Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: The Black Box [of the Holocaust] should be opened

In Power, Issue no. 368 (November 1, 2009), p. 2-3, Ingrid Rimland writes: “The intrepid Iranian President denies the Holocaust and warns Europeans of the Zionists: ‘They Cling Like Ticks’”. Aired on IRINN, September, 2009 [See Memri’s transcript, September 18, 2009, Clip No. 2247] I. Rimland goes on to write: “Following are excerpts from a speech delivered by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which aired on IRINN, September 18, 2009.”

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: Even before World War I, there was some talk [about forming] a very vicious and twisted organization to take over the entire world. Using their experience from colonialist days, they planned to take over all the nations, along with the material and spiritual resources of the world.

After World War I, exploiting the lack of vigilance of the region’s peoples and of the Muslims, they turned the land of Palestine into the mandate of the old colonialism – England. During that period, the organized criminal Zionists created an atmosphere that enabled them to invade the land of Palestine. Under the guise of purchasing farms, orchards, and lands, they plundered a vast part of the land, using weapons, slaughter, and terror. With the help of the English government, and with the support of the spearheads of the English government, they turned the people into refugees.

Before World War II, the talk intensified and the activities increased. In the European countries, the very twisted show of “anti-Semitism” began. Of course, some governments and their people always hated the Jews because of the ugly conduct of some of them. They wanted to drive the Jews out of Europe. But anti-Semitism was planned mainly by some European governments and politicians, and by the Zionist network. They made hundreds of films, wrote hundreds of books, spread rumors, and conducted psychological warfare, in order to drive them away, to the land of Palestine.

Four or five years after World War II, they suddenly claimed that during that war, the Holocaust affair had taken place. In other words, according to their claims, several million Jews were burned in the crematoria. They created two slogans. The first was about the injustice suffered by the Jewish people. By means of lies, very twisted propaganda, and psychological warfare, they created the notion that the Jews suffered injustice, and, secondly, that they needed a land and an independent state. They acted so effectively that some of the world’s politicians and intellectuals were also deceived and influenced.

With regard to that false injustice, I have said some things in the past four years. I do not want to repeat all these points, but I would like to talk about how deeply-rooted this “injustice” is, and how false it is. We asked them the following question: If the Holocaust that you talk about was real, why don’t you allow the subject to be studied? One can freely research any issue, except for this issue, which is sealed. It is a black box, which they do not allow to be opened or reexamined. They do this in order to exploit it. We say to them: This affair, which was so important, which served as a pretext for a certain land to be occupied, for many wars to be waged, for millions to be displaced, for hundreds of thousands to be killed or wounded, for families to be destroyed, for the entire Middle East region to be living under the shadow of threats and insecurity… If this event is so important, why don’t you allow it to be deciphered and opened, so that the truth and the facts about it will be revealed to all the peoples?

Today too, the most important issue in the world is Palestine. If a war breaks out in Iraq, we believe it is due to the provocation of the Zionists. If it happens in Afghanistan, it is because of their provocation. If Sudan is oppressed, it is due to Zionist seduction. We consider all the arrogant, colonialist schemes to be inspired by the Zionists.

[…]

We asked them: If the Holocaust took place – and let’s suppose that it did – where did it take place, if not Europe? Who are the people who claim to have done it? The European governments. Where did antisemitism begin? In Europe. Who started it? Those European statesmen and politicians. In order to drive some of the Jews out of Europe and settle them in Palestine, the Europeans themselves started antisemitism. Until now, the [Europeans] have promoted two contradictory processes – they planned antisemitism themselves, and they support the crimes of the Zionists without reservation.

[…]

Both are intended to achieve the colonialist goals. It is all done in order to dominate our region and the world. But they claimed that [the Jews] should have their own land. If we accept this logic, and we grant this right to all ethnic groups and peoples, what will happen? In my opinion, before granting them this right, we should grant it to the red-skinned people of America. Hundreds of millions of red-skinned people lived in a vast region. They had their own culture, their own customs, and their own civilization. You invaded, you perpetrated mass killings, you slaughtered them by the millions, and you occupied their land. If we agree that there should be an independent Jewish state in Palestine, and in the lands of others – then we must accept that the land of America should be returned to the red-skinned people.

How many ethnic groups and tribes are there in Europe itself? How many claims are there? If we accept this logic, 72 independent states should be established in Europe, and countries like Russia should be torn to pieces. What would happen to the world? Would it be possible to find any safe and secure place in the world?

This logic is the foundation of insecurity and widespread wars in the world. This logic will encourage everybody to take up arms and use them to resolve problems. This is inhuman and false logic. Let’s assume that we accept this logic for the Jewish people. Where should they settle? Who acted towards them with injustice? Why should they settle in Palestine? Why not America, Europe, or Canada? That way, you could support them and maintain their security, and they would have no concerns. We have no objection to [the Jews] going and living in their countries, but they want to be generous at the expense of others. Why should Palestinians pay the price? You yourselves publicly declare that you committed crimes. It should be you who are placed on trial and who pay the damages. Instead, you committed the crimes, and the Palestinians and other people of the region pay the price.

[…]

Confronting this regime and opposing Zionists are a national duty, as well as religious and Islamic duty, and a human duty. Even the people of Europe and America despise the Zionists. They hate them. They feel humiliated by the Zionists, who are a burden on them.

[…]

I believe that with the complete formation of the global Zionist network, they have seized control of the fate of the European governments, and of the US government. To the independent countries in the world, I would like to say: You should know that the influence of the Zionist network on your culture, your politics, and your economy is tantamount to a violation of your independence. They cling like ticks. The moment they gain influence, they never stop.

November 11, 2009