"kinsman of the Shi'ite shahs of Persia (the most famous was Shah Abbas I, who reigned from 1587 to 1629), as well as the Muslim kings of Tunisia, all of whom — Democratic presidential nominee included — descend from the prophet Muhammad."
1. Persians are not Arabs. Unless this Shad Abbas I was an Arab installed to power in Persia (present day Iran), during that time frame, chances are this is mis-information.
As far as the Muslim kings of Tunisia, perhaps some truth in it. But this data is so incomplete. Don't jump to any conclusions. If Kerry's father was a Jewish Hungarian which has been the common believe for many years, then what this Burke wrote might be trash.......
Just as I suspected........the Shan Abbas was not Arab.
Do a google search on him and find out for yourselves....
He was Persian. Total different type peoples.
Maybe on his mother's side of the family, sure is long faced, like Binladin
Well, we are going back a few centuries here. . .but whether this is a 'serious' explanation or a 'Burke's computer genealogy 'investigation' certainly could make a difference.(still - John and O'sama do share 'the long face')
True, Persians are originally quite distinct from Arabs, but there has been a lot of Arab influence since the early Muslim conquests in the 7th century. The dynasty which Shah Abbas belonged to came to power at the beginning of the 1500s under his great-grandfather Ismail, who was of mixed ancestry (part Turkoman, one-quarter Greek, and probably some other things)...Ismail was from a family which claimed descent from Ali, the son-in-law of Muhammad, so he had a least a bit of Arab ancestry.