Jewish community in Iran slams US protest against Ahmadinejad's visit

Heads of Iran's Jewish community 'outraged by the disrespect' shown to the Iranian president during Columbia visit

by Dudi Cohen

The Jewish community in Iran published a statement Wednesday, slamming the disrespect shown to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by human rights and freedom activists on his recent visit to the United States.

The Iranian president visited the US earlier this week, where he attended a forum at Columbia University and addressed the United Nation's General Assembly.

"Mr President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator," said Columbia President Lee Bollinger to loud applause, as he invited Ahmadinejad to take the stage.

"The constant disrespect and disturbance demonstrated (during Ahmadinejad's speech at Colombia) prove once more that those claiming to be peace loving people have no real grasp of the concept," said the statement.

Published by the Iranian news agency IRNA, the statement also said that the Jewish community in Iran was "outraged by that kind of behavior".

The Jewish community in Iran spans some 25,000 people, who are considered loyal to the country's radical Islamist regime's anti-Zionist policies; but many believe the community's loyalty is merely a means of survival. (Right - there is exactly zero evidence of that, but that does not stop this reporter from making the allegation - VS)

The statement was signed by Morris Mottaned, the Jewish delegate to the Iranian parliament and by the heads of the Iranian Jewish communities.

Iranian officials crowned Ahmadinejad's visit to the US a success, saying that "the president was able to convey Iran's message of peace to the world".