Mir Seddique, father of Orlando Terrorist Gunman Omar Mateen, claimed to NBC News his son’s killing of 50 people inside Pulse nightclub had “nothing to do with religion.”
Mateen, a U.S. citizen of Afghan descent, gunned down 50 people inside of a popular gay Orlando nightclub in the early hours of June 12.
Seddique claimed his family hated terrorism, reiterated the attack did not have anything to do with religion, and that seeing two men kiss in front of his wife and son earlier this year deeply troubled him.
Seddique told NBCNews, “We were in Downtown Miami, Bayside, people were playing music. And he saw two men kissing in front of his wife and kid and he got very angry. They were kissing each other and touching each other and he said ‘Look at that. In front of my son they are doing that.’ and then we were in the mens bathroom and men were kissing each other.”
“Now looking back, maybe thats why he went after a gay club,” Seddique said. Seddique expressed remorse for his son’s actions, saying “I don’t know why he did it. He is dead so I can’t ask him. I wish I knew.”
Seddqiue went on to express pride in Omar despite his crime, saying, “He was #1 Son. He is best son a father could expect. He respected his mother, the whole family. He is highly educated. He was such a perfect father. I don’t know what went through his mind to go after a gay bar.”
“We are apologizing for the whole incident. We weren’t aware of any action he is taking. We are in shock like the whole country,” Seddique said.
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