A religious leader in Dearborn, Michigan, made controversial comments comparing Israel to Nazi Germany and ISIS in a sermon at the local Islamic Institute of Knowledge. Dr. Baqir Berry, the leader of the Dearborn-area mosque, stated that “Zionism is the ISIS of today” and that the Jewish ISIS is “a million times worse” than the Muslim ISIS. These comments were made during a Friday sermon and have raised concerns about extreme rhetoric in Dearborn. Activists in Dearborn have also been vocal in their opposition to President Biden’s handling of the conflict in Gaza.
Dearborn has recently become a center of resistance against President Biden, with movements encouraging voters to mark “uncommitted” on their ballots instead of supporting him during Michigan’s Democratic primary in February. The city has the country’s highest per capita population of Muslims, and concerns have been raised about anti-American and anti-Israel sentiments at local events. A rally held on the last Friday of Ramadan featured chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” further highlighting the extreme rhetoric coming out of the area.
While leaders of various movements in Dearborn have stated that such extreme rhetoric represents a vocal minority of residents, concerns remain about support for groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iran in the community. Steven Stalinsky, the executive director of MEMRI, expressed concerns about the level of support for these groups among some individuals in Dearborn. Dr. Berry, in his sermon, continued to reinforce the anti-Israel sentiment by likening Israel to Nazi Germany and ISIS, stating that Israel poses a “great and imminent” danger to humanity.
Berry called for the “reeducation” of Jewish people in order to combat the perceived danger posed by Israel. He emphasized the need for a new culture among Zionists, one that promotes openness, tolerance, and peace, rather than racism. These comments have sparked further controversy and raised questions about the level of tolerance and acceptance within the local Muslim community in Dearborn. The Islamic Institute of Knowledge, where the sermon took place, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter.
Overall, the situation in Dearborn presents a complex issue with competing viewpoints and concerns about extreme rhetoric and sentiments within the community. The comparisons made by Dr. Berry between Israel, Nazi Germany, and ISIS have generated controversy and highlighted tensions within the community. As Dearborn continues to be a focal point of resistance against President Biden’s policies, the need for dialogue, understanding, and tolerance becomes increasingly important in order to address the underlying issues and promote peaceful coexistence.
