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US Health Secretary Criticized Over Controversial Remarks on Arab Contributions

28 Oct 2026, 12:46 AM IST · GlobeWire Daily World Desk · Source: www.aljazeera.com

Original GlobeWire Daily editorial illustration — not an event photograph.

Key takeaways Controversy in Michigan US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing significant backlash following comments made at a campaign event in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During the event, Kennedy denied historical and modern Arab contributions to science, literature, an

Controversy in Michigan

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing significant backlash following comments made at a campaign event in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During the event, Kennedy denied historical and modern Arab contributions to science, literature, and mathematics, stating that Arabs do not produce science or win prestigious awards such as the Nobel Prize.

Historical and Modern Context

Critics have denounced the remarks as racist and factually inaccurate. Historical records highlight the Islamic Golden Age (750–1258 AD), which saw major advancements in algebra, optics, and medicine led by scholars such as al-Khwarizmi and Ibn al-Haytham. Furthermore, numerous individuals of Arab descent have received Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals in recent decades, including laureates in chemistry and medicine. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has called for Kennedy's removal from office. Readers can verify historical scholarship and Nobel records through academic archives and official prize documentation: https://www.aljazeera.com.

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