Throughout the ages, from time to time, religious leaders have been known to preach hatred in their houses of worship. Most often this preaching was localized and/or short lived.

At times the hatred preached caused full-blown wars. Frequently wars were fought primarily on religious grounds but still had multiple and complex causes. Some of the more famous religion related wars were the French Wars of Religion, the Reconquista and the Crusades.

The French Wars of Religion lasted from 1562 to 1598. These conflicts were fought between the Catholics and the Huguenots (Protestants.) In addition to the religious elements, there was considerable intrigue that involved a struggle for influence over land.

The Reconquest was the seven and a half century long process by which the Christian countries of modern day Portugal and Spain reconquered the
Iberian peninsula from the Muslim and Moorish states. The Crusades were a number of wars. The original goal was to support the Byzantine Empire against the Muslim expansion into Asia Minor and to recapture the Holy Land.

Saint Augustine is credited as being the first to detail a “Just War” theory within Christianity whereby war is justifiable on religious grounds. Saint Thomas Aquinas elaborated on these criteria and his writings were used by the Roman Catholic Church to regulate the actions of European countries.

When looking at the preaching of present day religious leaders one will readily notice that there are numerous reports of Islamic clergy and imams. around the world, preaching hate. As would be expected their primary target is Israel and all the Jewish people. What may surprise some people is that they also target all infidels. An Infidel is anyone who does not believe as they do. In addition to the Jews the infidels frequently mentioned are Christians and Hindus. In June 2004 Sheikh Abd Al-Rahman Al-Sudayyis, the Saudi government appointed Imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, gave a series of lectures in Canada and attended the Islamic Society of North America conference in Toronto.

Al-Sudayyis called Jews “scum of the earth” and “monkeys and pigs” who should be “annihilated.” Other enemies of Islam, he said, are “worshippers of the cross” and “idol-worshipping Hindus” who should be fought.

In March 2005 Nicolas Sarkozy, the French interior minister, announced 12 French mosques preaching anti-western hate were under surveillance. He also said Imams indulging in inflammatory rhetoric will be expelled.

The British television aired a documentary on the Regent’s Park Mosque selling DVDs promoting hate. It also showed a preacher, Sheikh Feiz, imitating the sounds of a pig and referring to the Jewish people who will be killed on the “day of judgment.” Another preacher, Sheikh Yassin, states that United Nations’ missionaries and Christians conspired to inject the AIDS virus in inoculations in Africa.

Based on one reporter’s use of a hidden camera, in January 2007, Britain’s Channel Four presented a documentary showing Imams at Birmingham’s Green Lane mosque and others preaching radical Islamic beliefs. He found they preached Islamic supremacy, hatred of Jews and Christians, and subjugation of women. Such reports have surfaced regarding some mosques in North America.

On March 9, 2007 the New York Post reported that the Chief Clergy of New York City’s Department of Corrections, Umar Abdul-Jalil, who is also Imam of the Masjid Sabur mosque in Harlem has been placed on administrative leave. An Investigative Project on Terrorism obtained an audio tape of a 2005 Muslim Student Association conference in Arizona. The tape has Abdul-Jallil stating “The greatest terrorists in the world occupy the White House.” He also reportedly urged Muslims in America to stop letting “the Zionists of the media to dictate what Islam is to us.” He also said that Muslims were tortured in Manhattan prisons after the World Trade Center attacks. On January 29, 2005 The World Net Daily reported on a year long study by the Center for Religious Freedom, a Washington human-rights group. The Center concluded that the government of Saudi Arabia is disseminating propaganda through American mosques that teaches hatred of Jews and Christians. Arabia also instructs Muslims that they are on a mission behind enemy lines in a land of unbelievers.

Most Americans understand that Islamic fanatics, in the Middle East and Europe, have been preaching hate of Israel, Jews, Satan (The United States) and all Infidels (non-believers). Many Americans think the Islamists preaching hate are only over there, not here. Big time wrong!

It is hoped that this article helps alert Americans that there are Islamic fanatics in the US preaching against us. You have a choice, wait until you might need to become a Muslim or else. Or learn more, stay alert and object to hate mongering. Remember Never Again – it is up to you.

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Ed Ziegler is a Board Member of the New Jewish Congregation, Past President of its Brotherhood and congregation Publicist.