Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Israel ‘fake regime’ backed by US, denies holocaust, attacks gays
Iran’s President called Israel a nuclear-armed “fake regime” shielded by the United States, prompting Israel’s UN ambassador to walk out of a high-level UN meeting promoting the rule of law.
Photo: Marcello Casal Jr\ABr
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also accused the US and others of misusing freedom of speech and failing to speak out against the defamation of people’s beliefs and “divine prophets,” an apparent reference to the recently circulated amateur video made in the US which denigrates the Prophet Muhammad.
Ahmadinejad urged all nations to “hold occupiers accountable and make efforts to return the occupied territories to their rightful owners” and blamed the “discriminatory” veto power of the U.S., China, Russia, Britain and France for the Security Council’s failure to ensure peace in the world, and he called for a change in the rules “in favor of nations with due regard to justice.”
As Ahmadinejad addressed leaders and ministers from more than 100 countries, Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Ron Prosor walked out of the General Assembly hall.
“Ahmadinejad showed again that he not only threatens the future of the Jewish people, he seeks to erase our past,” Prosor said in a statement.
During an interview with CNN, which aired Monday on “Piers Morgan Tonight,” the Iranian president said he will not judge Nazi Germany’s extermination of the Jews during World War II.
“Whatever event has taken place throughout history, or hasn’t taken place, I cannot judge that. Why should I judge that? I say researchers and scholars must be free to conduct research and analysis about any historical event,” Ahmadinejad said.
Morgan: “I’m sorry. Let me ask you this. Do you believe that anyone is giving birth through homosexuality? Homosexuality ceases procreation. Who has said that if you like or believe in doing something ugly, and others do not accept your behavior, that they’re denying your freedom?” he asked Morgan.
“Proper education must be given … the education system must be revamped. The political system must be revamped. And these must be also reformed, revamped along the way. But if you, if a group recognizes an ugly behavior or ugly deed as legitimate, you must not expect other countries or other groups to give it the same recognition.”
