Harsh sermons under fire

Re “Riverside imam draws criticism for fiery sermons,” July 31

Two California imams have drawn criticism for “fiery sermons” calling on Allah to “annihilate” and “destroy” Jews. Although they apologized after they were caught, I find it hard to believe this is the first time they preached such fiery sermons. Have any of the members of the mosque quit and sought a more moderate mosque with more moderate leadership? Has the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the remarks? It is time for moderate Muslims to join the Jews.

David Goodwin

Los Angeles

I am outraged at the portrayal of Muslims hating people of the Jewish faith. That is neither my experience nor the experience of our Orange County community. I am Jewish and a member of the American Muslim Women’s Empowerment Council. Our goal is bringing together interfaith women. We work hand in hand with community/ national leaders and law enforcement and interfaith to promote peace and build cultural bridges. That is the Muslim community I know; these imams’ language leads to anger, hate and violence. It does not represent the majority of the Muslim people.

Dinah Frieden

Irvine

Unfortunately, many of us are no longer surprised that sermons such as Imam Mahmoud Harmoush delivered recently was filled with hate and anti-Semitism. What seems missing in the stories on this subject is the unstated response of the congregation to such spewed hatred.

Warren Larson

Sunland