Father Of Alleged Orlando Mass Shooter Tapes TV Show in The Valley

CANOGA PARK, CA --- The father of the gunman accused of carrying out the largest mass shooting in U.S. history spoke out about his son's rampage in a video post on social media.

Seddique Mateen, father of Omar Mateen, regularly travels to Canoga Park to tape a political television show about issues involving Afghanistan and Pakistan, it was reported today. He visited San Fernando Valley-based television network Payam-E-Afghan every two months to record the show, network owner Omar Khatab told the Los Angeles Daily News.

In a video originally posted to Facebook after the mass shooting, Seddique Mateen confessed he didn't know his son was capable of committing such an act.

“My son Omar Mateen was a good kid,” he said in his latest video translated by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and posted to Youtube by Storyful News. “I don’t know what caused this. I didn’t know he had hatred in his heart. He went to a club for homosexual boys and girls and killed 50 of them. I’m extremely upset. I told the American people the same thing. I don’t know why he committed such an act during the holy month of Ramadan. The issue of homosexuality, the punishment - whatever they do, God punishes it. It is not up to God’s servants.”

Before posting the video about his son's rampage, Mateen regularly took to the airwaves to share his perspective on world news for Payam-E-Afghan. Located in a mini-mall off Victory Boulevard, Payam-E-Afghan airs dozens of programs catering to the Afghani audience, Khatab said.

The younger Mateen is believed to have killed 49 people and wounded 53 others when he opened fire in an Orlando nightclub early Sunday morning.

Khatab said he'd never seen Omar Mateen at the station.

Khatab told the Daily News that the elder Mateen, who reportedly lives in Florida, would buy several hours of programming for his live show.

Hedescribed Mateen's "Durand Jirga Show'' as political satire and political news and said he believes Mateen stayed in a hotel during his visits to Los Angeles.

The Washington Post reported that some of Mateen's shows, which were broadcast in Dari, were supportive of the Taliban.

Khatab disagreed with that characterization, saying the programs were critical of Pakistan.

Also see:

• 'This Has Nothing To Do With Religion,' Orlando Shooter's Dad Says Before Releasing Video
• California Reacts With Sorrow to Orlando Shootings
• Despite Orlando Shooting, L.A. Pride Festival, Parade in WeHo Goes On
• Morning Briefing: Overnight Developments in the Orlando Nightclub Shooting
• Man Arrested with Guns, Explosives Said He Was Going to L.A. Pride: Police

--City News Service; Photo: Screengrab of Youtube post by Storyful News