In the heart of Dearborn, Michigan, a mosque has sparked controversy by announcing plans to host a memorial service for a deceased Hezbollah militant, Fadl Abbas Bazzi, who was recently killed in Lebanon.
The cause of his death is believed to be targeted attacks, including exploding pagers and walkie-talkies, allegedly orchestrated by the Israeli government.
The Islamic Institute of Knowledge, as reported by The Post Millennial, is set to hold the contentious memorial service on September 22 at 3 pm. The mosque's flyer, which announced the event, has been verified by Andy Ngo, Senior Editor of Post Millennial, confirming Bazzi's affiliation with the Hezbollah terror group.
The mosque's announcement portrayed Bazzi as a family man, a husband, and a father of two. It stated that the service would be attended by the "mourning families" of Bazzi, including the Bazzis, the Jomaas, and the Mantashs, as well as the communities of Bentjbeil and Kafarseir. However, the flyer raised eyebrows as it appeared to have cropped out part of Bazzi's Hezbollah uniform from the accompanying photo.
Adding to the controversy, Hezbollah's propaganda channel, al-Manar, issued a formal press release in Arabic, lauding Bazzi as their deceased mujahid, or Islamic martyr. This has led to questions about the appropriateness of an American mosque hosting a memorial for a member of an internationally recognized terrorist organization, known for its attacks on US service personnel. Countries including the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, the Arab League, among others, have officially designated Hezbollah as a terror group.
Dearborn, often referred to as the Arab capital of North America, became a hub for Muslim refugees during the tenure of former Democratic President Barack Obama. This has resulted in Dearborn boasting the largest Muslim population in the US, with nearly half of its approximately 110,000 residents identifying as Muslim. A significant number of these residents are of Lebanese descent and have been known to express support for Shia terrorism.
The decision of the Islamic Institute of Knowledge to host a memorial for a Hezbollah militant raises serious questions about the mosque's stance on terrorism and its implications for the broader community. It also underscores the need for a more robust dialogue on the role of religious institutions in promoting peace and unity, rather than fostering divisions and endorsing violence.
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