New York, NY, October 19, 2012 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed deepening concern over the anti-Semitic rhetoric coming from the highest echelons of Egyptian society.
In a nationally broadcast Friday sermon attended by Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and other high ranking government officials at the Al-Tanaeem Mosque in Mersa Matruh, Imam Fatouh Abdul Nabi, who is the head of the Islamic Endowment in Matruh Governorate, called on God to “deal harshly with the Jews and those who are allied with them.”
At the conclusion of the sermon, which primarily focused on how Muslims should use their conscience to control their actions, Imam Abdul Nabi said, “Our God, grant us victory over the infidels… Our God, deal harshly with the Jews and those who are allied with them… Our God, our God, deal harshly with the Jews and those who are allied with them… Our God, frighten their masses… Our God, disperse their union… Our God, show us your strength over them, your greatness over them… Our God, reveal to us your wrath over them, you are the Lord of creatures.”
During this part of the sermon, President Morsi was shown on television mouthing “amen.”
“The drumbeat of anti-Semitism in the ‘new’ Egypt is growing louder and reverberating further under President Morsi and we are increasingly concerned about the continuing expressions of hatred for Jews and Israel in Egyptian society and President Morsi’s silence in the face of most of these public expressions of hate,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. “The United States and other governments with influence on the Egyptian leadership should publicly urge President Morsi to speak out against this disturbing manifestation of hatred toward Jews.”
Earlier this week, ADL wrote to President Morsi urging him to reject statements made by the supreme authority of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohammed Badie, who called for violence against Jews and Israel.