FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington DC, September 23, 2007/MEAC
Press Release/ --
The Middle-Eastern American
Coalition (MEAC) condemn the visit to New York by president Mahmoud
Ahmadinajead of Iran and president Emile Lahoud of Lebanon. The visit of
both men to speak at the UN and president Ahmadinajead to speak at
Columbia University undermine the very essence of the freedom we yearn
to protect from those intent on using terrorism as a tool of subversion
and destruction.
Although the United States has an
agreement in place with the United Nations to grant an entry visa to
their guests, MEAC believe it is time to change these antiquated rules
as the world faces the rise of another like-Hitler figures in the Middle
East represented by the triumvirate axis of terror
Ahmadinajead-Assad-Lahoud.
The very essence of freedom of
speech is at the heart of our concern when men like Ahmadinajead and
Lahoud use their freedom to speak as a propaganda tool to further divide
the interests of the free world and its ability to speak freely about
the atrocities committed by these men against their own people. Their
freedom to speak is hindering ours.
Further, we believe that the
leadership of Columbia University is sorely mistaken in its logic of
providing a forum to speak to president Ahmadinajead. This sensitive
issue should have been put to some sort of a democratic process with the
students and alumni of Columbia University voting whether an invitation
is in the best interests of the university. Inviting such a divisive
figure will needlessly create discord among the Columbia University
community.
Ahmadinajead and Lahoud deserve to
be snubbed by the international community
as the triumvirate snub the
majority will of their own people. It is time for the free world to
understand that as long as Iranians and Syrians are prevented from
expressing the will of the majority of their people, and the Lebanese
the will of their elected majority, continued support for terrorism will
go unabated by these men representing the axis of terror. Only a free
Syria, a free Iran, and a free Lebanon will ease tensions in the region
and bring about the real peace so desired by all.
A Rally
is planned for Monday September 24, 2007 at the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza
- Across from the UN, 12 Noon; (2nd Avenue at 47th Street)
