Islamic Leader Compares Israel to Nazi Germany and ISIS, Calls for Jew Reeducation

Dr. Baqir Berry, leader of the Islamic Institute of Knowledge in Dearborn, Michigan, recently compared Israel to Nazi Germany and ISIS during a Friday sermon at his mosque. In his speech, which was translated by Middle East Research Institute (MEMRI), he labeled Zionism as “the ISIS of today” and stated that while the crimes committed by members of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria were bad, they paled in comparison to those perpetrated by Israelis. Berry’s comments come at a time when Dearborn has gained national attention due to its role in resistance against President Biden’s re-election campaign over his handling of the conflict in Gaza. Protesters encouraged voters to mark “uncommitted” on their ballots during Michigan’s Democratic primary, with more than 100,000 people casting protest votes. However, concerns have also been raised about extreme rhetoric from Dearborn, including a rally at the end of Ramadan that featured speakers leading chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” During his sermon, Berry claimed that like Nazi Germany and ISIS before it, Israeli occupation presented an urgent threat requiring intervention. To tackle this issue he recommended ‘reeducating’ Jewish people with a new culture focused on tolerance instead of racism in order for there to be genuine democracy in the region.