Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks to CBS News Anchor Katie Couric, New York, September 23.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called on the US media to shift their focus away from the Holocaust into other massacres that have taken place in the world.
“There are many historical events, similar historical events. Why is this one in particular so important to you?... During World War II, 60 million people were killed. Why are we just focusing on this special group alone?” Ahmadinejad asked in an interview with CBS.
When the CBS reporter answered that all the attention that is being paid to the matter is because he was 'denying it', Ahmadinejad responded by saying that he was 'sorry for all the 60 million people that lost their lives, equally'.
“All of them were human beings. And it doesn't matter whether they were Christians or Jews or Buddhists or Muslims. They were killed. So, we're sorry for everyone,” said Ahmadinejad.
In another interview with American paper the Washington Post, Ahmadinejad asked whether from the point of view of US media the Holocaust was an isolated issue, or one that still affected world affairs.
“You do agree that it is an important topic. Do you believe that the Holocaust still carries through to this day in terms of its effects today? Could you explain to me how it affects issues today?” he said.
“What I am saying is extremely clear. It is an academic approach to a crucial subject and also one based on humanitarian considerations. We have several specific questions with regard to the events of World War II,” Ahmadinejad added later on.
The president continued that he did not believe the answers to those questions could be 'found through the propaganda that is promoted by the media'.
“In the end, the questions need convincing answers. The first question that I have to try and understand is why in the midst of all that happened in World War II, the Holocaust is emphasized more than any other [event]?” he asked.
“The second question is, why do Western politicians focus on this issue so much? The third question is how does that event connect with issues that we see around us in the world today?
“We should ask ourselves whether the event did take place; if so, where did it happen, who were the perpetrators, and, what was the role of the Palestinian people? What crime have they committed to deserve what they have received as a result?”
Ahmadinejad said since the beginning of the Israeli occupation, over 5 million Palestinians have become refugees.
“Why is the Holocaust used as a pretext to usurp the land of other people? Why should the Palestinian people give their lives up for it? Who is the occupier here? The United Nations resolutions condemn which occupying regime?” he asked.
“What fair-minded person can accept that an event that happened in Europe [results] in having his or her land occupied elsewhere in the world?
“Unfortunately Western politicians refuse to answer these questions and egress into other areas… We see the Holocaust as a pretext to commit genocide against the Palestinian people.”
Israel established itself in 1948 after forcing out millions of native Palestinians out of their land, because of their Arab race and Islamic religion, although they too were Semites.
According to the United Nations regulations, Palestinian refugees have an undeniable 'Right to Return' to their homeland, like all other indigenous people of a country who have been displaced by force.
MJ/MTM/AKM
1 comment:
Ahmadinejad played Couric's game (not that I like/agree with his stances, i don't) but the interviews were not meant to be informative, just posturing / media jockeying
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