NORFOLK, Va. — Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson drew criticism Friday from Arab-Americans and others for describing Islam as a violent religion that wants to "dominate and then, if need be, destroy."
Robertson made the comment Thursday on his "700 Club" television program after watching a segment about Muslims' views on terrorism.
Co-host Lee Webb asked Robertson why he thought Muslim immigrants would want to live in the United States "if they have such contempt for our foreign policy."
Robertson replied: "Well, as missionaries possibly to spread the doctrine of Islam." He went on to say that Islam "is not a peaceful religion that wants to coexist. They want to coexist until they can control, dominate and then, if need be, destroy."
"The rhetoric is exactly the same as traditional anti-Semitism. All you can do is change the word 'Jew' to 'Arab' or 'Muslim,' " said Hussein Ibish, spokesman for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, a Washington-based civil rights group.
He said remarks like Robertson's and the Rev. Franklin Graham's comment to NBC last fall that Islam "is a very evil and wicked religion" are a "slightly warmed-over version of the hatred that led to the Holocaust."
The Rev. Barry Lynn, a frequent Robertson critic and executive director of the group Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said the episode "is just one in a long history of Robertson's bigotry toward non-Christians."
Robertson, whose Christian Broadcasting Network is based in Virginia Beach, had no comment Friday.
After Sept. 11, Robertson was criticized for agreeing with the Rev. Jerry Falwell during a "700 Club" broadcast when Falwell said the attacks happened because Americans had insulted God by allowing abortion, feminism and pornography.
Falwell later apologized and Robertson issued a statement calling Falwell's remarks "severe and harsh in tone" and saying he had not fully understood them.