Walkout at Iran leader's speech

[Fucky McFuckerson]

Diplomats have walked out of a UN anti-racism conference during a speech by the Iranian president in which he described Israel as "totally racist".

Dozens of delegates got up and left, moments after two protesters wearing coloured wigs disrupted the start of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech.

Diplomats who remained applauded as Mr Ahmadinejad continued his address.

France said it was a "hate speech" and the US called it "vile". Some countries had boycotted the meeting altogether.

The walkout is a public relations disaster for the United Nations, which had hoped the conference would be a shining example of what the UN is supposed to do best - uniting to combat injustice in the world, says the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva.

The one issue that never seems to go away when conferences of this kind are held is the Israeli-Palestinian one.

A document has been already been agreed among those governments attending and you have to read it quite closely to detect the tremors remaining from the earthquakes in discussions that went before.

But enough contentious issues remain and the result is a boycott by the US, Israel, Germany, Italy, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

Fault lines split UN summit

The walkout by delegates from at least 30 countries happened within minutes of the start of the speech.

Most officials planned to return later to participate in the rest of the conference, although the Czech delegation announced it would join the boycott.

One of the two protesters escorted out of the conference hall managed to throw a red clown's nose at the Iranian president, as they yelled "racist, racist" as he stood at the podium.

Mr Ahmadinejad, the only major leader to attend the conference, said Jewish migrants from Europe and the United States had been sent to the Middle East after World War II "in order to establish a racist government in the occupied Palestine".

He continued, through an interpreter: "And in fact, in compensation for the dire consequences of racism in Europe, they helped bring to power the most cruel and repressive racist regime in Palestine."

French Ambassador Jean-Baptiste Mattei said: "As soon as he started to address the question of the Jewish people and Israel, we had no reason to stay in the room," the Associated Press news agency reported.

British Ambassador Peter Gooderham, also among those who left, said "such inflammatory rhetoric has no place whatsoever in a United Nations conference addressing the whole issue of racism and how to address it."

Speaking to the BBC Radio 4's PM programme, he said of the Iranian leader's accusation of Israeli racism: "That is a charge we unreservedly condemn and so we had no hesitation at that point in leaving the conference hall."

The US, Israel, Canada, Australia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and New Zealand had all boycotted the conference being held in Geneva, in protest at Mr Ahmadinejad's appearance.

His comments were described as "an absolute disgrace" by Israeli President Shimon Peres, attending a Holocaust Remembrance Day event in Jerusalem.

Israel had earlier recalled its ambassador to Switzerland.

Mr Ahmadinejad told a press conference after his speech that the countries boycotting the forum were showing "arrogance and selfishness".

The US Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Alejandro Wolff, said the speech was "inaccurate", as well as showing disregard towards the UN, and "does a grave injustice to the Iranian nation and the Iranian people".

Speaking at UN headquarters in New York, he said: "We call on the Iranian leadership to show much measured, moderate, honest and constructive rhetoric when dealing with issues in the region, and not this type of vile, hateful, inciteful speech."

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner had warned that French delegates would walk out if the forum was used as a platform to attack Israel.

Speaking after the walkout, he said: "The defence of human rights and the fight against all types of racism are too important for the United Nations not to unite against all forms of hate speech, against all perversion of this message.

"Faced with attitudes like that which the Iranian president has just adopted, no compromise is possible."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed dismay at the boycotts and the speech, saying Mr Ahmadinejad had used his speech "to accuse, divide and even incite".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8008572.stm

 

[I AM]

Go IRAN! lol

 

[Grapes Of Wrath]

israel is a racist country.

this is true:
Mr Ahmadinejad, the only major leader to attend the conference, said Jewish migrants from Europe and the United States had been sent to the Middle East after World War II "in order to establish a racist government in the occupied Palestine".

He continued, through an interpreter: "And in fact, in compensation for the dire consequences of racism in Europe, they helped bring to power the most cruel and repressive racist regime in Palestine."

