Lee Zeldin

07/28/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/28/2021 20:15

Rep. Zeldin Calls for Firing of CUNY Professor for Antisemitism and Promoting Violence Against Israel

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and co-chair of the House Republican Israel Caucus, called for the firing of Mohammad Abbasi, an adjunct professor at the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Professional Studies, for a vile antisemitic sermon he delivered before the Islamic Center of Union City, New Jersey. Abbasi concludes his remarks by stating 'With the help of Allah they [the Muslims] will erase this filth called Israel.'

A video of Abbasi's anti-Jewish speech can be found here. Congressman Zeldin also addressed the speech on Twitter.

'At a time when antisemitic violence is on the rise throughout the United States, no one, especially someone charged with educating young adults, should be further fanning the flames of antisemitism like this and endorsing violence against Israel. As we saw last month, the CUNY faculty has an antisemitism problem, and this is just another example. Mohammad Abbasi and his hateful anti-Jewish and anti-Israel rhetoric have absolutely no place in any American classroom, and we cannot afford to have him brainwashing any students with his antisemitism. He must be fired immediately, and CUNY needs to take thorough measures to purge antisemitism from the ranks of its faculty,' said Congressman Zeldin.

Last month, Congressman Zeldin, with the help of a whistleblower, exposed the City University of New York Professional Staff Congress' (PSC-CUNY) adoption of a resolution in support of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. Congressman Zeldin also pointed out that, under a 2016 Executive Order, New York State is prohibited from conducting business with institutions or companies that promote BDS, and the Office of General Services Commissioner is required to maintain and update a list of entities participating in BDS.