UN Resolution Against Holocaust Denial Prepares UN Corpse for Burial in the Graveyard of History

MEMRI/Kayhan ^ | 1-29-07 | Hossein Shariatmadari

[SJackson]

Editor of Iranian Kayhan Daily Reacts to U.N. Resolution Against Holocaust Denial:'The Resolution Prepares the U.N.'s Corpse for Burial in the Graveyard of History'

In reaction to the January 26, 2007 U.N. resolution condemning Holocaust denial, the editor of the Iranian daily Kayhan, Hossein Shariatmadari, who is close to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, attacked the U.N. and accused it of acting against its own charter, and against human rights.

The following are excerpts from the article: [1]

"If the U.N. General Assembly's resolution of Friday was not the last nail in the coffin of this organization, then it [at least] drove one in, and it is preparing the U.N.'s corpse for burial in the graveyard of history… The draft of this resolution, which is clearly opposed to the most basic recognized principles of human rights, was brought before the U.N. General Assembly by the U.S. on Tuesday, January 23, 2007, and that same day it received the agreement of the majority of the countries, including Russia and China.

"The Holocaust, or the slaughter of Jews during of WWII by German Nazis, is a myth and a contrived story. Up until now, many well-known European and American historians have denied that it occurred, by presenting irrefutable historical documents and records. Despite the fact that Holocaust denial is considered a crime in some European countries, including France, and despite the fact that a number of famous researchers and historians, like Robert Faurisson and Roger Garaudy, have been tried and convicted on this charge in the French courts, their condemnation has not become an obstacle to the denial of this great historical lie by other famous researchers and historians, who see silence in the face of the myth of the Holocaust as a great crime. And despite the consequences of publishing their research, they do not refrain from expressing their scientific opinion on this topic.

"The myth of the Holocaust is an excuse [used by] West to establish the illegal Zionist regime, and denial of it is an irrefutable attestation - in addition to many other attestations - that clearly testify to the illegality of the existence of the Zionist regime.

"If America and its allies claim so fervently that the Holocaust should be considered a historical reality, they should provide proof and documents that prove their opinion, which [has become] the cause of the occupation of Palestine and the countless crimes of the Zionists… However, despite this rational and scientific [demand], not only have they not provided and are not providing documents and records to prove the Holocaust - as they have none - but they also threaten those who deny this myth with condemnation. The UNGA resolution on Friday was the most ridiculous example of this…

"In the 12 [sic] articles of the U.N. Charter, not only is there no prohibition against dealing with [the myth of the Holocaust] through scientific research, but it is even emphasized in the definition of the powers given to the UN and its General Assembly that governments must honor this unequivocal right of the nations. It is difficult to understand - on what legal basis was the UNGA's resolution on Friday proposed?

"There is no doubt that this resolution is an additional attempt to protect the regime that is occupying Jerusalem. In this situation, there is also no doubt as to the role that was placed on Israel, [namely to act] brutally against the Palestinian people and the rest of the Muslim nations. Not only can the U.N.'s Friday resolution not protect the role of 'the walking baton' for the collapsing Zionist entity, but it is a sturdy nail in the coffin of the U.N. The organization has long been on its deathbed, and it is not impossible that [even] before the collapse of the Zionist regime it will become a corpse, fit only for burial in the graveyard…"

[SJackson]

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[dfwgator]

Why is it any business of the UN?

The next thing you know they will condemn "Global Warming Deniers."

I certainly have no place for Holocaust deniers, they are nothing but idiots, or are trying to make money off of the idiots, but once you condemn one form of speech, it's easy to condemn others.

[SJackson]

Why is it any business of the UN?

Passing resolutions is what they do. Keeps up the facade that they care about Iran, as much as they do Darfur.

[dfwgator]

Well one thing we can agree with the Iranians on is that the UN belongs on the ash heap of history, albeit for entirely different reasons.

[Jack Hammer]

The demise of the UN will permit the allocation of extremely valuable real estate for purposes far more useful - such as a sanitary landfill or a parking ramp.

[Froufrou]

" many well-known European and American historians have denied that it occurred "

ORLY? If that's true, why aren't their names provided?

[weegee]

"Global Warming" is the theory that man is responsible for measurable increasings in environmental temperatures despite a historical record of cyclical periods of global warming and global cooling (including ice ages) that predate man's existence on Earth.

