A verbal free-for-all erupted on "The Steve Malzberg Show" Thursday when an Islamic activist appearing as a guest on the
Newsmax TV program wanted to know if Malzberg is Jewish.
The query by Anjem Choudary, a lecturer in Sharia law recently arrested in London for allegedly "encouraging" terrorism, came moments before he went on the air with Malzberg to discuss the terrorist bloodbath in Paris.
Story continues below video.
Note: Watch Newsmax TV now on
DIRECTV Ch. 349 and
DISH Ch. 223
Get Newsmax TV on your cable system — Click Here Now
But before they got to that subject, Malzberg pointedly asked Choudary, "You said my name sounded Jewish. Is that problematic?"
"No, it just makes me understand the reality of the people that I'm dealing with," Choudary shot back.
"I invite you to Islam as I would invite a Christian or a Jew, you know, a Hindu. So I just want to know about the reality of the individuals who I'm talking to."
Malzberg pressed ahead, referring to an earlier interview Choudary had with Fox News' Sean Hannity.
"You usually ask for the religion of the person you're interviewing? Did you ask Sean Hannity?" Malzberg asked.
"He’s spoken about his Christianity before," Choudary said.
Malzberg told Choudary that he had made no secret of being Jewish — after which host and guest began a rapid-fire debate of the persecution of Muslims.
Eventually, the conversation turned to Wednesday's attack on the offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, in which gunmen slaughtered 12 people.
"It was provoked. The French regime, for years, has been provoking the Muslims. They banned the burka. You can't build a mosque now in Paris," Choudary said.
"It's open season when it comes to attacking Islam and Muslims and this particular magazine for years have been satirizing under the guise of satirizing. This is a euphemism for attacking the honor of the messenger Muhammad …"
"The French embassies around the world knew an attack was coming because the prophet said whoever insults the prophet, kill him. It was an inevitable response … "
Choudary also took shots at the United States and Israel.
"The Americans, the Israelis, are the biggest terrorists. They kill more people than these people in Paris," he said.
"Come on, let's talk about state terrorism. Let's talk about the crimes of Israel over the last 60-70 years. How many did they kill …?"
After the interview, Malzberg commented: "I was kind of taken aback when he asked if Malzberg was a Jewish name."