During a campaign event in 2018, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz praised Imam Asad Zaman, a Muslim cleric and leader in the Muslim community, according to a recently revealed video. The event was hosted by the Muslim American Society of Minnesota during Walz's first gubernatorial campaign.
In the video, Walz referred to Zaman as a 'master teacher' and acknowledged their shared history. Walz expressed gratitude towards Zaman for providing insights and understanding through his teachings.
However, Zaman's social media history has raised concerns. In 2015, he shared a link to a neo-Nazi propaganda film portraying Adolf Hitler positively. Additionally, in 2016, Zaman shared a Hamas press release mourning the death of a Muslim politician in Bangladesh who was executed for war crimes.
Following the October 7 attacks by Hamas in Israel, Zaman posted anti-Israel content on social media, expressing solidarity with Palestinians against Israeli actions. He also shared a statement from the Muslim American Society of Minnesota condemning Israel's actions and argued that Palestine has the right to defend itself.
In response to the controversy, a spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, Lauren Hitt, clarified that Walz and Zaman do not have a personal relationship. Hitt emphasized that Governor Walz strongly condemns Hamas terrorism.
The video of Walz praising Zaman has sparked debate and scrutiny over the Governor's associations and the implications of endorsing individuals with controversial social media histories.
