Virginia Imam Ismail Saleem declared during a Friday sermon that the world is “a better place” without Charlie Kirk, claiming the slain conservative activist had died “disrespecting black people” and was undeserving of compassion. He said that the Turning Point USA founder is “getting what he deserves” and admitted that the sorrow of Kirk’s supporters “makes me smile.”
Speaking before worshippers in Norfolk, Virginia, Saleem sharply criticized both Kirk and those mourning his passing, accusing them of misplaced sympathies. “You see, the problem today is with empathy. And the problem that we see currently in these last couple of days is the empathy is for the family and friends of the racist person [Charlie Kirk],” he told the congregation. “Does anybody hope that this man’s children grow up to be like him or continue his legacy and his work?”
“Some people empathize because they are not good people themselves,” Saleem added.
The remarks, documented in a video released by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), escalated as Saleem continued. “He died disrespecting black people, so I don’t care about him at all,” he said. “The world is a better place without him.”
Saleem did not soften his message, going further to emphasize his reaction to the murder. “He gets what he deserves — he’s getting what he deserves — right now,” he said. “And it makes me smile. Their tears make me smile. Their anger makes me smile.”
The imam also condemned the public expressions of empathy toward Kirk’s loved ones, insisting that other tragedies were being ignored. “They weren’t crying when they see Palestinian children dying every single day, when they lose their parents… so why would I cry? Let them see how we feel. See how it feels for people to not care about you at all,” he said.
“If they want to help — tell their friends and family to stop being racist, then we’ll stop being indifferent to whatever happens to them,” he concluded in the sermon.
The address came just two days after Kirk was fatally shot at Utah Valley University and added to a series of inflammatory remarks made in the wake of his death.
On Sunday, Reverend Dr. Howard-John Wesley also spoke critically about Kirk, rejecting efforts to celebrate him as a hero. Wesley argued that the Turning Point USA leader was an “unapologetic racist” and that death did not rewrite his record. “You do not become a hero in death when you were a weapon of the enemy in your life,” Wesley said in a widely shared message.
{Matzav.com}
“disrespecting black people”
This from a religion whose native tongue traditionally uses the word “abeed” (eved, slave) as the word for “black person.”
These are the animals that Marco Rubio wants to deport for celebrating an assassination of someone you disagree with. I’m sure this imam was not born here so revoke his visa and send him back to his home country. There he will get all the empathy he needs.
Not normal
What race is this imam?