Judith Jensen of www.educationalsolutions.org asked if I would contribute to her collection of“Muslim Leaders’ Statements Against Iran President’s Conference Denying Nazi Holocaust†(click on “Collected Responses†to see these letters). Here is my contribution:
Mr. Ahmadinejad called a conference to question the historical reality of the European mass murder of the Jews in order to make a point about restrictions of freedom of speech and the press in Europe. I deplore his decision to do so, as I deplore the Danish cartoons to which he was reacting. I completely believe in freedom of speech, but I also believe in good manners. I draw the attention of those interested to the heartfelt analysis of this question in the blog of my associate Sarah Swick: “Freedom of Expression Denial.”
Responding to the bad taste of those who insulted the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) with the bad taste of denying the suffering of European Jewry is one more example of the truth that two wrongs do not make a right. Attempting to use the fact of the Holocaust to justify the persecution and disenfranchisement of the Palestinians is yet another example. As Rabbi Yisroel Feldman rightly observed in his address to the conference in question (http://www.nkusa.org/activities/Speeches/2006Iran-Feldman.cfm):
“No matter how we may debate some of the details of what was done to the Jews of Europe there is no doubt that they were treated brutally and that this brutality included all men, women and children. The Jews were physically attacked and murdered. Their possessions and homes were taken. They were shipped across Europe like animals jammed into cattle cars with little or no food and water. Millions died. And many of these were defenseless women and children. These are facts. The worldwide Jewish community is by and large descendants of those who survived this horrible hell….
“However, there is also no moral justification for using these events to dispossess and occupy another people who have nothing whatsoever to do with what was done in Europe. Let Europe make amends for what took place if they so desire, not the Palestinians.“
I pray that all people of good will unite in the resolve to set aside quarrels about the the scope of past atrocities in order to unite in the struggle against current ones.
May God grant you all good things!
Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, President
Minaret of Freedom Institute
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