The United Nations has been hosting anti-US and anti-Israel sermons at its headquarters, featuring imams who promote extremist narratives and express support for the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack.
What happened
The United Nations Islamic Community holds regular prayers and religious events at UN headquarters, which include the promotion of anti-US and anti-Israel narratives. Videos of these events are posted on YouTube, featuring imams such as Aliyu Abdulsalam, Mohammed Shamsi Ali, and Abdulkareem Adeeb. These imams have made controversial statements, including expressing support for Hamas and Hizbullah, and promoting conspiracy theories about the October 7 attack.
One of the imams, Mohammed Shamsi Ali, has said that the October 7 attack was "not a surprise" and compared it to a homeowner's attempt to reclaim their house from a robber. Another imam, Aliyu Abdulsalam, has asserted that "Israel will collapse" and that "Palestine will win". Imam Abdulkareem Adeeb has said that "terrorism is the defense of the oppressed" and that photos of the October 7 atrocities might have been AI-generated.
The UN's hosting of these sermons has raised concerns about the organization's ability to combat hate speech worldwide. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has warned about the dangers of hate speech, but the organization's lending of its legitimacy and platform to religious figures who promote extremism and hatred has been criticized.
The issue has sparked debate about the UN's commitment to combating hate speech and its role in promoting interfaith harmony and cooperation. The organization's history of passing more resolutions condemning Israel than any other country has also been highlighted, with some arguing that this has contributed to a culture of anti-Israel sentiment within the UN.
