Turkish Imam Depicts the Jews as "Rabid and Savage" Slayers of Prophets; Prays for Destruction of Israel

In a Friday sermon delivered in Turkey, Imam Mehmet Sait Yaz cited an antisemitic hadith and said "The most rabid and savage enemies of Islam on this Earth are the Jews." He prayed that Allah would "open the way to the crushing of Israel" and would "help the Muslims destroy them."

Following are excerpts from the sermon, which was posted on the Internet on July 30, 2014.

Imam Mehmet Sait Yaz: You shall find the Jews to be the most hostile toward the believers. The most rabid and savage enemies of Islam on this Earth are the Jews. Who said this? Allah did.

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The Jews, who have violated all the agreements, who have murdered 17 of their own prophets, have occupied the place of our first prayer direction – Al-Aqsa. They have closed it to prayers, and have built a wall between the praying Muslims and their kibla. They open fire on a daily basis on our brothers praying there, and they shed their blood.

An example of this is Gaza. Do not forget Gaza. Gaza is the battlefront of all the Islamic world. These first positions…if Gaza falls, Mecca and the Kabaa will fall as well. The (people of Gaza) are martyrs for the sake of us all. The Palestinians are the sacrifices for the sake of Islam.

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I declare here that all Jews who have taken up arms, with the goal of murdering Muslims, must be killed. Israel must be wiped off the map. This will be done with the help of Allah. Have no fear. These are good tidings. This is gospel.

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The Muslims will attack Israel and the Jews. The Jews will run and hide. When the Jew hides behind [trees and] stones, the [trees and] stones will say: ‘Oh servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind you. Come and get him.’ Only one tree is an exception, as our prophet said.

These are references and metaphors. Today, stones are protecting Israel. The stone-hard hearts of European countries and the tree-like European countries are protecting the Jews. Let them protect them. We do not need them in any way.

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The Palestinians do not fear death either. The Palestinians love death and martyrdom. Who are the cowards? Those who occupy [other people’s lands] to live [on them].

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Oh Allah, with Your name, open the way to the crushing of Israel. Oh Lord, help the Muslims destroy them. Oh Allah, give us the good tidings of the liberation of Al-Aqsa. Tell us that new Saladins are on their way, and strengthen them, oh Allah!

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