Ahmadinejad – Speaking Truth to Power
Iqbal Jassat
Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmedanijad’s stinging attack on Israeli racism at a UN conference dubbed ‘Durban II’ in
Switzerland caused a walkout by many delegates from Western countries.
In a supreme irony, delegates of European states staged a co-ordinated walkout while Ahmadinejad blamed Europe and America for establishing a “cruel, oppressive and racist regime in occupied Palestine”, and that the UN security council has stabilized the occupation regime and “supported it in the last 60 years giving them a free hand to continue their crimes”.
Is it not ironical that while Iran is regularly pilloried by the West for imposing limitations on freedom of speech, the so-called bastions of freedom dared to embargo Ahmadinejad?
Speaking truth to power in the citadel of a Western state Switzerland, in pursuance of confronting the enormity of an injustice perpetrated against the Palestinians is a task very few countries will ever contemplate. Yet, Iran remains passionately committed to the ideological foundations of its Islamic Revolution as articulated by Imam Khomeini to support Palestine’s freedom struggle.
Diplomats from Britain, France, Italy, Germany and other Western European states, who staged the walkout made no bones about their reasons. They remain adamant in their unconditional support for Israel!
As former colonial powers it is disgraceful that their protection of the last remaining colonial outpost – Israel, not only shields it from defying International Conventions but also encourages it to practise abominable policies such as apartheid and war crimes against occupied Palestine.
As partners in the American-led alliance of invasion, occupation and war in Iraq as well as the illegitimate “war on terror”, these countries have yet to confront their legacy of destruction.
Walking out as a gesture of solidarity with Israel signals to the Palestinians that these countries cannot be expected to seriously undertake any substantial challenge against Zionism, which as a form of racism has been responsible for their dismemberment, displacement and present statelessness.
President Ahmadinejad must be lauded for his brave and courageous stance and that Iran has not succumbed to intimidation and economic threats of blackmail.
Iqbal Jassat
Chairman: Media Review Network
South Africa
www.mediareviewnet.com
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