The Holocaust was a systematic ethnic purge. It permitted torture (under the guise of medical experimentation), murder, and forfeiture of property rights. It isn't 'theory' to say that the Holocaust "didn't happen". It is an outright refusal to face facts. It can be the opinion of antisemites to say that the horrors were "deserved" or "not widespread enough" etc. but when you have to debate basic facts, you give too much validity to people who aren't worth the time.

Lies are not legal speech. Libel is prosecuted, perjury is prosecuted, and yelling fire in a crowded theater (falsely) is prosecuted. Antisemitic propaganda is used to justify suicide bombing and mobilize such murderers.

The KKK can say they hate minorities but when their rhetoric crosses over into incitement of violence, their speech is restricted. Same all over the world.

[Dutch Boy]

Everyone already knows Jimmy Carter.

[weegee]

The UN was busy the week before the 9-11 attacks trying to pass resolutions denouncing the United States for slavery hundreds of years ago and denouncing Israel over Palestine.

[fireforeffect]

I can not remember their names, but they do exist. They also firmly believe that Mao was an agrarian reformer, V. I. Linen was a visionary social reformer, and Chavez is liberating Venezuela from American oppression.

My Father helped liberate Buchenwald, call him a lier to my face.

[weegee]

"Well-known" does not equate to accredited or respected.

[epluribus_2]

OK. We will allow your racist UN resolution if we can also have an honest resolution discussing the historical existence of the founders of the worlds great religions and include opposing viewpoints as to their varying likelyhood of their divine inspiration as well as their likelyhood of being "perfect" beings. That would be a fun resolution to debate with these IslaFazi's.

[Froufrou]

True, well-known isn't the same as 'esteemed.' Wikipedia has a nice writeup with a list of these 'celebs.' First on the list?

Ahmadinejad.

[LtdGovt]

The next thing you know they will condemn "Global Warming Deniers."

So what? The UN has zero credibility anyway. Let them condemn everybody who does not believe in Allah the pig.

[Old Professer]

No matter how brutal and how painful the memory of the Holocaust is or will become, to deny the rights of sceptics and even enemies of the Jews to claim that it either never happened or it was much less in magnitude than what is generally agreed is to deny the freedom of objection and the exercise of speech.

If it comes to pass that offensive thoughts are disallowed and that the definition of what thoughts or utterances are the domain of the government then freedom will have ceased to exist.

No man's death is of any greater consequence in the realm of human rights than another and each taking of life takes a bit away from the supposed brotherhood of man but time is a cruel master and burial is as much a part of celebration as it is regret.

Only actions ought be subjects of punishment or impingement while the ordinary discourse of daily life should be trusted to order society in its largest sense.

Peace purchased at the point of a rifle is only as good as the aim of the rifleman.

[wastedyears]

I say a shooting range. International guns rentable.

I'd go twice a month =)

[SJackson]

UN Resolutions aren't worth the paper they're written on. That said, the resolution simply condemns Holocaust deniers. There is no "right" to free speach protecting one from criticism.

The resolution is in the next post.

[SJackson]

United Nations A/61/L.53*

General Assembly

Distr.: Limited

23 January 2007

Original: English

07-21856* (E) 250107

*0721856*

Sixty-first session

Agenda item 44

Culture of peace

Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and

Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile,

Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the

Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland,

France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary,

Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,

Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova,

Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama,

Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa,

Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the

former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,

Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,

United States of America, Uruguay and Vanuatu: draft resolution

Holocaust denial

The General Assembly,

Reaffirming its resolution 60/7 of 1 November 2005,

Recalling that resolution 60/7 observes that remembrance of the Holocaust is

critical to prevent further acts of genocide,

Recalling also that, for this reason, resolution 60/7 rejects efforts to deny the

Holocaust, which by ignoring the historical fact of those terrible events increases

the risk they will be repeated,

Noting that all people and States have a vital stake in a world free of genocide,

Welcoming the establishment by the Secretary-General of a programme of

outreach on the subject of “the Holocaust and the United Nations”, and also

welcoming the inclusion by Member States within their educational programmes of

measures to confront attempts to deny or minimize the importance of the Holocaust,

* Reissued for technical reasons.

A/61/L.53

2 07-21856

Noting that 27 January has been designated by the United Nations as the

annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the

Holocaust,

1. Condemns without any reservation any denial of the Holocaust;

2. Urges all Member States unreservedly to reject any denial of the

Holocaust as a historical event, either in full or in part, or any activities to this end.

[Jack Hammer]

All those formerly useless ambassadors and representatives could be put to useful employment for a change policing the brass. I think you're on to something. ;-)