Taking a Stand Against Iran

Irwin Cotler, the former minister of justice and attorney general of Canada, member of Canadian parliament and co-author of this piece, is introducing legislation in Canadian parliament today called the "Iran Accountability Act." While it expressly holds Iran to account - for its genocidal threats, nuclear ambitions and domestic repressions - it can also function to hold any signatory to the Genocide Convention to account. All signatories to the 1948 Genocide Convention (including the United States) have a responsibility to prevent genocide - and to punish incitement to genocide - that they have largely ignored in the case of the world's greatest threat. The IAA, while a Canadian initiative, is a template model as to how to fulfill these responsibilities and take a stand against Iranian criminal actions.

We were in Geneva when the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, stepped to the podium at the United Nations and delivered an address at a conference ostensibly aimed at fighting racism. With that speech - fettered with anti-Semitic comments and rooted in the very intolerance the Durban Review Conference was supposed to be combating, the whole delivered on the day of Holocaust remembrance in Geneva - the use and abuse of the United Nations reached a new, shameful low.

President Ahmadinejad is a man who incites to hatred and genocide in violation of the Genocide Convention's prohibition; who is engaged in the massive repression of the rights of his own people--particularly the Baha'i religious minority of Iran; who pursues the most destructive of weaponry in violation of UN Security Council Resolutions; who is complicit in crimes against humanity through genocidal terrorist proxies; who assaults the basic tenet of the UN Charter; who presides, as president, over the parading in the streets of Tehran of a Shahab-3 missile draped in the emblem "Wipe Israel off the Map" while exhorting the masses with cries of "Death to Israel"; who denies the Holocaust as he incites to a new one; who warns Muslims that if they recognize Israel, they will burn in the umma of Islam; and who has used the podium of the United Nations General Assembly to invoke classic anti-Semitic tropes reminiscent of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

Such a person belongs in the docket of the accused, not the podium of the United Nations.

And yet the danger of a genocidal, nuclear and rights-violating Iran did not begin with President Ahmadinejad and will not end simply with the completion of his tenure. The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated that "it is the mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to erase Israel from the map of the region."

Indeed, when he delivered his most infamous incitement - that Israel should be "wiped off the map" - President Ahmadinejad made it clear that he was simply repeating what "the Imam said"--at once grounding his hateful prescription in the words of former supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and invoking religion to confirm the obligation.

Let us be clear, however, that the great civilization of Iran - and the peoples of Iran - are not the ones targeted by this legislation. To the contrary, the bill takes as its premise that these peoples are increasingly the object of Iran's human rights violations. It is in their best interest that the international community hold Iran's leaders to account.

As Edmond Burke cautioned, it is clear that this evil will triumph unless good people do something to stop it. This template Iran Accountability Act would ensure precisely that.

The IAA divests Canada from investment in Iran. It establishes a mechanism to monitor incitement to hate in Iran, and would render the most virulent inciters inadmissible to Canada. It freezes the assets of those that contribute to Iran's nuclear or military infrastructure -as well as its machinery of hate. It uses the framework of the international community - Canada's bilateral relationships and the United Nations - to bring Iran to justice through recognized principles of international law. And, similar to a recent American legislative proposal, it targets Iran's dependence on imported petroleum - so long as the incitement continues.

The IAA makes it clear that diplomacy targeted solely at Iran's nuclear threat mistakenly ignores the terrifying and vilifying context in which that threat operates and, however inadvertently, sanitizes the genocidal incitement at its core.

We hope that the US government and Congress look closely at this bill. A dual statement from both Canada and the United States would send a clear signal to Iran that while we are open to engagement, we will not acquiesce in incitement to genocide and other crimes against humanity.

Irwin Cotler, a Montreal MP, is the former minister of justice and attorney general of Canada. Alan Dershowitz is Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard University.

Comments

[mackdee]

Amazing these attacks against Dershowitz and Israel on here. Not based on any facts, or logical deductions, just hate, lies and bigotry! Trying to obfuscate and divert what is being said, like when a magician uses sleigh of hand except not nearly that convincing. The case for Israel doesn't say anything of the sort that poster Hass say's. Hass you should read the book before making slanderous allegations! It would be refreshing to see educated, factual, and perceptive intellectual arguments instead of all these deniers and shortsighted, bigoted comments from people that can't stomach any supportive claims in favor of Israel, and any justifiable negative claims against Israels enemy's, like Iran!

