'Let's get rid of them': Islamic preacher who has called for gays to be 'executed' was giving lectures in Orlando weeks before nightclub massacre

Farrokh Sekaleshfar was reportedly in Orlando in March giving public lectures

In videos online Sekaleshfar has said homosexuals should be 'executed'

49 people were killed when gunman opened fire in Orlando gay nightclub

Sekaleshfar is currently in Australia on a speaking tour

By LIAM QUINN PUBLISHED: 00:33 EST, 13 June 2016 | UPDATED: 09:11 EST, 13 June 2016



An Islamic preacher who has called for gay people to be executed gave sermons in Orlando just weeks before the Pulse nightclub massacre.

Farrokh Sekaleshfar - a British-born doctor and Muslim scholar - has gained a following by urging Muslims to 'get rid of' homosexuals.

And in April, he took his speech titled 'How to deal with the phenomenon of homosexuality' to the Husseini Islamic Center in Sanford, just outside Orlando, Florida.

Two months later, 29-year-old Omar Mateen carried out the worst massacre in US history by opening fire on a gay club in the same city.

Mateen's father has told the media he believes the attack was motivated by his son's homophobia.



Controversial Islamic preacher Farrokh Sekaleshfar, who has called for homosexual people to be put to
death and recently spoke in Orlando, Florida, is currently in Australia

'Death is the sentence. There's nothing to be embarrassed about this. Death is the sentence,' Sekaleshfar says in one sermon, dated in 2013.

'We have to have that compassion for people. With homosexuals, it's the same. Out of compassion, let's get rid of them now.'

It is not suggested Sheikh Sekaleshfar was in any way involved in, or condoned, the Pulse nightclub massacre.

Fusion News reported that Sekaleshfar made similar comments during his visit to Orlando in March.

In the online video, which appears to have been filmed in April 2013 as part of University of Michigan presentation by the Students for Academic Awareness group, Sekaleshfar also says 'forgiveness is possible' for homosexuality and that 'executions' should only be carried out in countries where Islamic law exists.

Sekaleshfar is currently in Australia on a speaking tour. He arrived on June 7 to speak at the Imam Husain Islamic Centre at Earlwood, in Sydney's south-west, according to the centre's website.


Farrokh Sekaleshfar - a British-born doctor and Muslim scholar - gave a sermon in March in Orlando, where a
deadly attack on an LGBTI club that left more than 50 people dead took place on Monday


Dr Sekaleshfar arrived in Australia on June 7 to speak at the Imam Husain Islamic Centre at Earlwood, in
Sydney's south-west, according to the centre's website

'His Eminence Sheikh Dr Farrokh Sekaleshfar. Speaking the entire month of the topic of: Stories of the Quran and testaments of the Mystics,' it read.

Daily Mail Australia contacted the centre to confirm Sekaleshfar was still scheduled to speak, but received no comment.

On Monday morning, Sekaleshfar posted a statement on his Facebook page offering his 'sincere condolences to the friends and families of those massacred'.

'The killing of innocent life is never justified by religion,' he said.

'The perpetrator of this shooting has directly violated this holy commandment and displayed a complete disregard for the sanctity of human life and divine values.'

The Sheikh went on to address claims he has been the subject of abuse since the shooting, and that he has received death threats by people attempting to link his sermon with the shooter's motives.

'Such a connection is impossible, because had the shooter listened to my lecture, he would have clearly heard me condemn hate and violence multiple times and endorse compassion towards all humankind,' the statement read.

'I invite my friends to help in supporting the humanitarian needs of the families of the victims of the shooting during such a period and share with their grief.

'This is an Islamic value in all cases where people are being oppressed - whoever they are.'

'Get rid of them': Islamic preacher who called for gays to be 'executed' was giving lectures in Orlando just weeks before massacre - and now he is in Sydney