By Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, now the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, is facing scrutiny over his past professional friendship with Imam Asad Zaman, a Muslim cleric with a history of inflammatory statements and actions.
Zaman, the executive director of the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, has been linked to several instances of promoting antisemtic and supporting terrorism. On October 7, 2023, Zaman publicly expressed solidarity with Palestinians amid Hamas’s attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilian women and children. Zaman shared a Palestinian flag on social media in response to a post by Yusuf Abdi Abdulle, another Muslim leader, who criticized the Biden-Harris administration for supporting what he termed the “extremist Zionist regime.”
Over the years, Zaman used his social media platforms to share official Hamas press releases, blog posts from antisemitic websites, and, notably, a link to a pro-Hitler film, The Greatest Story Never Told. Released in 2013, this film is known for its glorification of Adolf Hitler and is popular among antisemitic and far-right extremist groups, including those affiliated with QAnon conspiracies.
As governor, Walz hosted Zaman at various official events, including a Ramadan celebration in May 2019 and a mosque security meeting in May 2023. Zaman also delivered an invocation before Walz’s state address in April 2019, and stood alongside him during a press conference in January 2019 to call for an end to a government shutdown.
Walz was reportedly picked by Harris over Pennsyvania Governor Josh Shapiro in an attempt to mitigate protest from the pro-Hamas wing of the Democratic Party who might be angry about a Jewish supporter of Israel being on the ticket. The move has so far failed.
Shapiro recently gave a speech in front of Harris and Walz in which he said he was proud of his faith.
Josh Shapiro in Philadelphia: “I lean on my family and I lean on my faith which calls me to serve and I am proud of my faith.” pic.twitter.com/5jXarfTseC
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) August 6, 2024
“Imam Zaman has a troubling history of playing into classic anti-Jewish themes and justifying violence against Israel,” an Anti-Defamation League spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.
“He also has justified violence against Israel, including from terror groups,” the ADL spokesperson said. “Given his hurtful remarks post-Oct. 7, and absent any recognition of the pain he has caused the Jewish community, we urge all public officials and leaders to avoid meeting with him in the future. Those who have met with Imam Zaman should clarify that they don’t agree with his toxic views about Jews and the Jewish state.”
Despite those posts, Walz used his office to provide $100,000 worth of grants to a Muslim organization Zaman leads.
The imam isn’t the only supporter of terrorism that Walz has buddied up to. The Washington Free Beacon reports that the governor palled around with Hatem Bazian, who has condoned anti-Israeli terrorism and is the founder of Students for Justice in Palestine, the organization behind many of the violent protests that washed over university campuses earlier this year.
One of Bazian’s university chapters is currently under investigation for financing terrorism.
Walz has had a rocky start to his national campaign, facing several accusations, including lying about his military career and pushing to abolish ICE, the agency that enforces immigration laws.
