Actor Mark Ruffalo, known for his outspoken activism and progressive views, found himself at the center of controversy following a statement on Tuesday described by many as Islamophobic.

In a post on X, Ruffalo described right-wing Project 2025 as "white Christian nationalism" and likened it to "the Sharia Law of the 'Christian' crazy people.”

Project 2025 is not a game, it’s white Christian nationalism. It is the Sharia Law of the “Christian” crazy people who aren’t Christian at all but want to control every aspect of your life through their narrow and exclusionary interpretation of Christ’s egalitarian, inclusive,… https://t.co/F1sdIpkovi

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) July 1, 2024

- What is Project 2025? -

Project 2025 is an extensive policy blueprint developed primarily by The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

This 920-page document outlines a comprehensive plan to reshape the federal government according to a far-right agenda, intended to be implemented if a Republican candidate, such as Donald Trump, wins the 2024 presidential election.

The document includes detailed proposals for policy changes across various federal agencies and departments, aiming to enforce conservative principles on issues like immigration, education, and reproductive rights.

Critics of Project 2025 argue that it promotes a vision of America heavily influenced by Christian nationalism and could lead to significant setbacks in civil rights, reproductive freedoms, and LGBTQ+ protections.

The document has been described as advocating for policies that would enforce a singular, restrictive interpretation of family and gender roles, as well as reduce the separation of church and state in governance.

- Why is Ruffalo’s statement Islamophobic? -

Ruffalo’s inflammatory comparison quickly sparked a wave of responses, with many criticizing Ruffalo for his comparison of Project 2025 to Sharia law, arguing that it perpetuates negative stereotypes about Islam and Muslims.

Sharia, meaning "path" in Arabic, is usually used as a term to encompass laws and guidelines derived from Islamic principles.

However, the use of Sharia Law as a pejorative term has long been a tool for fear-mongering against Muslims, online users pointed out.

By invoking Sharia in this context, Ruffalo inadvertently aligned himself with a narrative that portrays Islam as inherently oppressive, authoritarian, and violent.

Using Sharia Law as a benchmark for something perceived as negative disregards the significance and value it holds for millions of Muslims worldwide.

Here are some online reactions:

americans will see something extremely characteristically american take place and all of the sudden the islamophobia pops out like a meerkat https://t.co/DQOjjUId8v

— سمسوم☪︎ (@maghrebimarx) July 2, 2024

It's not Sharia Law. It's Christofascism. Stop projecting everything you can't bear in your own society onto Islam. https://t.co/IzrJ0RpUkk

— Shailja #FreePalestine Patel (@shailjapatel) July 2, 2024

Mark Ruffalo using "sharia law" the same discriminatory way white nationalists do whilst denouncing white nationalists. https://t.co/jXNfzryvMT pic.twitter.com/qbqbhCbcp6

— Mαrwα (@MarwaBalkar) July 1, 2024

Hi Mark, this is an Islamophobic tweet. You don’t need to compare Christian extremism to Islam or Muslims to make your point. Why don’t you try the Inquisition, the Catholic Church, Protestantism, lots to choose from my man. Keep us out of your mouth. Thanks  https://t.co/MYmznlNMMl

— Ambereen Dadabhoy (@DrDadabhoy) July 2, 2024

The Sharia includes how we pray, how we do financial transactions, how we get married; it includes what we eat, how we dress, economic law. It is a vast legal system made up of many parts & principles, with vast scholarship & schools of thought - it is not the caricature you’ve… https://t.co/QH7b7Pn7d5

— Sana Saeed (@SanaSaeed) July 2, 2024

Hey man. Can we go 5 minutes without using Muslims as "scary example of bad thing"? Thanks, bud

— eric (@havlatwink) July 1, 2024

I want to make sure you know
“Sharia Law” is Islamic Law like the Bible not extremist nationalism. Every Muslim follows the Sharia when they believe in Allah (SWT) as One God, pray 5 times a day, fast during Ramadan, make their Hajj donate to the poor so on. The term has been…

— Attymzk (@attymzk) July 1, 2024