Muslims Who Think the Iranians Are Idiots
Memri rounds up some Muslim reax to Ahmadinejad’s big Holodenial Con:
British Arab journalist ‘Adel Darwish in the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat: “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… Those evil and despicable figures… who were invited to the conference, and who prevented the Palestinian attorney Khaled Mahamid from participating in it [1] - are they historians?… [Among the participants] were six Jews - British Orthodox rabbis - but they are not historians, nor do they deny the historical [truth] of the Holocaust - they [merely] oppose the [existence of] a Jewish state before the coming of the Messiah. Ahmadinejad is using them as a fig-leaf to cover up his moral shame, since he wants to ‘wipe Israel off the map.’
“I will conclude by posing the question that was posed to all Muslims by the Iranian Muhammad Khaled: “How does it threaten you to recognize the historical truth of the Holocaust?”
Saudi journalist Yousef Al-Sweidan 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…
Kuwaiti journalist Dr. Khaled Al-Janfawi in Al-Siyassa: ”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… Some of the participants were agitators, and [others] were [individuals] involved in racist discrimination against [minorities] other than the Jews, such as the African-Americans in the U.S….”
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.
UPDATE: Someone representing himself as Adel Darwish says he is not an Arab. MEMRI has been contacted about a correction, as it is their item that is excerpted above.
Topics: Iran
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 1:23 pm on Wednesday, January 17, 2007
15 Responses to “Muslims Who Think the Iranians Are Idiots”
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January 17th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Too bad pastor Rick Warren couldn’t make it to the conference. He could have talked about how tolerant they were, in their presentation of the Holocaust. (Judging by his visit to Syria last November).
BTW, why move your blog? Is this a move to the left, or to the right?
January 17th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
I’m always glad to see sanity published in the Middle East. Too bad we don’t see more of it. It was Ayaan Hirsi Ali who first informed me about the extent of the ignorance that is deliberately fostered among Muslims. How can this stand in the face of today’s technology? Why are we not fighting with something akin to Radio Free Europe? The U.S. propaganda war has been woefully inadequate in this fight, unlike the enemy.
I like the move and the new look. I also like the fact that there is now a registration process that lets me in!
January 17th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Hey SDog, how you been?
Just a move forward, Matt
January 17th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
How do Muslims feel about the people who are denying the Holocaust taking place in Iraq now?
Will the right-wingers who always try to downplay the number of Iraqis being killed be shunned one day, or even arrested for their…denials?
January 17th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Hey back at you J.C. I’ve been sick as a saltydog, but I’m better now. Thanks for asking.
I see that your community doesn’t lack it’s idiot.
alphie,
First of all, I’m against arresting people for their speech, even seditious speech such as yours. Most of the time it is from ignorance (which in this day of free-flowing information, must be from sheer laziness), some times it is propaganda. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and say yours falls into the ignorant category. Ignorance can be cured, so there is hope.
One key to learning how to think critically about any subject is understanding that words have meaning. Calling American actions in Iraq a “Holocaust” tells me that you haven’t done this important part of whatever thinking you’ve done about Iraq.
January 17th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
salty,
Can you offer me up any proof that the slaughter taking place in Iraq isn’t what the neocons intended to happen all along? Other than the usual empty rhetoric and crocodile tears?
Who “owns” the number for a large killing off of civilians, anyway?
Do the Jews “own” the Holocaust total?
Do the Armenians “own” the number from their own Holocaust?
Native Americans?
Tutsis?
When someone questions one of these numbers for political puposes, how should we react?
January 17th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
Another important aspect of critical thinking is understanding that it is impossible to prove a negative. It is called the Onus of Proof principle and is usually defined this way: The onus (burden) of proof lies with he who states the positive. So let’s take your first sentence and see how it fairs under the Onus of Proof principle:
“Can you offer me any proof that the slaughter taking place in Iraq isn’t what the neocons intended to happen all along?”
No. I cannot prove a negative. Can you point to anything that proves that it is? To what purpose would they do such a thing, and what can you point to that proves such a purpose?
I could point to the fact that many of those who planned, or didn’t plan, for post-war Iraq, have scurried away in the face of their mistakes. Of course, a mistake isn’t a plan, but a plan that was ill-conceived in some way, usually because it is based on wrong information or premises. In the case of explicit neocon philosophy, I would say they need to check their premises, especially where it concerns Just War Theory.
I’m interested to know how you think that the Bush Administration is benefiting from what is happening in Iraq. Big favorable numbers in the polls? Further mandate given in the last elections? An easier time convincing people to fight the biggest enemy of all, Iran?
