Jim Caviezel, the California-born MAGA-aligned actor best known for portraying Jesus Christ in The Passion of the Christ, is facing online backlash after claiming Muslims want to kill him over his involvement in a film depicting the execution of an Iranian woman.
During an interview with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson, Caviezel claimed he has a fatwa against him because of his role in the 2009 film The Stoning of Soraya M., which tells the story of an Iranian woman who was falsely accused of adultery and executed by stoning.
“I have a fatwa on me,” Caviezel told Johnson, adding that Muslims supposedly have “a right to cut my heart out in their Islamic belief because I exposed them in a movie called The Stoning of Soraya M.” The actor did not identify who allegedly issued the fatwa or provide details about when it was issued.
Caviezel also used the interview to warn Americans about what he described as the growing influence of Sharia law in the United States. “You might not know what Sharia Law is, but you’re going to know what it is very, very soon,” he warned. The actor also criticized Christians for being more afraid of their perceived enemies than standing firmly behind their religious beliefs.
“Christians today are more afraid of the devil than they are of God,” Caviezel said. His comments quickly attracted attention online, with critics questioning the sweeping nature of his claims and mocking his suggestion that Muslims want him dead.
Caviezel’s Claims Sparked a Debate
However, Caviezel’s claims about an alleged fatwa did not convince everyone on social media. Muslim-American commentator Dean Obeidallah directly challenged the actor’s suggestion that Muslims wanted him dead, writing: “Im Muslim and no one wants this loser dead for his views. He’s a typical grifter. Go get a [expletive] a job and stop whining [expletive]!”
Another commenter questioned whether the California-based star was suggesting that the world’s roughly two billion Muslims were collectively targeting him. “Since when are all 2 billion Muslims in a WhatsApp group organising to kill Jim Caviezel?” the user joked.
Others were equally dismissive, with one writing, “Nobody believes this [expletive] anymore, nor do they believe you you fraud.” Another critic simply responded, “Bull [expletive].” Some users, however, defended Caviezel and offered prayers for his safety, with supporters thanking him for speaking publicly about religious persecution.
Despite the backlash, the actor has continued to speak about his Christian beliefs and concerns about religious extremism. While fatwas can carry serious consequences, particularly when they explicitly call for violence, Caviezel has not publicly provided independent evidence confirming the alleged ruling against him.
