Imam praising Hezbollah started from the inauguration blessing

On By Littum

An imam who refused to recognize Hezbollah as a terrorist organization was removed as President Donald Trump’s inauguration speaker after he was due to deliver a blessing earlier.

Imam Husham Al-Husainy, who heads Karbalaa, a prominent Islamic education center in Dearborn, Mich., was asked by Hannity in a 2007 Fox News interview whether Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. “First of all – first of all, Hezbollah is a Lebanese organization,” Al-Husainy replied. “And I have nothing to do with that. But there is a biblical meaning of Hezbollah. It is in Judaism and Christianity and Islam that means the people of God, and that means yes.”

The United States designated Hezbollah as a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. Al-Husainy appeared on Hannity’s show, along with liberal journalist Alan Colmes, on the heels of delivering an invocation at the Democratic National Convention’s winter meeting in January 2007, in which he made “remarks about, that has raised so many questions,” Hannity said at the time.

IN interviewasked Hannity, “Do you want to believe, do you want to admit that Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, sir?”

“That is your explanation,” replied Al-Husainy. “Is it?” Hannity asked. “But Hezbollah – sir, you give me time to explain,” Al-Husainy continued.

“This is a yes or no. Is Hezbollah a terrorist organization? Yes or no? Is Hezbollah…” Hannity asked. “No,” Al-Husainy said.

“None. Aren’t they?” Hannity asked again. “What are you talking about? What are you talking about – what question do you want me to answer?” Al-Husainy said.

Although he was listed on an earlier version of the inauguration program, Al-Husainy did not appear with other religious leaders – Rabbi Ari Berman, president of Yeshiva University; Senior Pastor Lorenzo Sewell of the 180 Church in Detroit and Pastor Frank Mann of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn – at the benediction in the Capitol Rotunda.

A spokesman for the newly installed 47th president did not immediately respond to an inquiry from JI asking why Al-Husainy was removed from the ranks. Trump did not include an imam in his inauguration ceremony when he first took office in 2017.