 

[james blunt]

Its funny how they always want to kill debate when it comes to this subjekt. The ones who walked out are a pathetic bunch of prostitutets..

 

[JoMoDo]

Durbin II, what a joke, just like the UN
Fuck these countries that oppress women, and beat down their own populations, but always turn the attention to Israel to distract the abuses of their own admin. and use it as a scapegoat.

 

[[ n a v ]]

Durbin II, what a joke, just like the UN
Fuck these countries that oppress women, and beat down their own populations, but always turn the attention to Israel to distract the abuses of their own admin. and use it as a scapegoat.

have you been to iran?

 

[ColdBlooded]

Israel is an apartheid state. Countries used to use grandiose tactics like this walk out when countries were brave enough to criticize South Africa back in the day. We take it for granted now, but someone has to lead the way.

Walkouts and boycotts of events like this historically have worse consequences for the ones that walkout.

 

[Fucky McFuckerson]

have you been to iran?

I think he is referring to Iran being a Muslim state that follows general Muslim laws.

 

[[ n a v ]]

I think he is referring to Iran being a Muslim state that follows general Muslim laws.

fuck these countries who oppress their women and beat down their populations

The government is not the country. It is a muslim government that imposes muslim laws, but beyond that it is a Persian country that hangs on to its Persian culture. ive been to the tomb of king darius of persia, and seen the writing on the wall that calls for equality and power for all women. ive heard the stories of my mother in 1979 rallying with women, shooting their guns at islamic fundamentalists who drove tanks thru their neighbors houses and killed young teenagers at the discos in the name of islam.
what happens in the streets in front of police and what happens behind closed doors are different countries. Just because the youth is not ready for another revolution doesnt mean the government represent them.
we do not beat down our women, in fact ud be hard pressed to find a country that has more respect for their women as iran. im sure thats hard to understand, but its true. hijab and muslim laws are in order, yes, but america spends a lot more time and money degrading, objectifying and belittling their women than iran. i dont know if uve ever met a persian girl but theyre nething but oppressed. sure they cant swim in the same pool sometimes, but their voice is as loud and clear as any man, if not louder.

there are rights being taken by the government, for women and for all people, thats why my folks escaped the country and had me here. but dont speak as if the people of my country fight for these restrictions and represent those islamic values.

jus to clear things up in response to that little comment of Jomodos.


on the issue of israel. the un meeting was a meeting called to discuss racism, as i understand it. what israel has been doing for many decades, acts of terrorism against a singular race of people, could easily be considered racist. the iranian president is a loud mouthed arrogant overdramatic lunatic, maybe, but that doesnt change the fact that hes one of a very small population of leaders who has the balls to speak out against israel and what they do. i dont always agree with the way he says it, but it needs to be said.

oppressed people deserve liberation. you may think the women of iran are "oppressed" but go into palestine and lebanon, look at their men, their women, their children. contrast it with the citizens of israel and their government officials and how they live. oppression couldnt present itself to you more obviously, i promise you.

 

[HERESY]

^^^ In regards to the president of Iran, what do you mean by, "i dont always agree with the way he says it,"? Can you give us some instances of you not agreeing with the way he said something?

 

[Fucky McFuckerson]

The government is not the country. It is a muslim government that imposes muslim laws, but beyond that it is a Persian country that hangs on to its Persian culture. ive been to the tomb of king darius of persia, and seen the writing on the wall that calls for equality and power for all women. ive heard the stories of my mother in 1979 rallying with women, shooting their guns at islamic fundamentalists who drove tanks thru their neighbors houses and killed young teenagers at the discos in the name of islam.

Do the laws follow a persian (cultural) code or a Muslim (religious) code?

what happens in the streets in front of police and what happens behind closed doors are different countries.

How so?

Just because the youth is not ready for another revolution doesnt mean the government represent them.

Im confused by this statement. Can you eloborate please?

we do not beat down our women, in fact ud be hard pressed to find a country that has more respect for their women as iran.

