Candidate called out for Holocaust comment

Nasr Hussain

By Charles Sercombe
A city council candidate’s comment about the Holocaust has drawn local and national media attention.
Candidate Nasr Hussain is no stranger to making controversial comments on a variety of subjects, especially on anything LGBTQ-related.
His latest comment to raise eyebrows suggested that the Jews who were persecuted during the Holocaust were advance-suffering for how Israel is treating Palestinians now.
In a comment he made on the Facebook page Hamtramck Square — which was posted underneath a photo of the Auschwitz death camp –Hussain, a Muslim and immigrant from Yemen, said:
“Was the Holocaust God’s advance punishment of the ‘Chosen People’ for the savagery they’re committing today against the innocent Palestinians children and civilians?
“A heinous act proving that they’re as savage and cruel as the Nazis themselves, or even worse.

“(Take into consideration that God isn’t confined by space or time and that they believe in reincarnation.)”
That comment drew immediate fire on Facebook:
Val Erie: “This is deeply disturbing.”
Karl Marty: “This is a new low even for you. But in a way I’m relieved that you finally went mask-off. Just remember, screenshots are forever.”
JJ Mllr: “The Jewish people killed in the Holocaust were not Israelis. To say that they deserved to be subjected to genocide is sick, even if the Israeli government is now committing genocide. Many Jewish people are anti Zionism and organizing for a ceasefire, I know this because I have marched with them. No one deserves genocide, not Jews, not Palestinians.”

This is the Facebook post by city council candidate Nasr Hussain that has caused controversy.

The Detroit News was one of the first media outlets to pick up on Hussain’s comment.
Hussain, who owns Amana Graphics on Holbrook, was confronted about that media attention by former City Councilmember Joe Strzalka:
“Not the kind of article one should be proud of.”
In response, Hussain doubled down:
“Joe Strzalka That’s your opinion. I am very happy that my message is getting amplified and able to reach thousands more through people who oppose it. God does wonders.”
Hussain finished in last place to qualify for the November election in the August Primary Election but just enough to be included into next week’s General Election on Tuesday.
Six candidates are vying for three seats on council.
Hussain is a former Hamtramck School Board member, but he resigned before his term expired.
Hussain, as well as Councilmembers Mohammed Hassan and Mohammed Alsomiri, have been endorsed by the Yemerican PAC, a Yemeni-American political action committee.
In the group’s Facebook page, Yemerican PAC has this to say about the candidates:
“In view of the public interest of the Yemeni-American community to preserve noble principles, values, and morals, and in order to ensure that immoral curricula are not introduced into our children’s schools, and after hearing the opinion of the members of the Advisory Council, active members of civil society organizations, and independents, we in the Yemeni-American Political Action Committee, Yemerican Pac, recognize that these candidates are the best to preserve those principles and values, and we call on the Yemeni American community to support them and vote for them in the upcoming elections.”
(The city council is separate from the Hamtramck Public School District, and makes no decisions on school curriculum.)

The Review reached out to Mayor Amer Ghalib and State Rep. Abraham Aiyash (D-Hamtramck), who are also both Yemeni-Americans, for comment, but as of press time on Thursday they had not responded.
Posted Nov. 3, 2023