A Muslim cleric who praised Iran and refused to call Hezbollah a terrorist organization was reportedly accused of giving thanks to. The inauguration of President Trump.
Husham Al-Husainy is a well-known Iraqi-American imam in Michigan, who heads the Karbalaa Islamic Education Center in Dearborn. Al-Husainy was one of many Muslim voters in Michigan who indicated before Election Day that they would support Trump instead of the Democratic Party ticket in November.
“I rely on Mr. Trump because I found him close to him Bible, Torah and Quran. Because I support peace, no war,” he said back in October, Fox News Digital reported at the time. He added that the country “deserves to have a strong leader who can bring peace to this world .”
Before expressing his support for the former and incoming president, Al-Husainy reportedly made a number of questionable comments. For example, a non-profit based in Washington, DC, the Middle East Media and Research Institute, reported this week that a Muslim cleric praised Iran in the 2022 talks.
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Husham Al-Husainy prepares to vote at Maples Elementary School, Nov. 2, 2004, Dearborn, Michigan. (Farah Nosh/Getty Images)
“Thank God we have the Islamic Republic of Iran; Its Light goes to Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen and everywhere,” he said in an interview. a non-profit organization is incorporated into X.
The conservative nonprofit Middle East Conference described the cleric as a “strongly antisemitic, pro-Hezbollah Shia imam,” who reportedly held a 2015 rally in Dearborn where he “wished death on Saudi Arabia” amid the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen's civil war.
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In 2007, Al-Husainy joined Fox News' Sean Hannity on the “Hannity & Colmes” show, where he was pressed on whether he considered Hezbollah a terrorist organization. The pastor joined the program after being invited to the DNC's winter meeting that year to present a proposal.
“I'll ask you again. Is Hezbollah – this is a yes or no question. Is Hezbollah a terrorist organization? Yes or no?” Hannity asked the imam.
“So if – I give you time to ask me a question. Now give me time to answer it, please,” Al-Husainy said.
“Yes or no?” Hannity continued.
Imam Husham Al-Husainy on June 19, 2007, Dearborn, Michigan. (Mary Chapman/AFP via Getty Images)
“First of all – first of all, Hezbollah is a Lebanese organization. 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 they are God's people,” the imam replied.
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Later in the segment, Hannity again asked if Hezbollah is a terrorist organization.
“This is – your political views or … you know what Hezbollah means? I support the people of God,” Al-Husainy said.
The State Department has recognized Hezbollah as a terrorist organization since 1997.
Fox News Digital has arrived at Trump's transition team regarding the invitation and Al-Husainy's previous comments, but he did not receive a response.
Matt Foldi, a former congressional candidate and editor-in-chief of the Washington Reporter, shared a photo on X this week that reportedly shows the official Inauguration Day program, including Al-Husainy, the priest of K' Catholic Reverend Frank Mann. , Rabbi Ari Berman and Detroit pastor Lorenzo Sewell are slated to give the benediction.
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Fox News Digital also tried to reach Al-Husainy through the Karbalaa Center for Islamic Studies, but did not immediately receive a response.
Dearborn, Michigan, is home to America's largest Muslim population and was the birthplace of the “Abandon Biden” movement last year as Arab voters spoke out about the administration's handling of the Gaza conflict. The movement turned to “dumping” Vice President Kamala Harris after Biden dropped out of the race in July, and finally. welcomed Trump on Election Day.
Former President Trump speaks at a campaign event at Macomb Community College, September 27, 2024, in Warren, Michigan. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Muslim voters overall favored Harris by 32 percent in the 2024 election. Trump won 32% of their votewhile Harris won 63%. In 2020, Biden had won 64% of the Muslim vote, and Trump had won 35%. Trump faced mixed support from Muslim and Arab American voters, but in strong states like Michigan, their support has been invaluable.
Arab American voters in Dearborn said after the election that they voted for Trump over Harris to protest his stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
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“They didn't vote for Trump because they believe Trump is the best candidate,” Arab American News publisher Osama Siblani. said Politico in November. “No, they voted for Trump because they wanted to beat the Democrats and Harris.”
Fox News Digital's Michael Lee contributed to this report.