Ahmadinejad 'honored' by religious coalition in NY this week

By Sharon Hughes

On September 23, 2008 speaking to the UN in New York City, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attacked the U.S. again declaring the "American empire in the world is reaching the end of its road." And accused "a few bullying powers" of trying to stop his country's nuclear programs.

Also, as FOX News reported: "With major world leaders watching and just eight hours after President Bush's final speech before the general assembly, Ahmadinejad used the U.N. platform to decry a "zionist regime" for what he called a persecution on Arab peoples around the globe."

And a group has formed, StopAhmadinejadRally, to protest a religious group meeting honoring Ahmadinejad while he is here this week: On Thursday, September 25, at 6:00 pm in New York City at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, The American Friends Service Committee, Mennonite Central Committee, Quaker UN Office, Religions for Peace, and the World Council of Churches-UN Liaison Office will be "honoring" Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at an Iftar (dinner to break the day's Ramadan fast). Other organizations, political leaders and the media have also been invited.

Here's the text of the invitation:

An invitation to an international dialogue between religious leaders and political figures:

"Has not one God created us?"

The significance of religious contributions to peace

It is an honor to invite you to participate with religious, cultural, and political leaders in a conversation about the role of religions in tackling global challenges and building peaceful societies at an Iftar — a dinner to break the Ramadan fast.

In the presence of

§ His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran

With contributions from

§ His Excellency Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann, President of the General Assembly of the United Nations

§ His Excellency the Rev. Kjell Bondevik, former Prime Minister of Norway and President of the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights

§ and distinguished religious leaders

This conversation is the fourth in a series of high-level bridge-building and reconciliation efforts that have helped to build mutual understanding between our peoples, nations and religious traditions. It is our hope that as religious and political leaders, this communal meal and exchange of views will enable us to explore faith perspectives for dealing with global issues such as poverty, war and prejudice while deepening mutual understanding.

The dinner will be at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, 109 East 42nd Street, New York, N.Y., on Thursday, September 25, 2008, beginning with evening prayers from several religious traditions. Please arrive by 6:00 pm to clear security. Following dinner and presentations, the moderator will open the floor for comments and discussion.

Please note, entrance to this event is by limited invitation only. Some members of the media have been invited to cover the event.

RSVP by e-mail to sept25@us.mcc.org no later than Monday, September 15, 2008, confirming you interest in participation and sending us your mailing address. After confirmation of your participation, we will send a card explaining procedures for entry to the event.

The Sponsoring Committee welcomes your participation and appreciates the cooperation of the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations in co-hosting this event.

American Friends Service Committee

Mennonite Central Committee

Quaker United Nations Office

Religions for Peace

World Council of Churches — United Nations Liaison Office

The StopAhmadinejadrally's stated mission is to expose the truth of the current Iranian regime's crimes against humanity, and to deny them that false legitimacy.

Here is the list so far of organizations participating in the Stop Ahmadinejad Rally:

Women United/Code Red

911 Families

ACT for America

Alliance of Iranian Women

AMCHA

American Center for Law and Justice

American Coptic Union

American Maronite Union

Americans for a Safe Israel

Arabs for Israel

Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights

Center for Security Policy

Christian Solidarity

Coalition for the Defense of Human Rights

Committee on the Present Danger

Concerned Women for America

Council for a Democratic Iran

Family Security Matters

Foundation for Defense of Democracy

Glenn Richter, Founder Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry

Guardian Angels

Institute for Freedom and Democracy

International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem

International Christian Union

Aryeh Eldad, Israeli Knesset

Jewish Action Alliance

Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs

Log Cabin Republicans of New York City

Open Doors USA

Phyllis Chesler, author

Rabbi Zev Friedman, Rambam Mesivta high school

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik

StandWithUs

Stop Shariah Now

Sudan Freedom Walk

The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention

Traditional Values Coalition

Women's Freedom Movement of Pakistan

See more

This week while the religious left panders to Ahmadinejad, and the Hillary Clinton/Barack Obama team plays political chess causing Sarah Palin to be disinvited to speak to this group on Ahmadinejad (see full text of the speech she was going to deliver), the rest of us watch (in amazement?) at the complete loss of discernment of those who consider themselves leaders.

© Sharon Hughes