Mahmoud Ahmadinejad To Deliver UK Christmas Broadcast

LONDON — Iran's president is offering season's greetings to Christians in a British TV address and suggests that if Jesus were alive, he would oppose "bullying, ill-tempered and expansionist powers" _ an apparent reference to the U.S. and its allies.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Christmas Day broadcast will be delivered on Britain's Channel 4 television, occupying a slot that provides an often controversial counterpoint to Queen Elizabeth II's traditional annual message, the station said Wednesday. A leading British Jewish body said it was appalled.

According to a transcript released in advance, Ahmadinejad says most of the world's problems stem from leaders who have turned against religion. The Muslim president doesn't refer to rival nations or leaders by name or mention Israel, despite his past calls to wipe it out.

"If Christ were on earth today, undoubtedly he would hoist the banner of justice and love for humanity to oppose warmongers, occupiers, terrorists and bullies the world over," Ahmadinejad said, according to the English translation of the Farsi-language speech. The broadcast will air with subtitles.

The U.S., Britain and others suspect Iran of developing nuclear weapons, while Tehran insists its uranium enrichment program is intended solely for a civilian energy program.

Ties with Britain were further strained in 2007 when Iran held 15 British sailors and marines prisoner for 13 days.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews _ which represents the Jewish community in the United Kingdom _ said the broadcast was offensive. "To invite him to deliver a Christmas message, even a so-called alternative one, fills me with disgust," said the group's president, Henry Grunwald.

The Israeli ambassador to London condemned the speech as a "bogus message of good will."

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"That (Channel 4) should give an unchallenged platform to the president of a regime which denies the Holocaust, advocates the destruction of the sovereign state of Israel, funds and encourages terrorism, executes children and hangs gay people is a disgrace," Ron Prosor said. "Outrage doesn't begin to explain it."

British human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell echoed the comments, saying the broadcaster was "aiding and abetting a tyrant."

"This is the equivalent of giving (Zimbabwean ruler) Robert Mugabe a prime-time television slot to promote his propaganda," he said.

Previous guests of Channel 4's Christmas slot have included the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sharon Osborne and the animated TV character Marge Simpson of "The Simpsons." Last year's message was delivered by Sgt. Maj. Andrew Stockton, a British soldier badly wounded in Afghanistan.

Dorothy Byrne, Channel 4's head of news and current affairs, said Ahmadinejad was picked because Iran's relations with the West would likely remain a big global issue in 2009.

"As the leader of one of the most powerful states in the Middle East, President Ahmadinejad's views are enormously influential. As we approach a critical time in international relations, we are offering our viewers an insight into an alternative world view," Byrne said.

The channel broadcast an interview with Ahmadinejad in September 2007, when he insisted Iran wasn't seeking to develop a nuclear weapon.

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Associated Press Writer Raphael G. Satter contributed to this report.

Comments

[unfettered]

Well I would tend to believe any dictator not in a Christmas red slip-dress posing boudoir style.
But that's just me.

[pab08]

What is more foolish than an arrogant christian claiming to know what God/Jesus would want, say or think about their political agenda?
A mentally unbalanced dictator of an Islamic theocracy claiming the same knowledge.

However, it is a VERY close contest.

[petergard]

A really good call to have the alternative Christmas message from the President of Iran. It is only the whining Israelis who are so up in arms, and they should look to themselves for the baby killers that they are.

[frogluv73]

If Jesus is the reason for the season, the season must be war. Everytime religion rears its head, believers turn into freaks, and then turn to violence. If Jesus were alive today, he'd be handing out food to the homeless. He'd be doing something that the bible says he used to do, what believers preach about, but never actually do themselves. Religion is primitive mind poison, for those who seek the easy answers to lifes questions. This guy is no different from Bush in his thinking of religion. He is as delusional as Bush in thinking that a god would always side with one religion and condemn another. If Jesus is the reason for the season, then religion is the reason for hate. Happy Holidays and good luck in 2009...we're all going to need it.

[wembakoy]

Merry Christmas or happy holiday to all. Please let us make this holiday about thinking of those less fortunate. They are some part of the world that there is not Merry Christmas or happy holiday.

Please share the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kTp5Cjx8TQ

For more information you can read on this web page on the link below:
http://okonda.com/please_save_my_people.html

Thanks for your good heart.

[Bocado]

I try myself not to be too materialistic, but it's natural for us all.
But I have been doing great so far this year.
Thanks for the links.

[dejavu1972]

To all appearances in the accompanying photo, it seems that Ahmadinejad's 'handlers' take their jobs very seriously.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

[grf67]

He should get along well with Bush; they are both delusional.

[eraofpeace]

God bless us all, everyone!

[akw]

Ahmadinejad is the world's biggest support of terrorism, but of course here at Huffpo, he is revered. Good grief! The man is accusing others of being mean old bullies who use religion, all the while he is perpetuating a religious jihad on the rest of the world. And you think it's honorable to give him a medium to spout this crap? Get this through your heads.....Ahmadinejad doesn't want peace and prosperity for the world. He wants power and world dominance at any cost, and the destruction of the US and Israel are first on his agenda! We are what stand in the way of his goal, and you want to hold hands and sing with him while he spits in your eyes. Wake up!

[instagladiator]

GWB? Is that you?

[chirps]

"He wants power and world dominance at any cost, and the destruction of the US and Israel are first on his agenda! "

He does? Please stop trying to get America into another war in the Middle East. Isn't one enough?

[Hirnlego]

He is not even the decider... how's the war propaganda tasting? Bad I hope...

[pgg804]

""bullying, ill-tempered and expansionist powers" _ an apparent reference to the U.S. and its allies.' The allies are not bullying, they're following the bully. If you can figure out who he is talking about when he doesn't mention the country, thats excellent evidence his statement is correct. Many people throughout the world think the USA is a bully.

[NeilFiertel]

When Iran tests its first nuclear weapon, then the world will know this lunatic for what he is. There are millions of Iranians who would be glad to have a free and open election without a bunch of old geezers deciding who can run and who can not for their Parliament. Ahmadinejad does not represent the real Iran and sadly, the real Iran is not represented at all in their government. I wish them luck in ousting these religious zealots from power BEFORE Iran has a nuke. Giving Ahmadinijad a voice on TV especially at that time is a slap at every citizen who rebukes the horrid murderous and suppressive regime in Iran, gives him a kind of legitimacy and is tantamount to having Goebels or Himmler on prime time.. The station ought to be ashamed and I hope that watchers of that station let them know in no uncertain terms that they have crossed the line of decency.

[instagladiator]

Wow! You are in a lost world of your own.

[northstar11]

the israeli ambassador to london is condemning the speech before it is even delivered.

has he seen the speech and know what is coming or is he trying to prejudice public opinion?

tatchell equates the iranian to robert mugabe----- that gets my bullsh!t meter spinning out of control?

there is nothing wrong with letting the world hear the other side of the argument.
we are not fools who cannot hear a message and make a rational assessment.
we certainly dont need israeli censorship but thanks anyway

[zukervati]

Roger that. If Rick Warren can give the invocation speech, with Obama clearly trying to bring Rick and his lot into the 21st century fold, then I believe Mr. Ahmedinijad has all the right in the world to express his views.

The tail has wagged the dog for a very long time! The citizens have spoken and it is time to make things equitable - universally!

[whosyourdaddy]

I remember when I was in my late teens. We used to do the same thing as you guys. Though being a Canadian, we didn't bash our country. We loved our country. However, we were young rebels like you and of course we had to bash something so we smoked a lot of pot, called our parents *ssholes and spit on anything American. In fact most Canadians still do that to this day.
Anyway, that was a long time ago and not much has changed. Canadians still love their country and hate yours.
I guess the only thing that's changed in all these years... is that you hate your country too. Must suck to be you.

[Ironfox]

You must be still smoking a lot. Your post is incoherent and completely off topic. Go have a nap.

[northstar11]

none of your skreed makes any sense. who is" YOU GUYS"

You hate you country too -- what country are you referring to.??

[oxygen]

The aryans are good people and we wish them well and we agreee with their president about jesus's stance on things if he were here

what's the gig with the guy claiming "america" "repowering" bit anyways? why does he mention iran in this stupid commercial = so he speaks for all americans from the north pole to chile? thanks that's really progress there - the pot belly is supposed to make us identify with your ideas? what a joke

Mr Obama I voted for you and you are being hoodwinked into alot of b.s. already - please steer the ship clear of the shoals - it's getting foggy and the tide is going out

[jalowe1957]

This is hardly a holiday message of good cheer and best wishes for the forthcoming year -- more like two big lumps of coal thrown through your front window that becomes shattered in an act of vandalism.

[joewalters]

//According to a transcript of the broadcast released in advance, Ahmadinejad says most of the world's problems stem from leaders who have turned against religion.//

That is bull Ahmadinejad. Most of the world's problem stems from people that use religion as a tool to fulfill their twisted and selfish ambitions, i.e., the Bush Administration, and many other countries. These jerks give followers of Christianity and Islam a bad name.

[totalliberal]

Some of the most backward countries in the world are controlled by religious fanatics. The most successful countries keep religion in the background where it belongs.

The beginning of the end of Muslim dominance was when the Ottoman rulers outlawed printing presses for public use shortly after there invention. That is when europe began to pull ahead of them intellectual and financially.

[zukervati]

Did you mean the good old US of A? It's been under the control of religious fanatics for the last 8 years! Are you saying that we are one of the most backward countries?

I suggest we all take a calm breather and a step back before criticizing any other country or leader. After all, the majority elected Mr. Bush and his crew - twice!

Although we can all hold our heads high for destroying the stereotype and electing Mr. Obama, McCain still received over 46% of the popular vote - we still need to collectively repent for the past two elections, whether you voted for Mr. Bush or not. We, unfortunately, are still in the glass house while trying to cast stones.

[Hirnlego]

You got it right. Religion poisons everything..