Rockland mosque leaders apologize to Jewish community after guest speaker's sermon denouncing Jews
Leaders of a Rockland County mosque are apologizing to Jewish community leaders and the entire community for remarks shared by a guest speaker.
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Leaders of a Rockland County mosque are apologizing to Jewish community leaders and the entire community for remarks shared by a guest speaker.
"The Jews and the Christians will not accept you until you follow their religions," Ned Muhammad Nadal said to the congregation at the Islamic Center of Rockland County just before he led a prayer in Arabic in which he asked Allah to "destroy the Zionist Jews" and "shake the ground beneath their feet."
"It's extreme views and extreme language," mosque board member Junaid Dar said when reached by phone Monday.
Dar said much of the sermon was not fully understood right away because there are not many Arabic speakers in the congregation; most of the members are of Pakistani and Bangladeshi descent.
He told News 12 that once Clarkstown police detectives and Jewish leaders notified them about Muhammad Nadal's remarks, mosque leaders immediately removed the video and released a public apology.
"We sincerely apologize for any pain caused by these remarks," the statement read in part, "and will ensure that our platform is not used to promote these types of harmful messages going forward.
"We always talk about humanity, Islamic values, brotherhood and how to work with our neighbors" and stand firmly against antisemitism and condemn Muhammad Nadal's statements.
Leaders of the Jewish Federation of Rockland County said they were surprised by the remarks because they often work closely with the Islamic Center on community events.
Some local elected officials said they were also taken aback by the comments because they have visited the mosque several times and have always heard messages of peace.
"This is a mosque that has a history of working in an ecumenical fashion," Clarkstown Town Supervisor George Hoehmann said. "Given my background working with all the houses of worship within the town, frankly it was shocking to see this."
Ari Rosenblum, director of the Jewish Federation of Rockland County, said his organization accepts the Islamic Center's apology and plan to keep collaborating with the mosque.
"We got the response and the retraction that was necessary," Rosenblum said. "Now we can move forward in a safe and secure way for our community."
Dar said the Islamic Center's board passed a resolution Sunday to better vet their guest speakers.
He also said Muhhamad Nadal will not be speaking again from the mosque's pulpit.
