Ties Between Minnesota Governor and Controversial Cleric Under Scrutiny
Minnesota’s Governor, Tim Walz, is facing scrutiny due to his associations with Imam Asad Zaman, a cleric who has previously lauded Adolf Hitler on social media and praised the Islamic militant group Hamas following their attacks on Israeli civilians on October 7.
The Imam’s Antisemitic Affiliations
In recent years, Zaman has leveraged his Facebook account to disseminate official Hamas communications, links to antisemitic blogs, as well as a connection to “The Greatest Story Never Told,” a pro-Hitler film released in 2013 that promotes antisemitism and is embraced by extremist factions. The Anti-Defamation League recognizes this film as part of a larger trend of hate propaganda.
Financial Contributions from the Walz Administration
According to records examined by the Washington Examiner, Walz’s administration has allocated in excess of $100,000 to Zaman’s organization—the Muslim American Society of Minnesota. The Muslim American Society is reported by federal investigators as having originated as an emissary for the Muslim Brotherhood within the United States.
A Closer Look at Community Reactions
This association comes against a backdrop where the society faced backlash in 2019 when footage surfaced showing children at one of its Philadelphia events promoting violence against Jews. Such incidents contribute to an ongoing discourse regarding extremism within various community leaders.
Zaman’s Statements Regarding Recent Conflicts
Following condemnation from Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) regarding Hamas’s actions on October 7, Imam Zaman questioned whether she would affirm Palestinians’ right to self-defense. On that same day he reiterated his group’s steadfast support for Palestinians combating what they term Israeli occupation.
Pivotal Meetings Involving Walz and Zaman
Zaman was also present at a mosque security summit organized by Walz’s office in May 2023 and participated in Ramadan festivities hosted by the governor back in May 2019. Reports from sources like Washington Free Beacon have indicated that Walz had appeared alongside scholars who harbor antisemitic views during events arranged throughout similar timelines.
An interesting note about Zaman—originating from Bangladesh—reveals his public expressions of alignment with Palestinians following Hamas-led aggressions against Israel while simultaneously decrying U.S. policy towards Israel under President Biden’s administration through social media posts featuring Palestinian symbols.
The Broader Historical Context: Past Collaborations on Social Justice Issues
Zaman notably joined forces with Governor Walz during an advocacy event focused on peaceful demonstrations amidst Black Lives Matter protests triggered by George Floyd’s death back in mid-2020; this followed earlier legal testimonies given at state addresses advocating governmental cooperation during fiscal standstills noted since January that year—highlighting multifaceted interactions between both figures over time.
The Harris-Walz electoral campaign did not provide feedback or acknowledgment before press deadlines setforth for this report.
