In his August 16, 2024 Friday sermon in Orange County, California, imam Tarik Ata said that Muslims must tell the people in America that Jordan Peterson, Ben Shapiro, and the Daily Wire are "agents of foreign countries." He said that these people claim that Israel is America's greatest ally, but all it has done for America is to fuel Jordan Peterson, Ben Shapiro, and Tommy Robinson, whom he called "these people who sow corruption in the world, the problem-makers of the world." He warned against leaders who say "America first" or "Britain first," claiming they put their own interests above the interests of the people and exploit the frustrations of the public, like Hitler did. The sermon was streamed live on the YouTube channel of the Orange County Islamic Foundation.
Tarik Ata: "Don't be fooled into thinking that somebody who comes and says 'America first', 'Britain first', or any country first actually means hey are going to put you ahead of their own personal interests.
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"These leaders of these movements often exploit these frustrations in ways that benefit their own needs, their own wants. Exploiting frustrations is the hallmark of extremists. Shall we not remind the American and Western world of Hitler?
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"Jordan Peterson is clearly being funded by pro-Zionist organizations. That is why he is always saying pro-Zionist things. Ben Shapiro, he blurts it out, and the Daily Wire and whatnot... So we Muslims, we must tell the American people that those who are leading these efforts are in reality agents of foreign countries. That is who they are. They come and say Israel is our number on ally. Israel is our greatest ally. You know, we can understand why an Israeli would think America and see America as their greatest ally. I mean, they are sending them billions.
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"But I ask the Americans: What has Israel ever benefitted America? What? What has America gained from Israel? Tell us, we want to hear it. You always tell us Israel is our greatest ally. Okay, what have we benefitted from them? Tell us. Show us. And we need to tell the American people, ask them, why do you think... What are we getting from them?
"Rather what we are getting from them are the likes of Tommy Robinson, Jordan Peterson, Ben Shapiro, and these thugs, these people who sow corruption in the world, the problem-makers of the world, and they are being fueled by them. It tells you everything you need to know about these Zionist organizations and the pro-Zionists.
"They are people who are in it for themselves, and they are ready to bring down entire societies, if that means it is in their interest."