[Janet Martucci]

Thank you for a well written article, and the courage to speak the truth. Neo-con, Israeli lobbyist; these labels get put on anyone who points out the lunacy of countries who encourage their children (or poor, Muslims-such as Palestinian to murder and die in the process. Fact is not relative, though it can be nuanced or twisted. Ahmadinejad might be highly offended by the poster who reworked new meaning into words and intent he makes clear regarding Israel. Ironic; those who preach peace and justice and social equality tacitly support regimes that crush them, while demonizing Israel and in some comments, Jews in general. Negative statements and snears (chicken soup? thinly veneered) is acceptable in circles that would rightfully denounce such comments if applied to Blacks or Muslims. On a different note, what is truly comical is the justification of a nuclear power facility in an area with plenty of sun. These facilities, imo, should be phased out and closed down. They are an unhealthy source of power for any country. Our planet already has enough radioactive isotopes to cause cellular havoc long into the future. I would venture to say that many readers defending nuclear power for Iran are opposed to it in their own backyard, and this is not besides the point, it is exactly the point.

[Sentientbeing09]

Forgive me for being sceptical that you want Irans nuclear program shut down for environmentalist issues.

Would you agree that shutting down Israels ageing nuclear reactor and retiring of their nuclear arsenal would be good environmental policy too?

[persianadvocate]

Iranians side with the truth, always, and Israel has never, ever represented that.

[stpmdn]

Mr Dershowitz please go to Jeruslum post and blog there. nobody is buying what you're selling here.

[SamSeven]

It looks like my first post was censored thanks Huffpost.

I agree with the posts here,

Thanks for clearing up that little implication involving Canada with sanctions. I heard nothing from the Canadian press on that subject.

Sadly, the neocons run Canada and pushing their agenda ten-fold since it failed in the States. Harper is so into the neocons, he sold his soul for the Globalist. Even though he is only a pawn in the Game. Very Sad.

[shotei]

Knowing how radical huffpost readers are (with some exceptions), why even bother to post an article that remotely hints at defending Israel here?
Placing Dershowitz, Levy or Bronfman at this website is an invitation to a hatefest.

[Wozzeck]

How many articles at this website have defended Palestinians?

[shotei]

I'm not talking about huffpost. I'm talking about its readers. Huffpost gives space for both sides to express themselves. The rotten thing here is the radicalism of the big majority of the readers.

[Freenation]

hey you forgot zucker.man­....'hatef­est'...how about letting these propogandist know what they are worth of, thanks to HP contributors?

[arle]

Yeah, keep trying to slap the anti-Semitism canard on the Progressive Left. If you haven't noticed we were able to pin down and cripple the largest, wealthiest most corrupt political party to ever run the United States, with Bush as its figurehead. We're not afraid of the AIPAC crowd.

[malborz]

Lies after lies after lies. Can you distinguished gentlemen be a little more truthful and fair minded?
I have been voting liberals for nearly 30 years and my children did the same thing later. I never knew that the Liberal party of Canada has also been infected by Zionists. Thank you Mr. Cotler for revealing your views and where you stand. I will not vote for Liberals in the next election.

[Hedonist]

The Liberals are going to really mi9ss you and, please, thank your Mom for the chicken soup.

[Wozzeck]

Carlos Latuff is overdue for another insightful portrait of Al.

[martin2]

This article has no connection with the facts.

[joebhed]

I was going to comment here.
Then I read all the comments.
Nothing more to say.

[gadoo]

This is very intertesting coming from Mr. Dershowitz as someone who condones what Israel is currently doing in Gaza. Also very interesting considering he condones Israel's denial of the Armenian Genocide and its admitted lobbying here in the United States to prevent recognition of this by the United States Government, due to its friendship with Turkey. The double standards and hypocrisy are getting very old.

[Donkslayer]

Regardless, how do you explain the massive popular movement against Ahmadinejad? Are the Iranian people all nuts?

[gadoo]

Ahmadinejad is a genocide denier and therefore vey suspect and concerning. My point was that there are other leaders who also fall into this category - from Turkey, Israel. I just want Mr. Dershowitz to be truthful and not be hypocritical.

