| Submit your comments on this article | |
| Home Front: WoT | |
| NYC Muslim Leader Backs Iranian re: Holocaust is 'exaggerated' | |
| 2006-01-13 | |
| The leader of a large Shiite mosque in Queens has joined the new Iranian president in disputing the Holocaust, saying the Nazi massacre of an estimated 6 million Jews during World War II "has been exaggerated." "The numbers which have been mentioned are too much," the spiritual leader of the Imam Al Khoei Islamic Center in Jamaica, Sheik Fadhel al Sahlani, told The New York Sun. Sheik al Sahlani, who said his mosque has a membership of about 3,000, said that the killing of innocent Jews during the war was "an injustice" but that the extent of Nazi persecution needed further examination. "The numbers, the reasons, we have to study more," he said. In that light, Sheik al Sahlani voiced his support for Iran's proposal to hold a conference on the Holocaust in Tehran, saying there is "nothing wrong with studying more." The conference is likely to include scholars who deny that the Holocaust took place. The sheik's skepticism about the Holocaust follows President Ahmadinejad's recent statements that the genocide of the Jews is a "myth" and that Israel should be "wiped off the map." Sheik al Sahlani said that the Iranian leader's call for an end to Israel was not practical, but added, "It is a kind of dream, but we have to be realistic. Even we have to accept a fact that we don't like." Many Muslim leaders in New York are rejecting such fiery rhetoric about Israel and the Holocaust, saying the comments will not help defuse tension in the Middle East. In a survey by the Sun of more than a dozen Muslim leaders across the city, only Sheik al Sahlani voiced agreement with Mr. Ahmadinejad's statement about the Holocaust. Most imams, mosque administrators, and officials at Islamic organizations strongly denounced the Iranian leader's comments. Some called the remarks "irresponsible" or "offensive," and others said they should not be taken seriously. "For him to make stupid comments like that, I don't even think the Iranian people think like that," the president of Masjid Ar-Rahman at 80 Madison Avenue, Firoz Shaikh, said. He added that there is little doubt about the Holocaust in the Muslim community. "Of course it happened. It was atrocious." The director of the Muslim Center of New York, Mohammad Sherwani, called the Holocaust the "greatest injustice" and suggested Mr. Ahmadinejad was "going bananas." "How can he say that?" Mr. Sherwani said. "Nobody can deny who knows history that the Holocaust happened." Other imams interviewed by the Sun professed to have little knowledge about the details of the Holocaust but did express skepticism that 6 million was an accurate figure for the number of Jews killed.
| |
| Posted by:lotp |
| #5 I'd choose to fill him with giggle juice, put him on the mind-bender diet, and torture him on the waterboard. But that's just me. I'm "inhumane" when it comes to people who are part of the "Kill the Infidels!" game. It stems from my infidel status, I guess. |
| Posted by: .com 2006-01-13 22:26 |
| #4 I want this SOB deported so fast that there's a popping sound made by the air rushing back in to fill the space his body previously occupied. Other popping sounds more typically associated with muzzle discharges would be equally welcome. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-01-13 16:51 |
| #3 If the guy is here on a visa deport him. No reason given. Grab him and put him on a plane to someplace else with a sack lunch and a 20 dollar bill. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet O´ Doom 2006-01-13 16:43 |
| #2 In Queens? A mosque with 3000 members is not at all out of the question. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-01-13 16:26 |
| #1 "who said his mosque has a membership of about 3,000" I'd bet that this is what is exaggerated. |
| Posted by: Mark E. 2006-01-13 15:30 |