Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami makes remarks at the Council for American Islamic Relations dinner, Friday, Sept. 7, 2006, in Arlington, Va.(AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
Posted on 09/08/2006 9:55:08 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
ARLINGTON, Va. - Iran's former president decried a wave of "Islamophobia" that he said is being spread in the United States by fear and hatred of Islam in response to terror perpetrated by Muslims.
"In the crime of 9/11, two crimes were committed," Mohammad Khatami said. "One was killing innocent people. The second crime was masking this crime in the name of Islam."
Under smothering security, with dozens of uniformed police and plainclothes American security personnel provided by the State Department, Khatami spoke Friday night at an event sponsored by the Council on American-Islamic Relations called "The Dialogue of Civilizations: Five Years After 9/11."
Khatami is visiting the United States for two weeks, coming to this Washington suburb after two days in the nation's capital. Unlike at an appearance Thursday night in the Washington National Cathedral, no protesters were evident outside the hotel where he spoke. Multiple marked and unmarked security vehicles were outside, and a segment of Jefferson Davis Highway, a main Arlington artery, was shut down while he was there. At least one helicopter swooped repeatedly over the area.
Khatami, the most senior Iranian to visit Washington in a quarter-century, spoke in front of American and Iranian flags, draped in each other's folds.
The talk broke no new ground for Khatami, considered a reformist during his two terms as president that ended last year. He was among the first foreign leaders to condemn the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. His visit to the United States drew criticism from some politicians and others because of the bitter contention now under way between Iran and the United States over actions of his successor, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad
He told his audience through an interpreter that in conditions that have followed the Sept. 11 attacks, American Muslims should show their countrymen by example that they, not terrorists, represent Islam.
"Demonstrate to others that whatever is said about Islam in the media is not correct" and combat the "wave of Islamophobia and hatred of Islam that we unfortunately are experiencing today," he said.
He laid out three goals for Muslims: "Your responsibility and our responsibility is to be first a good citizen in whatever country you live; to try for yourself and your children to move up the ladder of social achievement and education; and third is to fight the vague Islamophobia that has been created by those who don't have the best interests of Islam at heart."
He said "killers who go among others and kill others in acts of terror, if they identify themselves with Islam, they are lying. You Muslims who live in the United States should be representatives of enlightenment and don't allow those who create this Islamophobia" to speak for the religion.
Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami makes remarks at the Council for American Islamic Relations dinner, Friday, Sept. 7, 2006, in Arlington, Va.(AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
Stop scaring people!
Islam is a cult.
has anyone ever gotten an answer as to why the state department allowed him into the US?
Islam IS a crime against humanity!
Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami speaks at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. Khatami has condemned the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States and said those who carried them out will never go to heaven.(AFP/Brendan Smialowski)
I am not a bigot, I have no issues with the Mohammaden Death Cult other than their beliefs and actions.
"That is right...make peace with the Americans today. We do not yet have sufficient numbers to cut their throats and take their heads."
End of translation.
Because the State Department wants the US wiped out.
Former President of Iran Mohammad Khatami listens to a reading from the Koran before addressing an event sponsored by the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Arlington, Virginia, September 8, 2006. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Former President of Iran Mohammad Khatami (L) speaks with interpreter Hadi Samadi before addressing a dinner sponsored by the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Arlington, Virginia, September 8, 2006. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
It was a crime, not an act of war.
Muslims are the real victims.
Islamophobia is the real problem.
Did I miss anything?
Not a satisfactory one.
I say we kidnap Khatami and hold him hostage for 444 days and see how the Iranian government likes it.
Just get the critical mass of Muslims to decry killing the other, because they are the other, no excuses, and all will be well. The cricket thingy is disappointing as to mainsteam Muslims doing that. It seems to be more excuses, rather than no excuses. That dog will not hunt. The US should carefully vet Muslims immigrating into the US. I hate to say that, but I am saying that. I have been disappointed. I don't see a pluralist sensibility. What I see, is insular us versus them. I say that as a near atheist.
The following is a description (slightly modified) from Dr. Peter Hammond's book: Slavery, Terrorism and Islam: The Historical Roots and Contemporary Threat. www.frontline.org.za/books_videos/sti.htm
As long as the Muslim population remains around 1% of any given country they will be regarded as a peace-loving minority and not as a threat to anyone. In fact, they may be featured in articles and films, stereotyped for their colorful uniqueness.
At 2% and 3% they begin to proselytize from other ethnic minorities and disaffected groups with major recruiting from the jails and among street gangs [Europe, Australia, USA and Japan]. Six percent of US prison inmates are Muslim. Like any other minority, they won’t integrate, but work to build their own separate community.
From 5% on they exercise an inordinate influence in proportion to their percentage of the population. South Africa's Muslim population is 2%, but they control 35% of the businesses, a large percentage of the banks and have five Cabinet seats while Christians (77% of the population) have none.
They will push for the introduction of halaal (clean by Islamic standards) food, thereby securing food preparation jobs for Muslims. They will increase pressure on supermarket chains to feature it on their shelves (along with threats for failure to comply).
At this point, they will work to get the ruling government to allow them to rule themselves under Sharia; Islamic Law. The ultimate goal of Islam is not to convert the world, but to establish Sharia law over the entire world.
When Muslims reach 10% of the population, they will increase lawlessness as a means of complaint about their conditions. (Ei: car-burnings in France last October.) Any non-Muslim action that offends Islam will result in uprisings and threats.
After reaching 20% expect hair-trigger rioting, jihad militia formations, sporadic killings and church and synagogue burning (India, Mindanao, Philippines).
At 40% you will find widespread massacres, chronic terror attacks and ongoing militia warfare [Indonesia].
From 60% you may expect unfettered persecution of non-believers and other religions, sporadic ethnic cleansing (genocide), use of Sharia Law as a weapon and Jizya (infidel tax). (Sudan, Kosovo, Lebanon and Egypt).
After 80% expect State run ethnic cleansing and genocide [Western Papua (New Guinea), Iran, Biafra, Turkey and North Nigeria]. 10
0% will usher in the peace of "Dar-es-Salaam" - House of Peace - as in Saudi Arabia, Libya and Yemen.
So the terrorism he sponsored against the West whilst he was president was in the name of ..... ?
SOME FURTHER QUESTIONS:
Has anyone ever gotten an answer as to why the National Cathedral allowed him into the National Cathedral ?
Has anyone ever gotten an answer as to why Harvard is going to allow him into Harvard ?
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