is not leadership—it is religious scapegoating.”
Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones II condemned the ad as “racist AI slop,” calling for Dolezal to apologise and even to withdraw from the Lieutenant Governor race, claiming he lacked the self-control necessary to lead the Georgia State Senate.
Dolezal is one of eight Republicans competing for Lieutenant Governor. The current Lieutenant Governor, Burt Jones, is running for governor to replace Brian Kemp, whose term ends in January 2027.
The controversy comes amid rising concerns over Islamophobia in the US. A 2024 study by the Council on American-Islamic Relations reported over 8,000 incidents of anti-Muslim discrimination in the previous year.
Feature photo: Sen. Greg Dolezal (Credit: Georgia State Senate)
