A video showing children speaking in Arabic about sacrifice and chopping off heads wasn't vetted before being posted on the Facebook page for the Muslim American Society's Philadelphia chapter and it does not represent their values, the executive director of the national group said Sunday.
Executive Director Ayman Hammous said the Muslim American Society learned of the content of the video after the Middle East Media Research Institute posted a translation Friday. The society issued a statement calling the video "disturbing" and condemning the words used in it, noting that the event was held at a school that is separate from the organization and only rented space at its facilities.
"Unfortunately, the video from the school was uploaded to the chapter's Facebook page without verifying the content of the video for appropriateness and making sure it conforms to our hate-free policy and values. The chapter will take further steps in assuring strict adherence to publishing and posting policies," the statement read.
Hammous said in an interview Sunday that the video "does not represent our understanding of Islam, nor the understanding of the mainstream Muslim community."
In the two-minute video from an April event, two young girls are shown reading. One says, "We will sacrifice our souls without hesitation, we will chop off their heads" and liberate Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
The video also shows children gesticulating to a song known as the "revolutionaries' anthem," often played by Islamist groups. The song says "those who do not accept oppression should assert themselves" and "the path to Al-Aqsa calls us."
The Philadelphia chapters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Anti-Defamation League also condemned the words used in the video. Iftekhar Hussain, chairman of the council chapter, said Islamic tradition "categorically rejects either speech or actions that harm in any way our Jewish brothers and sisters." The ADL says that children should not be indoctrinated to hate because "the only chance for a peaceful future is to teach our children to pursue peace."
