A pro-Hezbollah imam is among the religious leaders invited to speak at incoming President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
Husham al-Husainy, imam of the Karbalaa Islamic Educational Center in Dearborn, Michigan, is one of four religious leaders scheduled to give a benediction at the event, according to the official programme.
Al-Husainy’s selection has caused alarm among pro-Israel campaigners, who have pointed to his history of alleged support for terrorism and accusations of antisemitism against him.
A new report by the Middle East Forum stated that the Dearborn imam is “pro-Hezbollah.”
In 2006, he spoke at a rally supporting the Lebanese terror group and “held the picture of Hezbollah leader [Hassan] Nasrallah aloft on the stage,” according to the report.
A year later, he appeared on the Fox News show Hannity & Colmes where he refused to call Hezbollah terrorists.
During his interview, he said: ““Hezbollah is a Lebanese organisation. And I’ve got nothing to do with that.
"But there is a biblical meaning of Hezbollah. It is in Judaism and Christianity and Islam, meaning people of God."
Hezbollah has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the US State Department since 1997.
The controversial imam was previously invited by Democrats to give an invocation at the national committee’s 2007 winter meeting, during which he prayed that God would “help us to stop the war and violence, and oppression and occupation” in Iraq.
The report also outlines a history of alleged antisemitism. At a rally in 2015, hosted at the centre, he wished death upon Saudi Arabia and denounced Saudis as “agents of the Jews” whose “Zionist” planes “rain down” death upon the people of Yemen.
Rabbi Dr Ari Berman, president of Yeshiva University, is also scheduled to give a benediction at the ceremony (Picture: Alamy)Alamy Stock Photo
Al-Husainy’s inclusion is made even more bizarre by the fact that Yeshiva University president Rabbi Dr Ari Berman is also set to give a benediction for the ceremony.
Announcing his participation on X, Berman said: “It is a profound privilege to offer a prayer of unity and hope on behalf of Yeshiva University and for all Americans at this historic moment.”
It comes after Al-Husainy endorsed Trump’s re-election campaign in October last year, saying: “I am supporting Donald Trump because he opposes gay marriage and he is the most Christian person in the election.
"He will return us to conservative values, and I am a Muslim and I will stand with whoever opposes gay marriage.”
Trump has not indicated that he will implement a ban on gay marriage or challenge the court ruling that legalised it.
The JC has reached out to the Trump team and the Karbalaa Islamic Educational Center for comment.