[persianadvocate]

Ahmadinejad, besides his fiery rhetoric towards Zionists, clamped down heavily on social freedoms in Iran. This happened because the regime was feeling threatened by the media attention and revelations that there were billions being spent on overthrowing them, in reality. The people want social reform. They stand behind Iran on the nuclear issue 100%, fyi.

[betz55]

Professor please not that if President Ahmadinejad is standing there, then the Israeli Moldavian thug of an FM is right there beside him. Lieberman is a racist who wants to ethnically clean Israel of Palestinains and he make no bones about it.

Clean up your own Zionist back yard first. It wasn't Iran rioting against the Palestinains, beating them, and setting fire to their land, it was the illegal settlers terrorizing the West Bank.

This is rich - genocidal threats, nuclear ambitions and domestic repressions. You mean just like Isarel ? Right ?

Ahmadinejad never actually said that "Israel must be wiped off the map". Ahmadinejad's phrase when translated properly reads. "The Imam said that this regime occupying Jerusalem must [vanish from] the page of time." Regime, professor, not people, not culture, regime.

That is from Wikipedia - the translation was made by Juan Cole, a University of Michigan Professor of Modern Middle East and South Asian History.

He hardly said anything close to what you are claiming and we are tired of hearing your revisionist hate mongering.

It is worth remembering that Iran, under the Shah, was an ally of Israel against their mutual enemy, Iraq. And, prior to the brutal dictatorship of the Shah, Iran had a democratically elected leader, Mossadegh.

Warmongering on behalf of Israel when it hasn't signed the NNPT or allows IAEA inpsections like Iran does is wrong, and we're not buying it.

[Hedonist]

Anyone who quote Juan Cole has no credibility whatsoever.

[arle]

You guys /really/ hate academics, don't you?

[persianadvocate]

Hedonist - are you insane? The man is FAR MORE studied on Middle East politics than Dershowitz, a lawyer interested only in Israeli genocidal policies and lies.

[BiBiJan]

Cole who speaks Farsi has translated Ahmadinejad's 2005 speach as calling for regime change.
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/jonathan_steele/2006/06/post_155.html

Dershowitz has tranlated it thus:

Nuclear-wannabe Iran told nuclear-armed Israel that Iran plans to nuke Israel in 5 to 9 years.

Another words, according to Dershowitz, Iran has been saying Israel has five or so years to nuke Iran before Iran nukes Israel.

You take your pick who's an academic, and who's a hack.

Notes:

Compared to cole's bland translation, Deshowitz's has a couple of juicy subtexts:
1) Iran is willing to have 3000 years of history extinguished even though it has no way of retaliating. Conclusion: just to prove Israel is invincible, Iran is willing to commit suicide.

2) Israel is so restrained, not withstanding the fact that there is not a country within an F16 flying range it has not attacked.

3) The speach in question was deliverd in 2005, and similar words repeated annually since.

4) 5 to 9 years timeframe comes from Fox News, hardly likely to underestimate.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/04/report-iran-material-make-nukes/

[Freenation]

while mr. dershowitz's position is clear, cotler has interesting wiki entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irwin_Cotler#Views_on_anti-racism.2C_genocide_and_anti-Semitism

"However, a detailed analysis of the petition demonstrated that the authors had deliberately used translations of speeches known to be inaccurate, presented quotes out of context, and relied on questionable sources. The petition also contained serious factual errors, and was criticized for its partiality."

nothing further to be said....mr. derhshowitz's internet is wonderful medium specially when trying to see where people stand...good luck on next article....

[GrahamInCanada]

This article may have left the impression that Canada might or that the Canadian government was considering implementing certain laws. If you were left with that impression, please be assured that it is untrue.

Irwin Cotler is a loyal member of her majesty's opposition. I just checked the order paper, and today, under the agenda, Mr. Cotler's is number 50 in a list of 54 non-government bills that will be introduced for the record, not that any will become law.

Mr. Cotler respresents Mount Royal in Montreal as a Liberal member of parliament. The Conservatives are in control of government, not the Liberals.

