A Muslim council candidate received death threats
Council candidate Tanveer Patel reported death threats and religious slurs on her campaign Facebook page in August 2025. Police and the FBI identified a suspect in Georgia; no charging outcome has been reported.
Where it stands
Unclear
Hits residents
6/10
Years covered
2025–2025
Sources
3 linked
- 1
- Suspect identified, in Georgia
- 0
- Charges publicly reported as of July 2026
- 5,844
- Votes Patel received in the Aug. 26, 2025 election
As of 2025-08
As of 2026-07
As of 2025-08
What happened
A week before the August 2025 municipal election, Hoover City Council Place 1 candidate Tanveer Patel, who moved to the United States from India in 1990 and had lived in Hoover for more than 20 years, reported death threats and religious slurs posted on her campaign Facebook page, including a comment telling her to go back to India or “you be shot to death.” At an August 19, 2025 press conference Patel said: “To be told that I should be sent back to India, called a ‘raghead,’ or to be threatened with violence is not only frightening; it is heartbreaking.” Hoover police Capt. Keith Czeskleba confirmed an active harassing-communications investigation, and Patel’s attorney said Hoover police and the FBI had identified a suspect in Georgia; an FBI spokeswoman would neither confirm nor deny a federal investigation. Hoover police pledged polling-place safety. Patel lost the election to Robin Schultz, 10,819 votes to 5,844. Reporting on the investigation goes cold after August 21, 2025.
Timeline
Patel files a harassing-communications complaint with Hoover police.
Hoover Sun (hooversun.com) ↗Patel holds a press conference; police confirm an active investigation and a suspect identified in Georgia.
Hoover Sun (hooversun.com) ↗Municipal election; Patel receives 5,844 votes to Schultz’s 10,819.
City of Hoover official election results (hooveralabama.gov) ↗
Who's involved
Tanveer Patel
Council Place 1 candidate who reported the threats
Capt. Keith Czeskleba
Hoover Police Department; confirmed the investigation
FBI Birmingham field office
Would neither confirm nor deny a federal investigation
Robin Schultz
Won the Place 1 race
The other side
Hoover police said “the safety of our residents, employees, businesses and visitors is always our top priority” and pledged to keep polling places safe. Patel’s attorney thanked police and the FBI for acting quickly.
Open questions
- Whether anyone was charged, and whether the FBI opened a federal civil rights case, is not documented in any source reviewed.
Sources (3)
- 1Police investigating death threats to Muslim Hoover City Council candidateHoover Sun · Aug 19, 2025 · hooversun.com
- 2Death threats, slurs target Tanveer Patel in Hoover City Council raceAlabama Political Reporter (opinion) · Aug 19, 2025 · alreporter.com
- 3Aug. 26, 2025 official municipal election resultsCity of Hoover · Aug 26, 2025 · hooveralabama.gov
Last checked July 29, 2026