‘Muslims are taught to hate America’: 9/11 Senate hearing descends into shouting match after activist testifies

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 10:38 PM on 9th April 2011

A hearing on homeland security descended into a heated and angry dispute after an Arab-American activist testified that she was taught as a youngster to ‘hate Jews’ and ‘hate America’.

The debate over Islamic terror turned into a shouting match as Nonie Darwish, director of Former Muslims United, spoke at the State Senate committee meeting in New York.

'You're supposed to hate America': Nonie Darwish, director of Former Muslims United, testified at a State Senate committee meeting in New York

One senator gripped a Koran in his and accused the human rights activist of spreading ‘hate and poison’ at the hearing held to study how vulnerable New York City is to another act of terror ten years after September 11.

‘Check what’s going on, it’s not a secret’ said Ms Darwish, who was educated in Egypt and came to the U.S. in 1978.

‘The education of Arab children is to make killing of certain groups of people not only good, it’s holy,’ she said.

‘It is horrendous. They don’t leave your mind to think for itself. You’re supposed to hate Jews. You’re supposed to hate America. You’re supposed to hare Western culture.’

Senator Eric Adams, a Brooklyn Democrat, interrupted, holding up a copy of the Koran

9/11: Ten years after September 11 attack, the State Senate in New York is holding hearings to study how vulnerable the city is to another act of terror

‘This is offending this hearing by having her here. This is not our enemy. You’re bringing hate, hate and poison into a diverse country.’

Committee chairman Greg Ball, a Putnam Republican, told Mr Adams to be quiet and suggested he was playing to the TV cameras.

‘I’m glad no one is between those TV cameras and you because that’s the most dangerous place in New York City right now,’ he said.

The shouting match frustrated some lawmakers. Senator Martin Golden, a Brooklyn Republican, said: ‘I want to get back to what this is all about. Homeland security is about the future of this city and this state, to make sure that we’re safe.’

Senator Marty Golden, another Brooklyn Republican, added: ‘This, obviously, is her assessment, how she was brought up in life. It doesn’t have anything to do with the good Muslim Americans who live in this country.’