Charlie Kirk in controversy for making derogatory comments about the Prophet before his death

Charlie Kirk, a close aide to former US President Donald Trump and an influential conservative activist, was shot and killed at Utah Valley University on Wednesday (September 10). The 31-year-old young politician was a popular podcaster and a powerful voice on social media.

He would engage in live debates with students on politics, culture and contemporary issues at his events on the university campus. These events were often attended by thousands of viewers.

Charlie Kirk was a staunch supporter of Israel. He publicly identified himself as an ‘Evangelical Christian Zionist’ and claimed that the land of Israel was legitimate according to biblical prophecy. In his words,

“My record of supporting Israel is unbroken. My life has changed in Israel. I will fight for Israel.”

He tried to legitimize Israel's military campaign in Gaza and blamed Hamas for the deaths of Palestinian children and women. He even questioned the allegations of famine in Gaza and accused the Western media of anti-Israel propaganda.

However, this position created a rift in American conservative circles. While influential conservatives like Tucker Carlson openly criticized Israel's atrocities, Kirk took the exact opposite position.

Kirk regularly made controversial comments about Islam and Muslims. He opposed the call to prayer in the United States and claimed that Islam was a threat to the Western Christian way of life.

He even publicly used derogatory terms about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which caused widespread outrage. According to him,

“There is a spiritual battle going on in the West. Our enemies are ‘Occupyism’ and Marxism, which are attacking our way of life in conjunction with Islam.”

Although he took a firm stance on Israel, his view on Iran was somewhat different. After Israel’s attack on Iran last June, he questioned the legitimacy of direct US intervention.

Kirk clearly admitted that in 1953, the US had removed the democratically elected Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and installed the Shah, which later led to the rise of the ayatollahs.

He said,
“A nuclear-armed Iran may be a threat to Israel, but how much to the US? India and Pakistan also have nuclear weapons. So why a new war for Iran?”

He even warned that a new war over Iran would lead to a terrible stalemate in the history of the Middle East.

Charlie Kirk’s statements and political positions were highly controversial. His harsh and often derogatory comments on Islam and Palestine made him popular among conservatives, but also drew sharp criticism from many quarters. His stances on Israel, Iran, and Islam before his assassination further complicated the ongoing debate surrounding him.