January 17th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Well, Salty,
The U.S. government is sending billions of dollars worth of checks to Texas companies every single month we stay the course in Iraq.
And half a million barrels of Iraqi oil a day is being exported to America…wonder what the people importing it are paying at the pump?
January 17th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
alphie
Its good too see you doing your duty here. A stalwart you are. But, as Sdog suggests, you really should explore the world a bit more.
I suppose you are received your vicarious enjoyment by attempting to link the real Holocaust to this country’s endeavors in Iraq and so then receive rebuttals. So, to give you even more satisfaction, your analogy is completely reprehensible. No redeeming qualities what so ever.
For your statement/analogy to be true, it would have to be found that this country (or if you prefer - GWB) explicitly invaded Iraq for the purpose of genocide. Do you believe that?
I happen too think that you are young, inexperienced and believe all that you are taught in your liberal arts college. I can sympathize, but not excuse. You really need to do more reading on what the Holocaust truly was.
Sorry, but I cannot hold, you are a disgusting individual for suggesting that they are the same.
OT - WordPress needs a preview comment selection.
January 17th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Like I said:
“are received” should be “you receive.”
January 17th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Luther,
I’m just curious what it takes to qualify as a Holocaust-denier.
Does questioning the Lancet study get you in the club?
All I’ve heard out of Iran is - If the Holocaust did occur, why weren’t the Jews given land in Germany to make amends for it instead of the Middle East?
I haven’t heard the Iranians say it didn’t actually happen….
January 17th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
You did not answer my question alphie. Nothing further too discuss until you do.
January 18th, 2007 at 3:34 am
What a simple world alphie inhabits. Makes him a Simpleton, no?
January 18th, 2007 at 4:25 am
Please place a correction
Wrong and misleading information in your article; whuich I suspect got it from
Special Dispatch-Iran/Antisemitism Documentation Project
January 16, 2007
No. 1425
Dear Jules Crittenden,
I read you comment ( below) in amazement and disbelief.
( ” British Arab journalist ‘Adel Darwish wrote in the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat: “The extremist “)
Where did you get this rubbish misinformation that Adel Darwish was an ‘ Arab Journalist’? Or even Muslim? This is total rubbish. He is one of the people who helped my during my PhD studies.
Had you bother to check ( there are many reference books on British authors and journalists and people working in Fleet Street, NON indicates any of this rubbish you repeating that Mr Darwish was Arab( by the way is of East European origins [ Hungarian/ Albanian] and was born in Alexandria during the WW2, lived there until 1959) he neither lived or worked as resident in Arabia and Arab countries, or even had a staff job post in any Arabic news organisation ever. Like many other British and non British writers he gets commissioned from Asharq al-Awsat or one or two other Arabic language media outlets; but his byline appearing in Arabic papers doesn’t change his ethnic or genetic origins !
You could have at least researched or contacting him before printing and dispatching this rubbish.
You should print an apology and correction. ( by the way, it is very easy to get in touch with him through BBC or an national newspaper in UK. You can also check his own blog adeldarwish.com
January 18th, 2007 at 4:30 am
Please place a correction
Wrong and misleading information in your article; whuich I suspect got it from
Special Dispatch-Iran/Antisemitism Documentation Project
January 16, 2007
No. 1425
Dear Jules Crittenden,
I read you comment ( below) in amazement and disbelief.
( ” British Arab journalist ‘Adel Darwish wrote in the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat: “The extremist “)
Where did you get this rubbish misinformation that Adel Darwish was an ‘ Arab Journalist’? Or even Muslim? This is total rubbish. He is one of the people who helped me during my PhD studies.
Had you bothered to check ( there are many reference books on British authors and journalists and people working in Fleet Street, NON indicates any of this rubbish you repeating) you would have realised that Mr Darwish was never an Arab( by the way he is of East European origins [ Hungarian/ Albanian] and was born in Alexandria during WW2, lived there until 1959). He neither lived or worked as resident in Arabia and Arab countries, or even had a staff job post in any Arabic news organisation ever. Like many other British and non British writers he gets commissioned from Asharq al-Awsat or one or two other Arabic language media outlets; but his byline appearing in Arabic papers doesn’t change his ethnic or genetic origins !
You could have at least researched or contacted him before printing and dispatching this rubbish.
I am sure you wouldn’t like wrong labels stuck on you and readby many people; I think it wouild be nice if you print an apology and correction. ( by the way, it is very easy to get in touch with him through BBC or any national newspaper in UK. You can also check his own blog adeldarwish.com