It is a little soon to be trying to convince the US to follow Canada into the breach to fight the Iranians on behalf of the Israelis. If the US were to follow us, well, we wouldn't be found there.

[zaz33]

GrahamInCanada - The Montreal connection is interesting

I remember a story in Haaretz so time ago. Lieberman suggested that Israel recruit the 300,000 Russian Jews in Montreal for immigration to Israel. Turned out that many if not most had already lived in Israel and left..

[BiBiJan]

Reminds me of the recruitment campaiign to get Iranian Jews to emigrate.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/jul/13/iran.israel

But, some returned home to Tehran....

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1131043721479&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull

[BiBiJan]

Ahmadinejad in 2005 forewarned nuclear-armed Israel that he plans to annihilate them in 2010-2014 time frame which according to Fox News is when Iran may have nuclear weapons. If you think that is dumb, the Imam he was quoting forewarned nuclear-armed Israel more than 20 years before that -- apparently itching to get violently preempted. Canadians buy this?

[arle]

According to Fox News... well /there's/ your problem right there. Still hunting those elusive WMDs in Iraq?

[Sentientbeing09]

Fox News. Youre hilarious.

[BiBiJan]

I should write a little less criptically.

Fox News, as in Alarmist News, as in Worst-Case-scenario News.

Another words, if you take Fox News assertion (see link below) that Iran may have weapons in 2010-2014 timeframe, then you are still left with the notion that Ahmadinejad is accused of forewarning (warned in advance) a nuclear-armed Israel that he plans to annihilate them in 5 to 9 years. I'm drawing attention to how ridiculous the charge is, regardless of what contortions and mistranslations and out-of-context quotes led to the charge.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/04/report-iran-material-make-nukes/

Others have argued till blue in the face, that he was mistranslated. e.g.

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/jonathan_steele/2006/06/post_155.html

This is the level of discourse in the west.

[monelis]

Dude, look at your source, Faux Noise. Please use your head and don't waste your ink..

[BiBiJan]

I should write a little less criptically.

Fox News, as in Alarmist News, as in Worst-Case-scenario News.

Another words, if you take Fox News assertion (see link below) that Iran may have weapons in 2010-2014 timeframe, then you are still left with the notion that Ahmadinejad is accused of forewarning (warned in advance) a nuclear-armed Israel that he plans to annihilate them in 5 to 9 years. I'm drawing attention to how ridiculous the charge is, regardless of what contortions and mistranslations and out-of-context quotes led to the charge.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/04/report-iran-material-make-nukes/

Others have argued till blue in the face, that he was mistranslated. e.g.

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/jonathan_steele/2006/06/post_155.html

This is the level of discourse in the west.

[BiBiJan]

As I clarified above, my point is:

who, with half a brain, would warn (repeatedly) a nuclear armed adversary with annhilation 5 to 10 years before he has the means to do it.

I use Fox for the 2010-2014 estimate so I don't open myself to the charge that it is an under-estimation. Fox has its uses you know.

Let me be a little clearer. Deshowitz and countless others say, in effect that Ahmadinejad has said to Israel:

"You have five years to nuke me otherwise I'll Nuke you (in 5 years)."

I am trying to point out how rediculous the accusation is against Ahmadinejad or other Iranian officials. One is amazed at how persistent the accusation is in MSM.

[Archie1955]

I'm soory but you are extrapolating the most negative point of view of what the Iranian president actually said. He actually wanted Israel to be buried by the sands of time. He wished Israel to become the new Palestine, populated by both the current Israelis and the current Palestinians and without saying it, I'm sure he would want the Palestinians in charge (they would be the largest group in any new configuration of that area of the Middle East). No, we don't need any more apologists for Israel's bad behaviour which is what this article is. It attempts to paint Iran as an aggressor when the facts prove that Israel is the aggressor and getting worse as it continues to steal Palestinian land. Iran is not naturally a country bent on conquest, at least not since Cyrus the Great. It has enough to manage within its own sovereign area and doesn't need any more land, unlike Israel. If Iran is the country with the most probability of control in the Middle East, it is because the US in all its wonderful wisdom removed Iran's natural competitor Iraq from the equation. So any bill to somehow paint Iran as a problem should be left on the Commons floor in pieces to be trampled on when the MPs leave for the holidays.