Kent State Condemns Professor’s Praise of Hamas Attack but Lets Him Keep Teaching
A Kent State professor who described the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel as a “miracle” and claimed Israelis “shall be defeated” is still slated to teach multiple classes next semester, Liberty Affair has uncovered.
The professor, Imam Nader Taha, delivered a sermon at the Islamic Society of Akron and Kent (ISAK) on December 13, 2024, where he made inflammatory and antisemitic statements about Israel and Jewish people. The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) reported on the remarks on January 2, 2025.
During his sermon, Imam Taha referred to the October 7 attack—commonly called the “Al-Aqsa Flood”—in which Hamas killed over 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped over 250 civilians. Taha praised the assault, calling it a “miracle” and a victory for Palestinians.
“To be honest with you, in Gaza [during the Al-Aqsa Flood], they planted the seed of freedom in the heart of not just only the Muslim world, but the whole world. From their steadfastness, from the way they sacrificed, they defeated that myth.”
The “myth” he referred to was Israel’s military strength, which he mocked as overblown:
“Before that, it was said by all: ‘Oh, Israel, the fourth strongest army in the world. It is undefeated.’ They were able to defeat the Arab armies in less than six hours, and yet in the Al-Aqsa Flood [October 7 attack], we have seen miracle, after miracle, after miracle.”
Imam Taha further described these “miracles” as the humiliation of Jewish people:
“We have been watching the news before October 7th. With all the insult and disgrace, your brothers and sisters in Gaza have responded. The faces of the Children of Israel are so humiliated, Allah says that. What do you want more than the humiliation of faces that you have seen nowadays?”
Taha predicted that Israel’s efforts to portray itself as a democratic state would fail, claiming divine backing for its eventual downfall:
“They spend millions, billions of dollars to try to show that Israel is a democratic country. But Allah says: ‘So they [Israelis] spent it, then it will become a remorse, a regret for them. It will backfire on them, that is what Allah says.’”
Despite widespread outrage over the remarks, Imam Taha is still scheduled to teach four mathematics courses at Kent State University in Spring 2025: Pre-Algebra, Basic Algebra I, Basic Algebra II, and Modeling Algebra. A total of 31 students are enrolled in these classes, which begin on January 13.
In response to the controversy, Kent State University issued a statement condemning Taha’s remarks:
“The remarks in a video shared Jan. 2, 2025, with Kent State University are antisemitic, and we condemn them. References to the October 2023 massacre are abhorrent and stand in stark contrast to our institutional commitment to peaceful dialogue, as well as our core values of kindness and respect.”
The statement also called for unity in the face of violence:
“Now more than ever, and especially in light of the tragic attack in New Orleans, we call for understanding and dialogue as the path to avoiding violence and destruction.”
Imam Taha remains an active religious leader at ISAK, where he delivers weekly sermons and leads prayers. ISAK confirmed to Liberty Affair that he continues to preach regularly, including sharing political views regarding the October 7 attack.
This report was brought to you by Toni Airaksinen, a journalist based in Delray Beach, Florida. Follow her on Substack and on X @Toni_Airaksinen.
