The imam invited by Democrats to deliver the invocation on the House floor Thursday has a long history of expressing anti-Israel hate, promoting violence against Israel and being pro-Palestinian.
Imam Omar Suleiman was given the honor to recognize the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. He was invited by Democratic Texas Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson.
“We pray for peace; not war. Love; not hate. Benevolence; not greed. Unity; not division. And we commit ourselves to not betraying our prayers with actions that contradict them. Let us be for truth, no matter who, or for is against it.”,” Suleiman prayed on the House floor, according to the Jerusalem Post.
A beautiful, moving, and timely prayer by Imam Omar Suleiman on the House floor today at the US Capitol. Born and raised in Louisiana, currently lives and preaches in Dallas, TX. #Ramadan #faith #solidarity #Islam pic.twitter.com/Irccf9JP0Z
— Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour) May 9, 2019
The Jerusalem Post uncovered multiple anti-Israel posts on Suleiman’s public verified Facebook account.
“How befitting that the 3rd Intifada starts on the 27th night of Ramadan as worshippers are denied prayer in Masjid Al Aqsa,” a post from the time of the 2014 Gazan War read. “God willing on this blessed night as the 3rd Intifada begins, the beginning of the end of Zionism is here. May Allah help us overcome this monster, protect the innocent of the world, and accept the murdered as martyrs. ameen.”
He also spoke at a rally dedicated to protesting President Donald Trump’s decision to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2017.
“Your recognition means nothing to us,” he said. “Your maps mean nothing to us, your embassy is as illegitimate as the occupation it seeks to legitimize. Our land is our land, our dignity is our dignity. Our determination is our determination. Our boycott is our boycott. Our Aqsa [the mosque in Jerusalem] is our Aqsa. Our Palestine is our Palestine.”
The Democrats’ decision to invite Suleiman to lead the prayer was met with criticism from Republican New York Rep. Lee Zeldin, who is one of two Jewish Republicans in the House of Representatives.
“It is totally unacceptable that Speaker Pelosi had Omar Suleiman give the opening prayer yesterday in the House of Representatives,” he said in a statement provided to The Daily Caller. “He has a long, documented history of comparing Israel to the Nazis and calling them terrorists, supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, inciting violence calling for a Palestinian antifada and the end of zionism, and far more. This was a terribly bad call.”
Speaker Pelosi’s office did not return a request for comment.
