Barack Obama's ex-National Security Council chief asked a halal cart vendor 'did you rape your daughter like Mohammad did?' in a sickening Islamophobic outburst.
Stuart Seldowitz is seen in astonishing footage making the comments to the seller. He has since apologised for the furious tirade against the cart owner in New York City as the war between Israel and Hamas continues. Seldowitz said "it's probably me" but he insisted "I don't think I'm an Islamophobic guy" after the Manhattan attack this week.
In footage on X, formerly Twitter, he told the food seller: "if we killed 4,000 Palestinian children, it wasn't enough". The astonished seller was asked if he "raped his daughter like Mohammad" and said he would ensure he is deported to in the sick tirade.
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He was employed by New York firm Gotham Government Relations which "ended all affiliation" with him and offered to back the vendor in any lawsuits. He issued a half-hearted apology to City & State on Tuesday night which said: "I regret the whole thing happened and I'm sorry. But you know, in the heat of the moment, I said things that probably I shouldn't have said."
London, New York and Europe welcome New Year; plus pics from around the worldThis man wearing a green jacket was berating and harassing a halal cart vendor off 83rd and 2nd Ave in NYC. Does anyone know who this man is? Planning to report to the authorities.
He did concede he had words with the food vendor and said: "It is quite possible that it's me. I mean, I've not seen the video, but I believe it's probably me". But he insisted he dies not have issues with Muslims. Seldowitz said: "If I had to do it all over again, I would not have raised the religious aspect. I don't think I'm an Islamophobic guy. I've spoken up for equal treatment of Muslims on numerous occasions with numerous different people."
He took a picture of the vendor and said "You support killing little children," before asking the seller "'Did you rape your daughter like Mohammad did?"' He then referred to the man as a 'rapist' and described him as 'ignorant' because he didn't speak English.
He says in the video footage: "What do you speak? You speak Arabic, the language of the Quran, the holy Quran. That some people use as a toilet," before adding: "Yes, I went back because I pass that food cart regularly and I went back and had other arguments,"
But Letitia James, Attorney General of New York, said on X: "This is disgusting, hateful, and New York won't tolerate it. We won't stand for Islamophobia or any kind of hate in our state."
David Schwartz, president of Gotham Government Relations felt the same way an, said Seldowitz was never an employee and he would help the worker if they want to take him to court. He said: "By the way, I'll represent the food vendor pro bono if he wants to bring a lawsuit against Stuart Seldowitz, 'I'm absolutely outraged by this video."