Israel 'misusing' Holocaust

2006-02-28 14:30

Tehran - Iranian ex-president Mohammad Khatami termed the Holocaust a "historic fact" but criticised "misuse" of the event by Israel in the Middle East, the news agency ISNA reported Tuesday.

"We should know that one of the crimes by German national socialism was the massacre of innocent people and there have definitely been a large number of Jews among them," Khatami told ISNA in an interview.

"But there has been misuse of this historic fact by Israel with regards to the suppressed Palestinian nation," Khatami added.

Khatami's successor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, caused an international uproar after he hoped last year for the eradication of Israel from the Islamic world and doubted the extent of the Holocaust.

"We are following a religion which condemns the killing of even one innocent person, including an innocent Jew," said Khatami, who is opposing the policies of President Ahmadinejad.

The former reformist president, who is now in charge of a non-governmental organisation promoting dialogue among different cultures and religions, added that Iran has constantly lived peacefully with the Jewish minority of the country.

"But those who consider themselves victims of fascism are implementing fascistic policies in the Middle East," said Khatami, referring to the Israeli policies in Palestine.

Iran plans to hold a Holocaust conference in spring this year in Teheran for "clarifying the real extent of the Holocaust".

Also an anti-Israeli conference is scheduled to be held in April in the Iranian capital. - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA