Former Irish PM in Tehran: Religious Extremism is WMD
Former Irish president Mary Robinson told a conference in Iran on ‘Religion in the Modern World’ on Monday that “religious extremism has become “a weapon of mass destruction.”
Robinson called for a strengthening of “dialogue among political and religious leaders to prevent conflict and tension in the world.”
She urged “respect towards religious minorities”, warning against “religious extremism, which has become a weapon of mass destruction.”
Robinson is one of the former world leaders invited by the Iranian government to Tehran for this conference. It is by former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami, who is considered a relatively moderate leader.
The former Irish leader was not the only one with the courage to address outrageous remarks and policies pursued by Iran. Former leader of Norway Kejll Magne Bondevik denounced statements such as “Israel should be wiped off the map,” for instance.
Former UN chief Kofi Annan hit out at “opportunistic politicians who make extremist speeches to get elected.” Which is a strongly worded condemnation, but one cannot help but wonder whether Annan talked about Iranian leaders or American leaders. After all, as General Secretary of the UN, Kofi was not exactly vocal in his opposition to Muslim extremism. Instead, he was rather appeasing.
Although the conference will be criticized by many individuals, it seems to me that it is necessary for former leaders to go to Iran, to reach out, to start a dialogue, while making clear that they do embrace certain principles, on which no compromise is possible. It seems to me that this conference allows these leaders to do so, the report at the Associated Press indicates they seized it.