Proof?

im sure thats hard to understand, but its true. hijab and muslim laws are in order, yes, but america spends a lot more time and money degrading, objectifying and belittling their women than iran.

Proof?

And did you ever stop to think that because women are seen as less than men in Musolim culture, that outright ignoring them all together is "opression" enough? In some countries, women are not ALLOWED to even know how to read. Im not saying Iran is this way...

i dont know if uve ever met a persian girl but theyre nething but oppressed.

Then you say this....

sure they cant swim in the same pool sometimes,

Homie, thats opression. THat is no different than blacks in the south for many years not being able to drink our of the same WATER FOUNTAINS as whites.

but their voice is as loud and clear as any man, if not louder.

How so?

there are rights being taken by the government, for women and for all people, thats why my folks escaped the country and had me here.

That happens in almost every government though, not just Iran's.

but dont speak as if the people of my country fight for these restrictions and represent those islamic values.

Maybe not all, maybe not some, but for all you know...there are.

I dont think anyone is accusing Iran of being some evil empire. As Americans, i think it is common knowledge that we are fed BS about the middle east as far as what goes on. But to some degree, there are values that Westerners just dont agree with.

 

[ColdBlooded]

This is the full text of the speech Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave at the Durban Review Conference, a UN conference on racism, in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday, 20th April 2009.

Protesters interrupted the conference before Mr Ahmadinejad could start his speech. He refers to the incident in his opening sentence.


"I would like to ask all honourable participants to forgive them. They are ignorant.

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Thanks to God, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and praise be upon our master and prophet, Muhammad and his immaculate progeny and true followers. O God, hasten the reappearance of the Hidden Imam and grant him health and victory and make us his true companions and believers and those who testify to His rightfulness.

Praise belongs to the just, merciful, and compassionate God. May God's blessing be upon the prophets, Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and the last prophet His Holiness Muhammad Mustafa, who called for monotheism, fraternity, kindness, human dignity, and justice.

Mr Chairman, Honourable Secretary-General of the UN, Honourable High Commissariat for Human Rights, Ladies and Gentlemen, following the Durban anti-racism and discrimination conference, we have gathered here to examine the current situation and to find practical solutions for this humane and sacred campaign. In the past centuries, great injustice was inflicted on mankind.

In the Middle Ages scholars and scientists were sentenced to death. And later on slavery and the hunting down of innocent people, separating them from their families and taking them in millions to Europe and America in the worst conditions, was popular. These were dark ages where lands were occupied and their sources were looted, and innocent people were killed and made homeless. Years passed until people rose. They paid a high price in order to drive occupiers out and establish independent and national governments; millions of people were killed. Those in power imposed two major wars in short periods of time on Europe and parts of Africa and Asia. These were wars which took about 100 million lives and resulted in destruction of a lot of countries and regions. Those who won these wars considered themselves conquerors of the world and considered other nations defeated. And by the imposition of oppressive laws and arrangements they ignored and violated other nations rights.

Ladies and gentlemen, look at the Security Council which is the legacy of World War I and II. Based on what logic have they been given the right to veto? With which human and divine value is this logic compatible? Justice, equality in the eye of law and human dignity or discrimination, injustice, violation of human rights and belittling the majority of nations and countries? This Council is the most supreme decision-making centre for maintaining peace and security in the world.

When there is legal discrimination and the law-making centre is a source of bullying and force instead of justice and fairness, how can one expect to achieve justice and peace? Seeking power and selfishness is the source of racism, discrimination, aggression and tyranny. Today many racists condemn racism in their slogans and speeches but when some powerful countries give themselves the right to make decisions for other countries, using their discretion, and based on their own interests, they can easily trample on all rules and human values. As they have already proven.

After the Second World War, by exploiting the holocaust and under the pretext of protecting the Jews they made a nation homeless with military expeditions and invasion. They transferred various groups of people from America, Europe and other countries to this land. They established a completely racist government in the occupied Palestinian territories. And in fact, under the pretext of making up for damages resulting from racism in Europe, they established the most aggressive, racist country in another territory, i.e. Palestine.

