Iran / 02-07-2012
Iranian professors: VP morally reprehensible
Professor Ardeshir Amir Arjomand Iranian academics condemn remarks by Iranian VP that blamed Zionists, Talmud for global drug trade, genocide
A group of eight Iranian academics have issued a statement in which they “categorically” condemned recent anti-Semitic remarks made by Iranian Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi, who said that the Israelis were responsible for the global drug trafficking.
Last Tuesday, during a speech at an anti-drug conference in Tehran, Rahimi blamed the Talmud for the expansion of illegal drugs around the world, saying the "Zionists" were responsible for the world's major drug trade. "If one seeks what lies behind all forms of corruption, there is the repugnant face of Zionists. This is the same case for the narcotics trade ... whose primary operator is the Zionist regime," he said.
"These are baseless allegations, that contradict the interests of the Iranian people and government," wrote the professors in a letter published Sunday.
"It is shameful that these individuals persistently ignore their duties to the people of Iran and become conduits of propagating tired conspiracy theories emanating from idiotic minds," the professors wrote.
The professors, identified with the Iranian reformist movement, further said that “such allegations are certain to add to the risk of crippling embargos and increase the threat of military attack on Iran.”
The authors said that the “overwhelming majority” of Iranians had “made it clear that they do not recognize the present government of Iran and its functionaries as their representatives in the international arena.”
We the undersigned, categorically condemn the speech of Mr. Mohammad Reza Rahimi, Iran’s vice president in the UN-sponsored international anti-drug conference in Tehran on June 26, 2012. These baseless allegations that include the responsibility of the book of Talmud for today’s international illegal drug trade and genocide are historically inaccurate, morally reprehensible, and politically contrary to the interests of the nation and government of Iran. It is shameful that these individuals persistently ignore their duties to the people of Iran and become conduits of propagating tired conspiracy theories emanating from idiotic minds. Such allegations are certain to add to the risk of crippling embargos and to increase the threat of military attack on Iran. The overwhelming majority of the Iranian people, by their widespread and globally witnessed protests against the stolen elections of 2009 have made it clear that they do not recognize the present government of Iran and its functionaries as their representatives on the international arena.
Ardeshir Amir Arjomand, Professor, Shahid Beheshti University
Hamid Dabashi, Professor, Columbia University
Nader Hashemi, Assistant Professor, University of Denver
Mohsen Kadivar, Visiting Professor, Duke University
Ali Mirsepasi, Professor, New York University
Mansoor Moaddel, Professor, University of Michigan
Ahmad Sadri, Professor, Lake Forest College
Mahmoud Sadri, Professor, Texas Woman’s University
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| Professor Mahmoud Sadri | Professor Ahmad Sadri | Professor Ali Mirsepasi | Professor Mohsen Kadivar |
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| Nader Hashemi | Professor Ardeshir Amir Arjomand | Professor Hamid Dabashi | Professor Mansoor Moaddel |
