'Let's get rid of them': Islamic preacher who has called for gays to be 'executed' was giving lectures in Orlando weeks before nightclub massacre

  • Farrokh Sekaleshfar was in Orlando in March giving public lectures
  • In videos online Sekaleshfar has said homosexuals should be 'executed'
  • 49 people were killed when gunman opened fire in Orlando gay nightclub 
  • See more Orlando shooting news at www.dailymail.co.uk/orlandoshooting

By Liam Quinn

Published: | Updated:

An Islamic preacher who has called for gay people to be executed gave sermons in Orlando just weeks before the Pulse nightclub massacre.

Farrokh Sekaleshfar - a British-born doctor and Muslim scholar - has gained a following by urging Muslims to 'get rid of' homosexuals.

And in April, he took his speech titled 'How to deal with the phenomenon of homosexuality' to the Husseini Islamic Center in Sanford, just outside Orlando, Florida. 

Two months later, 29-year-old Omar Mateen carried out the worst massacre in US history by opening fire on a gay club in the same city. 

Mateen's father has said he believes the attack was motivated by his son's homophobia.

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 Mr Sekaleshfar said he made the 'voluntary decision' to leave Australia and his visa, which had been under review by the immigration department, had not been cancelled

Controversy: Farrokh Sekaleshfar - a British-born doctor - has gained a following urging Muslims to 'get rid of' homosexuals. In April, he took his speech 'How to deal with the phenomenon of homosexuality' to Orlando

Seddique Mateen told NBC his son was enraged after seeing two men kissing in front of his wife and son during a visit to Miami a couple of months ago. 

The father then condemned the shooting - but shocked many as he said: 'God himself will punish those involved in homosexuality. This [killing] is not for the servants.' 

It is not clear whether Port St Lucie-based Omar Mateen attended Sekaleshfar's event in Orlando in April. 

Previous versions of Sekaleshfar's speech have been posted online, showing him say that gay people should die. 

'Death is the sentence. There's nothing to be embarrassed about this. Death is the sentence,' Sekaleshfar says in one sermon, dated in 2013.

'We have to have that compassion for people. With homosexuals, it's the same. Out of compassion, let's get rid of them now.' 

Sekaleshfar has not been linked to the Pulse nightclub massacre.

He also says 'forgiveness is possible' for homosexuality and that 'executions' should only be carried out in countries where Islamic law exists. 

On Monday morning, Sekaleshfar posted a statement on his Facebook page offering his 'sincere condolences to the friends and families of those massacred'.

'The killing of innocent life is never justified by religion,' he said. 

'The perpetrator of this shooting has directly violated this holy commandment and displayed a complete disregard for the sanctity of human life and divine values.'

The Sheikh went on to address claims he has been the subject of abuse since the shooting, and that he has received death threats by people attempting to link his sermon with the shooter's motives.  

Previous versions of Mr Sekaleshfar's speech posted online show him saying that gay people should die

Previous versions of Sekaleshfar's speech posted online show him saying that gay people should die

Orlando Police officers direct family members away from the Pulse Nightclub where 49 people were killed in a shooting on Sunday

Orlando Police officers direct family members away from the Pulse Nightclub where 49 people were killed in a shooting on Sunday

Jermaine Towns (left) and Brandon Shuford (right) wait down the street from Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, after the mass shooting on Sunday

Jermaine Towns (left) and Brandon Shuford (right) wait down the street from Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, after the mass shooting on Sunday

'Such a connection is impossible, because had the shooter listened to my lecture, he would have clearly heard me condemn hate and violence multiple times and endorse compassion towards all humankind,' the statement read. 

'I invite my friends to help in supporting the humanitarian needs of the families of the victims of the shooting during such a period and share with their grief. 

'This is an Islamic value in all cases where people are being oppressed - whoever they are.'

Sekaleshfar is currently in Australia on a speaking tour. 

He arrived on June 7 to speak at the Imam Husain Islamic Centre at Earlwood, in Sydney's south-west, according to the centre's website.

'His Eminence Sheikh Dr Farrokh Sekaleshfar. Speaking the entire month of the topic of: Stories of the Quran and testaments of the Mystics,' it read.

Daily Mail Australia contacted the centre to confirm Sekaleshfar was still scheduled to speak, but received no comment.

An officer is seen standing outside the gay nightclub where 49 people were killed when a gunman opened fire

An officer is seen standing outside the gay nightclub where 49 people were killed when a gunman opened fire

Forensic officers are seen outside Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that was attacked by a gunman on Sunday

Forensic officers are seen outside Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that was attacked by a gunman on Sunday

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