The Security Council endorsed this usurper regime and for 60 years constantly defended it and let it commit any kind of crime.

Worse than this is that some Western governments and America are committed to support genocidal racists while others condemn the bombardment of innocent human beings, the occupation of their land and the disasters that took place in Gaza. Even before they kept silent, not responding to all the crimes of that regime, and supported it. Dear friends, ladies and gentlemen, what has been the source of recent wars such as the Americans' attack on Iraq or the wide military expedition in Afghanistan? Has it been anything else than the selfishness of the American government of the time and the pressures by those in possession of wealth and power to expand influence and hegemony, support weapon manufacturers, destroy a great culture that is thousands of years old, destroying possible and potentials risks by the countries of the region against the occupying Quds regime, and looting the energy resources of the Iraqi people?

In fact why were one million people dead and injured and a few million people forced to leave their homeland? Why were hundreds of billions of dollars worth of damage inflicted on the Iraqi people and hundreds of billions of dollars of costs for the military invasion imposed on the American people and America's allies? Was attacking Iraq not orchestrated by the Zionists and their allies in the previous ruling government of America which was on the one hand in power and on the other the owner of arms manufacturing companies?

Did peace, security and prosperity return to Afghanistan by military intervention? America and its allies were not even able to stop the production of narcotics and during their presence it increased several fold. The main question is this: What was the role of the previous ruling system in America and its allies? Were they the representatives of the world nations? Were they elected by the world nations? Do they have representation by the world nations to interfere in the affairs of all parts of the world and especially our region? Don't these actions, the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, count as examples of selfishness, racism, discrimination and violating the dignity and independence of other nations?

Ladies and gentlemen, who are the people in charge of the crisis-hit economy of the world? Where did the crisis start? Did it start in Africa and Asia or American and then Europe and their allies?

For a long time, using their political influence, they [West] imposed unfair economic laws on international economic transactions. They set up financial and monetary systems without provisions of international supervision and imposed those systems on countries that did not have the smallest role to play in the processes and policies adopted.

They do not even allow their own nations to supervise. By taking away morality from their actions, they have established laws in a way that they serve the interests of certain powerful people and capitalists. By giving a specific definition of free market and competition, they took away many opportunities from others and imposed their problems on others.

Today, with dozens of thousands of billions of dollars of debt and thousands of billions of dollars of budget deficit, those waves of crisis have come back to them.

Even today in order to improve the situation, they have started injecting hundred billions of dollars of unsupported money from the pockets of their citizens and other nations into banks and companies and financial markets which were close to bankruptcy and they have made their people even more indebted and they have made the problem more complicated.

They are thinking of maintaining their power and wealth. And the people of the world and even their own people are of no value to them. Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the true root of racism is the lack of human understanding as God's chosen creatures and deviation from the true path of human life and human missions in creation. Due to negligence in worshipping God with awareness and pondering on the philosophy of life and the path towards human perfection - which leads to the natural outcome of being committed to divine values and mankind - the horizon of human insight has declined. And limited and temporary interests became the criteria of evaluation and actions by human beings. Therefore, the seeds of evil power took their shape and by neglecting fair chances for others' growth, it added to the boundaries of its development.

In such a way that it changed to an ugly and uncontrollable racism that today it is threatening the global peace as the most dangerous factor. And it is an obstacle on the way of achieving peaceful life in the world. Undoubtedly, racism should be recognised as the symbol of ignorance of the depth of history and a sign of dogmatism against mankind's general growth. Therefore, we should look for the signs of racism under conditions and situations in a society where poverty of knowledge and lack of understanding would be spread. Therefore, the main means of fighting such symptoms is to promote general awareness and deepening public understanding towards the philosophy of mankind's existence and the truth about the human-oriented world. Its requirement or outcome is a return to spiritual and ethical values and human virtues and finally the belief in God. The global society should start a united cultural movement for enlightening certain suffering and undeveloped societies as much as possible and uproot this hideous and evil phenomenon.

