Muslim Imam: Charlie Kirk's friends' tears make me smile
A video of a sermon delivered by Imam Ismail Saleem at a Norfolk, Virginia mosque has sparked widespread outrage for its inflammatory content. Speaking on the recent assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, Saleem reportedly stated that "the world is a better place without Charlie Kirk."
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In a Friday sermon delivered at Masjid William Salaam in Norfolk, Virginia, Imam Ismail Saleem made inflammatory remarks about the recent assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, stating, “The world is a better place without Charlie Kirk, I don’t care about him at all; seeing his family and friends’ tears and anger makes me smile.”
The comments, captured in a video clip shared widely on social media, have drawn sharp condemnation amid the ongoing fallout from Kirk's fatal shooting on September 10, 2025, in Utah, where 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was identified as the suspect. Saleem, the imam at the mosque, is known for his lectures on Islamic teachings and community issues, including past discussions on supporting Palestinians and critiquing Christianity and Judaism.
The sermon clip was first highlighted by MEMRI (Middle East Media Research Institute) and Open Source Intel on X, where it quickly amassed thousands of views and sparked debates over hate speech and political violence in the wake of Kirk's death. Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was a prominent conservative voice often critical of Islamist groups and progressive policies, which may have fueled the remarks.
No official response from Masjid William Salaam or Saleem has been reported. The incident adds to broader reactions from some Islamist figures to Kirk's assassination, with others keeping a low profile or using the event to criticize Israel. Authorities have not commented on potential investigations into the sermon.