The Jewish community in Iran published
a statement Wednesday, slamming the disrespect shown to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by
human rights and freedom activists on his recent visit to the United States.
The Iranian president visited the US earlier this week, where he attended a forum at Columbia University and addressed the United Nation's General Assembly.
| Columbia Visit |
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| Ahmadinejad gets blistering welcome from university president / Associated Press |
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'Your denial of the Holocaust might fool the illiterate and ignorant,' Columbia president tells Ahmadinejad, who says in response that the Shoah 'has been abused as a justification for Israeli mistreatment of the Palestinians' |
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"Mr President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator," said Columbia President Lee Bollinger to loud applause, as he invited Ahmadinejad to take the stage.
"The constant disrespect and disturbance demonstrated (during Ahmadinejad's speech at Colombia) prove once more that those claiming to be peace loving people have no real grasp of the concept," said the statement.
Published by the Iranian news agency IRNA, the statement also said that the Jewish community in Iran was "outraged by that kind of behavior".
The Jewish community in Iran spans some 25,000 people, who are considered loyal to the country's radical Islamist regime's anti-Zionist policies; but many believe the community's loyalty is merely a means of survival.
The statement was signed by Morris Mottaned, the Jewish delegate to the Iranian parliament and by the heads of the Iranian Jewish communities.
Iranian officials crowned Ahmadinejad's visit to the US a success, saying that "the president was able to convey Iran's message of peace to the world".
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