But dear friends, today the human society is facing a kind of racism which has an ugliness that has completely distorted the honour of mankind at the verge of the third millennium and it has made the global society shameful. The global Zionism is the complete symbol of racism, which with unreal reliance on religion has tried to misuse the religious beliefs of some unaware people and hide its ugly face. But what should be seriously considered are the goals of certain superpowers and those in possession of major interests in the world; those who try their best through economic power and political influence and wide media means, to lessen the crimes and ugliness of the nature of the Zionist regime. Here, the main issue is not ignorance and therefore, cultural movements on their own, are not sufficient to fight this evil phenomenon. But we should try to put an end to the misuse of international means by the Zionists and their supporters. And by respecting nations' demands, we should motivate the united governments to eliminate this clear racism and step on the path of reforming international relations 0and mechanisms with courage.

Undoubtedly, you are all aware of the extensive efforts by the institutes of global power towards creating a deviation on the path of the real mission of this important conference. Unfortunately in the literature supporting the Zionists, a clear participation and cooperation in their crimes can be noticed. And this adds to the responsibilities of the respectful representatives of nations in revealing this antihuman issue and improving relations and behaviours. We should be aware that to keep a huge global capacity, such as this conference, away from its real intentions, means helping to continue the most hideous sense of racism. Today the necessity of defending human rights is firstly, to defend the rights of a nation to be free to make decisions regarding important global affairs without the influence of certain powers; secondly, to take action to improve international structures and relations. Therefore, this conference is the arena of a major test and we will be judged by the world's public opinion today and tomorrow.

Mr Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, the world's general condition is rapidly moving towards basic changes. Power based equations have become very weak. The sound of the pillars of global tyranny breaking can be heard. Political and macro economic structures are falling. Political and security crisis are growing. And the growing global economic crisis, for the resolution of which there is no bright horizon, makes all sorts of quantitative and quality aspects of change on the way very impressive. I have emphasised the necessity of getting back from the wrong path that today's absolute global management is following and I have warned about the critical outcomes of delaying to do so.

Also now, in this valued conference, addressing you managers, thinkers and all the world nations who are thirsty for peace, freedom, progress and prosperity, I would like to say that the unjust ruling of the world is reaching its end. This deadlock was inevitable since the logic behind this imposed management is tyrannical. This is because the logic of the mass movement of the world is divine, purposeful, humane and God-centred. It is a movement which opposes any policy or plan which is not in line with the interests of nations. Victory of truth over vice and the bright future of humanity and the establishment of a just global system is the promise of God and all prophets, and a common hope of all communities and generations. Achieving such a future justifies the reason behind creation, is the belief of all those faithful to God and the very high status of the human beings.

Formation of a global community, the practical possibility of a common global system materialising and finally involving thinkers, managers and people of the world to actively and justly participate in the macro and principle decision makings is the main path to this great destination.

At the moment, scientific and technical capabilities as well as information and communication technology have created a mutual and comprehensive understanding of the global community and have created the necessary ground for a common system to materialise. .

Now, this is a grave responsibility that the world's scientists, elites and officials across the world should shoulder by playing a historic role through faith in this definite path.

Now I want to stress on this fact that western capitalism like communism has reached the end of its path because it does not see the world and humanity as they are. It has tried to impose a self-constructed path and destination and instead of paying attention to human and divine values, justice, freedom, compassion and brotherhood it has set fierce competition for gaining individual and collective materialistic interests as a basis for life.

Now we should collectively try to learn lessons from the past and understand the necessity for correcting this path by considering today's conditions. And on the same note and as the final word I would like to draw your attention to two important points.

First point: The improvement of the current international condition is hundred per cent possible. But we should know that this cannot be achieved without the cooperation of all the governments and nations. Therefore, we should benefit from the capacities of international cooperation to the maximum. My presence in this conference indicates my respect for this important issue, and the essential issue of human rights and support for nations' rights against the evil phenomenon of racism and cooperation with you, the thinkers.

