A New York mosque has apologized for hateful statements made by a pro-Hamas imam earlier this month — including calling for the destruction of “zionist Jews.”
The guest imam delivered the sermon on Aug. 9 at the Islamic Center of Rockland County, in Valley Cottage, touting that Hamas was winning the war in Gaza.
“Oh Allah, destroy the zionist Jews,” said the imam, who was not identified, according to a translation by Memri TV.
“Oh Allah, seize them with a crushing grip,” he added, saying Hamas will win because of their faith.
With video spreading of the imam’s hateful rhetoric, local Jewish groups and elected officials called on the Islamic center to respond to the statements made in their mosque.
“On August 9, during a sermon at our masjid, a guest imam (prayer leader) delivered several hurtful statements that included a prayer to God for the destruction of Zionist Jews as part of the conflict in Gaza,” the group said in a statement.
“We unequivocally condemn these statements,” they added. “We sincerely apologize for any pain caused by these remarks and will ensure that our platform is not used to promote these types of harmful messages going forward.”
The Jewish Federation and Foundation of Rockland County said it was shocked by the message at their neighbor’s mosque, calling on the community to unite against the “inflammatory and threatening ideas.”
“There is no room for hateful, violent speech like this,” Jewish Federation CEO Ari Rosenblum said.
“It is more than alarming; it is threatening to the overwhelming majority of our community who identify with the self-determination of the Jewish people in our ancestral homeland.”
Rosenblum said the situation was especially heartbreaking given that the mosque has often been a partner with local synagogues in the past.
US Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-R) also called on the mosque to condemn the “disturbing, violent, and antisemitic rhetoric” made by the imam.
“That is totally unacceptable anywhere, but especially so in Rockland County,” he said, referencing the county’s large Jewish community.
Scott Richman, the regional director of the New York and New Jersey Anti-Defamation League, warned that such hateful speeches in the tri-state area and around the world “only fuels hatred and divides neighbors but can lead to harmful real world consequences.”
