The Orlando shooter's father is a Taliban supporter who made a video claiming God will 'punish' gays


Seddique Mir Mateen, the father of Orlando shooter Omar Mateen, posted a video on his Facebook page Monday morning claiming that while he was "not aware what motivated him to go into a gay club and kill 50 people," the elder Mateen believes "God will punish those involved in homosexuality."
Seddique Mateen shared his U.S.-born son's anti-American views, serving as the host of a California-based satellite Afghan TV station for Afghans living in the United States, and expressed opinions in support of the Taliban, CBS News reports. The elder Mateen, who often appears in his Facebook videos wearing a military uniform, has also declared himself the leader of the "transitional revolutionary government" of Afghanistan, and claims to have his own intelligence agency that he will use to overthrow the influence of Pakistan in Afghanistan.
CBS's Ahmad Mukhtar said that after watching the videos, which aren't in English, he believes Seddique Mateen is delusional. "He thinks he runs a government in exile and will soon take the power in Kabul in revolution," Mukhtar said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Mateen also described his son as "a normal person" on Monday, telling Good Morning America he didn't believe Omar Mateen was radicalized:
In his Facebook video posted Monday, Mateen additionally expressed sorrow over his son's actions during the holy month of Ramadan, and said that while God will punish "those involved in homosexuality…[it's] not an issue that humans should deal with."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
May 24 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons feature Medicare and Medicaid cuts, James Comey's social media post, and Trump's big beautiful bill.
-
5 cartoons about the Russia-Ukraine peace talks
Cartoons Artists take on a stand-in for Vladimir Putin and phone calls with Donald Trump.
-
Donald Trump's foreign policy flip in the Middle East
Talking Point Surprise lifting of sanctions on Syria shows Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar are now effectively 'dictating US foreign policy'
-
2 Israel Embassy staff shot dead at DC Jewish museum
speed read The suspected gunman chanted 'free, free Palestine'
-
Bombing of fertility clinic blamed on 'antinatalist'
speed read A car bombing injured four people and damaged a fertility clinic and nearby buildings in Palm Springs, California
-
Suspect charged after 11 die in Vancouver car attack
Speed Read Kai-Ji Adam Lo drove an SUV into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Day festival
-
Kenya arrests alleged ant smugglers
speed read Two young Belgians have been charged for attempting to smuggle ants out of the country to exotic pet buyers
-
Judge ends Eric Adams case, Trump leverage
Speed Read Federal corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams were dismissed, as requested by Trump's Justice Department
-
Texas arrests midwife on felony abortion charges
Speed Read Maria Margarita Rojas and an employee at one of her clinics are the first to be criminally charged under Texas' near-total abortion ban
-
South Carolina to execute prisoner by firing squad
speed read Death row inmate Brad Sigmon prefers the squad over the electric chair or lethal injection, his lawyer said
-
Mexico extradites 29 cartel figures amid US tariff threat
Speed Read The extradited suspects include Rafael Caro Quintero, long sought after killing a US narcotics agent