Second: Considering the lack of efficiency of systems and international political, economic, security and cultural relations is necessary. In view of divine and humanitarian values and the true and real definition of human beings and based on justice and respect for the rights of all human beings across the world, confessing to the wrong management in the past and changing the views and performances, measures should be taken to reform the current structures. Therefore, a speedy change in the structure of the United Nations and the elimination of the discriminatory right to veto and a change in the financial and monetary system of the world must be on the agenda. Obviously, the lack of understanding for the urgency of this change will result in heavier costs due to any delay.

My dear friends, you should know that moving in line with justice and human dignity is like moving quickly on a stream of water. Let's not forget the valuable elixir of love and compassion. The guarantee for a clear future for human beings is a great asset that can keep us more aware and more hopeful than ever before. It can enable us to create a world full of love and blessing and can be free from poverty and hatred. We will also be able to profit from the blessings of God and have the advantage of having a decent management of a complete human being.

Let us all have a share in this important issue, and hope for that bright and beautiful day. I would like to sincerely thank the President and the UN Secretary-General and all of you for your patience, wishing you dignity and success."



This is a BBC translation from a speech transcript supplied by the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network, Tehran, in Persian.

The speech Mr Ahmadinejad gave was different in some respects from the draft submitted previously by the Iranians to the UN. That can be accessed here.

 

[mocheezkc]

@ HERpussy^^^^^Why, you're not going to do anything about Iran or anything else.... The only thing you are going to do is live on Siccness racing towards 20,000 posts. By then you might have 100 props.... lol..... What a worthless, irrelevant individual... lol

 

[Fucky McFuckerson]

I was going with him until I got to this portion:

"Its requirement or outcome is a return to spiritual and ethical values and human virtues and finally the belief in God."

Making the belief in god = to living without ignorance is not a good look.

 

[cronz_one]

That fucking idiot is going to get huge amounts of his people slaughtered.

 

[[ n a v ]]

I Pukokeki Ioulo Momu,

behind closed doors iran is like america. the clothes, the music, sex, drugs, the works. theres no restrictions, theres no covering up, theres no islamic laws. its about partying and dancing and eating and shit. thats persian culture not muslim culture. at least as far as the youth goes, following the rules out in the street is just something theyve learned to live with, keep the music down, wear the hijab although they pull it far back and still wehre hella makeup and have plastic surgery and all that. its jus going along with the little rules until ur behind closed doors and u can chill again. its like 80% youth in iran. there are rules placed but all those rules are broken. the youth should have a revolution, sure, but so shouldve american youth during the bush administration and the installation of the patriot act. rights are rights. but the people respect the people, the men respect the women as equals. you may not see it in the media, but you see it in the familys. you see it when you get together and eat and dance and party. i cant prove this i guess, if u want u can come to a family party of mine or something. its the same as it is there. its about love and hospitality and family. thats the culture that weighs much stronger in the hearts of iranian people than the laws of islam that they loosely follow to avoid turmoil in their lives, just as we as americans avoid breaking our laws. we still smoke weed in our houses, for example, we still think it should be legal but there is a small population who would actually have the drive to get up and do something about it. the same goes for the youth of iran, and of that small population, there are just as many men as there are women.

 

[HERESY]

Ahmadinejad is a role model for all citizens of the globe.

 

[Fucky McFuckerson]

Ahmadinejad > HAD???

 

[2-0-Sixx]

@ HERpussy^^^^^Why, you're not going to do anything about Iran or anything else.... The only thing you are going to do is live on Siccness racing towards 20,000 posts. By then you might have 100 props.... lol..... What a worthless, irrelevant individual... lol

WTF is this? Contribute to the topic at hand or see yourself out of thread.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

I was going with him until I got to this portion:

"Its requirement or outcome is a return to spiritual and ethical values and human virtues and finally the belief in God."

Making the belief in god = to living without ignorance is not a good look.

yeah, a lot of religious folk talk like that though, seems pretty standard no matter what the country (you'll hear plenty of US politcians talk in the same matter).

I didn't see anything racist in his speech. People are trippin