U.S. Senator faces backlash over remarks on Shia Muslims

The imam of the “Islamic Educational Center” in Orange County, California, prominent scholar Dr. Mustafa Al-Qazwini, has called on controversial U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham to retract his offensive and misleading statements. Graham had claimed that “Shiite Muslims are divinely mandated to kill all Jews worldwide.”

In his sermon on November 29, 2024, Al-Qazwini described Graham’s recent calls for the “complete defeat of Shiite Islam in the Middle East” as “deeply troubling” and “incendiary,” emphasizing that “Shiite Muslims around the world live by principles of peace and tolerance alongside followers of other faiths and sects.”

Al-Qazwini cited personal visits to Jewish synagogues in Shiite-majority countries, where Jews reportedly enjoy “full freedom” to lead their normal lives, including official representation in the nation’s parliament.

The scholar added that “Shiite Muslims themselves are victims of terrorism in several regions, including Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and Iraq,” urging Graham to issue a public apology for his remarks, which he described as “offensive to millions of Shiite Muslims worldwide.”

The imam noted, “Shiites are followers of Muhammad and his family. They do not attack others but are often victims of attacks and oppression. Spreading such falsehoods will only lead to greater tension and hatred.”