Ayatollah Ali Khamenei took to Twitter today to rip the United States over the terrorist attack in San Bernardino, arguing it proves that Americans are more prone to violence.
As the supreme leader of Iran has done in the past, he also tied the violence to the history of racial inequality in the U.S.
Syed Farook, a U.S. native, and his Pakistani wife Tashfeen Malik stormed a Christmas party for county employees at the Inland Regional Center last week, killing 14 and injuring 21. Both were killed in a shootout with police, and an IED factory was found in their Redlands garage.
Farook’s father told Italian newspaper La Stampa that his son was obsessed with hating Israel — like the ayatollah.
“My son said that he shared [ISIS leader Abu Bakr] Al Baghdadi’s ideology and supported the creation of the Islamic State. He was also obsessed with Israel,” Farook said, as translated by The Times of Israel.
“I told him he had to stay calm and be patient because in two years Israel will not exist any more,” the father continued. “Geopolitics is changing: Russia, China and America don’t want Jews there any more. They are going to bring the Jews back to Ukraine. What is the point of fighting? We have already done it and we lost. Israel is not to be fought with weapons, but with politics. But he did not listen to me, he was obsessed.”
The elder Farook also claimed they once had a family fight about “the historical figure of Jesus,” during which the son called him “a godless person.” The parents divorced soon after; the mother was living with the terrorist couple at the time of the attack.
In my opinion, 1st step in creating security & peace is reforming west’s violence-breeding mentality. #SanBernardino pic.twitter.com/Z4AtW3uCd5
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) December 6, 2015
Why people who are born in West are attracted to terrorist groups such as #DAESH? #SanBernardino #Letter4U pic.twitter.com/m329z2ysr2 — Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) December 6, 2015
Inequality and discrimination, roots of sickening manners. #SanBernardino #Letter4U #CommonWorry pic.twitter.com/ZHaCdlw4AL
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) December 6, 2015
Hasty reactions is a major mistake when fighting terrorism which only widens the chasms. #SanBernardino #Letter4U pic.twitter.com/fi6r3iRtZK — Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) December 6, 2015
MORE: Syed Farook’s workplace wasn’t the target — the Christmas party was
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