US pastor Falwell draws wrath of Iran over Prophet

TEHRAN, Oct 6 (AFP) - Controversial US Baptist minister Jerry Falwell on Sunday drew the wrath of Iran after he labelled the Muslim Prophet Mohammed "a terrorist".

"This insult of the holy Prophet Mohammed by a Christian priest is part of a propaganda war by the US mass media and the Zionists," state media quoted Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi as saying.

Speaking during a meeting with visiting Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary General Abdul Wahed Belqeziz, Kharazi said Falwell's comments were "proof that the US wants political, cultural and military domination of the world."

"Islamic countries, and above all the OIC, must not stay silent in the face of such unashamed accusations, and must not permit this clash of religions and civilisations sought by the expansionist and aggressive Zionists," he added.

In an interview to be broadcast Sunday on the CBS television network's "60 Minutes" news programme, Falwell calls the prophet "a terrorist".

"I think Mohammed was a terrorist. I read enough by both Muslims and non-Muslims, (to decide) that he was a violent man, a man of war," Falwell said according to an advance transcript of the interview released by CBS.

"In my opinion, Jesus set the example for love, as did Moses, and I think Mohammed set an opposite example," he added.

Falwell, a leader of the US Evangelical Christian right, has also previously labelled Mohammed a pedophile possessed by the devil.

In 1989, Iran's late supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or religious decree, ordering the death of British author Salman Rushdie over his book "The Satanic Verses", which was deemed to be blasphemous.

However there was no immediate reaction to Falwell's comments from Iran's Shitte clergy or the office of Khomeini's successor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The head of the 57-member Islamic body reportedly told Kharrazi that the OIC would seek an apology for Falwell's remarks.

Iran Calls On Muslims to React to 'Zionists-Led' Insult of American Pastor

TEHRAN -- Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi here on Sunday called on Islamic countries to react to an American pastor's insult to Prophet Mohammad (S), saying it was incited by the Zionists.

Speaking in a meeting with the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Abdelouahed Belkeziz, the Iranian foreign minister said that the insult was part of the 'American mass media's psychological and propaganda war which is conducted by the Zionists'.

"By creating such an environment in its media, the American government which claims to respect Islam and Muslims has proved once again that it is seeking political, military and cultural domination on the world," IRNA quoted Kharrazi as saying.

American ultraconservative evangelist Jerry Falwell has reportedly called Prophet Mohammad (S) 'a terrorist' in a CBS television interview.

"Islamic countries, especially the OIC, must not remain silent in the face of such impertinence and must not let the clash of religions and civilizations which is definitely in line with the Zionists' objectives to become real," Kharrazi said.

Belkeziz said he will raise up the issue of 'this Christian pastor's irresponsible remarks' in a meeting with heads of the World Council of Churches (WCC).

The Iranian foreign minister described the situation in the Middle East as 'sensitive, especially in view of the Zionists' exploitation of the existing atmosphere'.

The Organization of the Islamic Conference holds a grave responsibility to use all capacities of the Islamic world and prevent the objectives of the Zionists and their supporters from materializing, Kharrazi said.

He renewed his condemnation of the American Congress' recent move to recognize Bait-ul-Moqaddas as Israel's capital, saying President George W. Bush's signing of the bill was a first step in 'the Zionist regime's expansionist and aggressive plans'.

Kharrazi also urged members of the OIC to help avert a possible war between Washington and Baghdad amid American threats to attack Iraq.

"Iraq, by fully cooperating with the United Nations and its inspectors, must remove any pretext for America to create war and tension in the region," he added.

http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=10/7/02&Cat=4&Num=005

"In 1989, Iran's late supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or religious decree, ordering the death of British author Salman Rushdie over his book "The Satanic Verses", which was deemed to be blasphemous."

What??? No fatwa for bin Laden??? Zawahiri??? Al Qaida???

Fatwas ordering death for blasphemy but not for murder???

Murder in the name of God is the ultimate blasphemy!!!

Are you people too stupid to understand that???

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