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http://www.memritv.org/Transcript.asp?P1=677
5/19/2005 Clip No. 677
"Newsweek Washington Bureau Chief Daniel Klaidman on Allegations of Guantanamo Koran Desecration: "We Are Neutral on Whether Any of This Ever Happened""
"The following are excerpts from an interview with the “Newsweek” Washington bureau chief Daniel Klaidman, which aired on Al-Jazeera TV on May 19, 2005."
TRANSCRIPT SNIPPET: "Host: But there is no proof that it did not happen either...
Klaidman: We are neutral on whether any form of Koran desecration took place."
http://www.freecongress.org/commentaries/2005/050520.asp
"Starting a Fire in a Crowded Theater"
By Ralph E. Hostetter
May 20, 2005
COMMENTARY SNIPPET: "The collective ignorance of the editorial staff of Newsweek magazine, in writing and approving an article involving the abuse of the Koran (Qur'an — the Muslim sacred scriptures) at Guantanamo Bay is equalled only by the deception and arrogance of Dan Rather's handling of an article on President George W. Bush's National Guard Service.
To lack the knowledge that the Islam world theater houses one of the biggest crowds on earth, and further that the word “blasphemy” is equivalent to the English word “fire,” goes beyond reasonable belief.
Ignorance of the fact that blasphemy in some Islamic countries carries the death penalty is difficult to understand.
Had the editorial staff not heard of the well publicized story of Ashiq Nabi, a Pakistani villager who allegedly had desecrated the Koran, who was hunted down by an angry mob of about 400 villagers and shot to death, according to a BBC report?
Was no one on the staff aware of the most celebrated case of the 20th Century involving blasphemy — Salman Rushdie's book The Satanic Verses? The Government of Iran offered a reward to anyone who killed Rushdie.
In January 1991, the Japanese translator of The Satanic Verses was stabbed to death. Shortly afterward, the Italian translator also was stabbed, but survived. In 1993, the Norweigian publisher of the book was injured in a gun attack. All these incidents were believed to be tied to the Iranian order to kill Rushdie.
Newsweek ‘s incitement of the world Muslim community is on a par with Jane Fonda’s aid and comfort to the North Vietnamese."