Criticism of Tehran Holocaust Denial Conference in Arab and Iranian Media

Site-ul MEMRI publica o colectie foarte interesanta de articole aparute in lumea araba si chiar in Iran care critica in termeni duri Conferinta despre Holocaust organizata de Ahmadinejad. Iata cateva fragmente, restul poate fi citit aici.

British Arab journalist 'Adel Darwish wrote in the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat: "The extremist Iranian president [Ahmadinejad] may have gained some points [in terms of] vocal propaganda in the hate[-mongering] satellite channels, but diplomatically, he only caused damage to his country, which is [going through] a difficult period in [terms of] its foreign [relations]. He also caused severe damage to the Muslims by creating a political-cultural climate in which feelings of hate drown out the Muslims' noble and humane sentiments.
"Ahmadinejad and his ideological followers are misleading themselves and the media when they say that the [Holocaust denial] conference was held for [purposes of] historical research, and that it put to the test the West's receptiveness to free speech and [free] academic research...

Saudi journalist Yousef Al-Sweidan wrote in the Kuwaiti daily Al-Siyassa: "The new extremist Nazis in turbans were not ashamed to open that wretched conference in Tehran on December 11, 2006 [with the intent] of spreading hate and tendentious propaganda and defending the heinous crimes of the Nazis...

"The timing, goals, and topics of this conference, and the evil and loudmouthed [individuals] who stood on its podium, fully [confirm] that 'Iran poses a strategic danger to the entire Middle East,' as [British Prime Minister] Tony Blair said. This [threat] becomes blatantly clear when [Iran] causes mayhem and exports violence and terror through its servants, proxies, and allies, such as the armed militias and the remnants of Saddam [Hussein]'s army, the Salafis in Iraq who accuse others of heresy, Hizbullah in Lebanon, and Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the West Bank and Gaza.

Kuwaiti journalist Dr. Khaled Al-Janfawi wrote in Al-Siyassa: [5] "Holding a conference devoted to Holocaust denial reflects a lack of cultural and human sensitivity which may exacerbate hatred among human beings... We Muslims need to display human, cultural, and moral sensitivity in order to be a positive force in a humane world that no longer tolerates ethnic and religious conflict. We must stay away from anything that generates conflict among human beings... Holding a Holocaust [denial] conference in Iran is adding fuel to the fire...

Former Dutch MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali: "Western leaders today who say they are shocked by the conference of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran denying the Holocaust need to wake up to that reality. For the majority of Muslims in the world, the Holocaust is not a major historical event that they deny; they simply do not know [about it] because they were never informed. Worse, most of us are [brought up] to wish for a Holocaust of Jews.
"I cannot help but wonder: Why is there no counter-conference in Riyadh, Cairo, Lahore, Khartoum, or Jakarta condemning Ahmadinejad? Why is the Organization of the Islamic Conference silent on this?

Baztab Editorial: Neither Khomeini nor Khamenei Ever Denied the Holocaust
In a December 19, 2006 editorial, the Baztab website stated: "Even though the phenomenon [of Holocaust denial] has existed for over 60 years... the revolutionary Shi'ite clerics and intellectuals of [the period] before the [Islamic] Revolution never thought to doubt or question [the truth of] the Holocaust. Though [Ayatollah Ruholla] Khomeini's [followers] might have expected to find some mention of Holocaust denial in his writings or speeches, no [such mentions] are found in any [of them].

"In handling this issue, the heads and elected leaders of the state should separate the regime's [official] policies from their personal views, and refrain from imposing [problematic positions on Iran] that may cost it dearly and have a crucial impact on national issues like the nuclear dossier."