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10. How significant is the Iranian Holocaust Denial and how can it be addressed? |
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One of the consistent omissions of the English-speaking world and its historians has been the fact of an alliance between Hitler and the Arab countries, including non-Arab Muslim Persia [Iran]. Nazi propaganda was imported directly into what was then Persia, from the 1930s onwards, as well as into other countries, in return for: oil, political support, and the provision of refuge for notoriously antisemitic figures, such as the Mufti of Jerusalem, and some Holocaust deniers. There has therefore long been not only a broad-based foundation for anti-Israel, anti-Zionist militancy in the Muslim Middle East, but a longstanding tradition of antisemitic propaganda based on Holocaust stereotypes, that has been directed by Holocaust Deniers, and fuelled by imported Soviet antisemitic/anti-Israel propaganda. This combination thrives today in the exploding media era, primarily networked for consumption in the Arab world, but extensively exported overseas, via satellite and Internet. Since the Iran's Islamic Revolution, its fundamentalist approach to Islam and opposition to America/some of the West have been motivated by a desire to lead the Islamic world as a non-Arab, strict adherent to Sharia law (contesting the Saudi, Egyptian, or Syrian leadership), as well as becoming a dominant regional power. It aims to lead the Muslim world via: arms superiority; the creation of regional and international strategic coalitions; the dissemination of hate and incitement to hate in the electronic media; and by fomenting and funding terror [Hizbullah included]. Iran's various Presidents have been both astute and opportunist in achieving these goals, at times taking advantage of world attention towards Iraq in order to advance major arms projects in secret, but at other times openly seeking centre-stage for their ideologies. After the First Gulf War, the world was lulled into hopes that Iran's hardliners would be replaced by moderates, so Ahmadinejad's electoral victory on his fundamentalist platform after the Second Gulf War took it largely by surprise. President Ahmadinejad has also surprised the world by taking Holocaust denial to another plane, and making Teheran a stamping ground for undesirables who have an axe to grind. This is only another arrow in the quiver. His goal is to control and focus power by appealing to a spectrum of powerful allies that are attracted to a renegade, would-be nuclear power. Iran understands the media, in the Goebbelian sense. Holocaust Denial conventions have been held in other countries - not in Europe, where they are mostly illegal - but certainly in Egypt (Alexandria), etc., although these don't target or appeal to many audiences outside the Arab world. Mega-events like the exhibition of Holocaust cartoons (the rehearsal?) and the 'Holocaust Review' conference [2006] have provided safe forums and stupendous platforms for the supporters of and pariahs preaching: Holocaust Denial, Antisemitism, and virulent anti-Israel propaganda – and marked Iran as a force to be reckoned with. Because of the ramifications and setting of Iranian Holocaust Denial, this is more than just another arena to expose and sanction. It is more than just a subject of concern for the Jewish community. Iran has declared its genocidal and fundamentalist intentions and it is gathering the means and force to carry out its threats. In a liberal world where everyone has a platform, and everyone is centred on their own self-expression and freedoms, the only hope is for concerted international action. The Jewish community cannot act alone, nor can Israel. When the President of a totalitarian regime that is hungry for nuclear arms - and well on the way to achieving that goal - combines his threats to destroy Israel and defeat America/the free world with an unsavoury coalition of: major Holocaust deniers, infamous Antisemites, and the Israel-haters of the world, the world should wake up, listen, and do something to stop the now. Or else… Speeches Condemning Iran's Holocaust Denial Israeli PM Olmert's speech to the 2007 Herzliya Conference: Link Major Resources on Iran's Holocaust Denial World Jewish Congress - Jewish Community reactions to Iran's Holocaust Denial – special reports. Yad Vashem: Advocacy Resources against Holocaust Denial by Iran ADL MEMRI Simon Wiesenthal Center - petitions Holocaust Denial on Trial - information about the Holocaust in Farsi Yad Vashem now has information in Farsi. Iran Holocaust Denial – embryo website; human rights in Iran, nuclear issues, statements & links International Response to Holocaust Denial by President Ahmadinejad UN – UN GA Resolution condemning Holocaust Denial Nazism, Racism, Xenophobia and Holocaust Denial in coalition with Iran Fox News - Klu Klux Klan leader's Holocaust Denial Iran's Holocaust Denial boom, 2005 through mid-2006 ADL –- Quotes by Holocaust Deniers published by Iran. Additional link. Iranian links [not hyperlinked]: Tehran Jewish Community website, in Farsi |
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