Pulse shooter's father: 'This had nothing to do with religion'

The father of Omar Mateen, the Florida gunman who shot and killed at least 50 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando on Sunday, told Brad Jaffy of MSNBC the incident had nothing to do with religion. 

“We are apologizing for the whole incident. We weren’t aware of any action he is taking, we are in shock like the whole country. This had nothing to do with religion,” the gunman’s father, Mir Seddique, said.

Seddique also claimed his son got very angry when he saw two men kissing in downtown Miami recently.

“We were in Downtown Miami, Bayside, people were playing music,” Seddique said. “And he saw two men kissing each other in front of his wife and kid and he got very angry. They were kissing each other and touching each other and he said, ‘Look at that. In front of my son they are doing that.’ And they we were in the men’s bathroom and men were kissing each other.”

The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) released a statement today condemning the attack and urging area Muslims to donate blood for those injured in the attack. 

"We condemn this monstrous attack and offer our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of all those killed or injured. The Muslim community joins our fellow Americans in repudiating anyone or any group that would claim to justify or excuse such an appalling act of violence."