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Iran Holocaust conference opens Iran defends Holocaust conference
(about 4 hours later)
A two-day conference which says it will examine whether the Holocaust actually happened has opened in Iran. Iran's foreign minister has rejected criticism of a two-day conference being held in Iran to examine whether the Holocaust actually happened.
Organisers insist the event will offer a chance to discuss "questions" about the Holocaust without taboos. Manouchehr Mottaki told participants the event did not seek to confirm or deny the Holocaust, but rather to allow people to "express their views freely".
Several countries have condemned the conference, including Germany - where Holocaust denial is a crime. Israel's prime minister has condemned the gathering as "a sick phenomenon".
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who backs the event, has publicly questioned the scale of the Holocaust, in which six million Jews were killed. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has publicly questioned the scale of the Holocaust, in which 6m Jews died.
According to the Foreign Ministry in Tehran, 67 researchers from 30 countries are attending the conference in Iran, which is home to 25,000 Jews. According to the foreign ministry in Tehran, 67 researchers from 30 countries are attending the conference in Iran, which is home to 25,000 Jews.
Its main aim is to create an opportunity for thinkers who cannot express their views freely in Europe about the Holocaust Manouchehr Mottaki Iranian foreign minister Holocaust evidenceIts main aim is to create an opportunity for thinkers who cannot express their views freely in Europe about the Holocaust Manouchehr Mottaki Iranian foreign minister Holocaust evidence
Participants include a number of well-known "revisionist" Western academics. American David Duke, a former leader of the Ku Klux Klan, is to present a paper.Participants include a number of well-known "revisionist" Western academics. American David Duke, a former leader of the Ku Klux Klan, is to present a paper.
But a number of Jewish rabbis are also there. One, British Rabbi Ahron Cohen, said he had come to the conference to put the "Orthodox Jewish viewpoint" across.But a number of Jewish rabbis are also there. One, British Rabbi Ahron Cohen, said he had come to the conference to put the "Orthodox Jewish viewpoint" across.
"We certainly say there was a Holocaust, we lived through the Holocaust. But in no way can it be used as a justification for perpetrating unjust acts against the Palestinians," he said."We certainly say there was a Holocaust, we lived through the Holocaust. But in no way can it be used as a justification for perpetrating unjust acts against the Palestinians," he said.
'Express views freely''Express views freely'
Opening the conference, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the aim of the conference was "not to deny or confirm the Holocaust". Opening the conference, Mr Mottaki said the aim of the conference was "not to deny or confirm the Holocaust".
"Its main aim is to create an opportunity for thinkers who cannot express their views freely in Europe about the Holocaust," he said."Its main aim is to create an opportunity for thinkers who cannot express their views freely in Europe about the Holocaust," he said.
CONFERENCE PARICIPANTS Australian Fredrick Toeben, jailed in Germany for incitement and insulting the memory of the deadFrenchman Robert Faurisson, convicted in France under Holocaust denial lawsFrenchman Georges Thiel, convicted in France under Holocaust denial lawsAmerican David Duke, a former KKK leader and white supremacist CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS Australian Fredrick Toeben, jailed in Germany for incitement and insulting the memory of the deadFrenchman Robert Faurisson, convicted in France under Holocaust denial lawsFrenchman Georges Thiel, convicted in France under Holocaust denial lawsAmerican David Duke, a former KKK leader and white supremacist Mr Mottaki dismissed foreign criticism as "predictable", telling delegates there was "no logical reason" to oppose the conference.
But earlier, a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry, Manouchehr Mohammadi, said the conference would examine fundamental questions about the Holocaust. In an address to the conference, broadcast on national radio, President Ahmadinejad questioned why the West would not allow "any investigation" into the Holocaust.
"If this is a historical fact, the more research is carried out, the clearer the subject will become," he said.
Earlier, a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry, Manouchehr Mohammadi, said the conference would examine fundamental questions about the Holocaust.
"The first question to be posed is: Did the Holocaust actually happen or not? And the second one is: If it did happen, what was the scale of it?"The first question to be posed is: Did the Holocaust actually happen or not? And the second one is: If it did happen, what was the scale of it?
"The allegation that six million Jews were killed or burnt in this event, is it true or not?""The allegation that six million Jews were killed or burnt in this event, is it true or not?"
The Iranian president has repeatedly downplayed the extent of the killing, describing it as a myth used to justify the existence of Israel and oppression of the Palestinians. He has called for Israel to be dismantled. Mr Ahmadinejad has repeatedly downplayed the extent of the killing, describing it as a myth used to justify the existence of Israel and oppression of the Palestinians. He has called for Israel to be dismantled.
But in a number of European countries - including Austria and France - it is illegal to deny the Holocaust. An Austrian court jailed Briton David Irving for three years on charges of Holocaust denial. But in a number of European countries - including Germany, Austria and France - it is illegal to deny the Holocaust. An Austrian court jailed Briton David Irving for three years on charges of Holocaust denial.
'Negative impression''Negative impression'
Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert condemned the conference as "a sick phenomenon that shows the depths of hatred of the fundamentalist Iranian regime".
Some Jewish rabbis are at the conference to put their views acrossThe US state department last week described it as "yet another disgraceful act on this particular subject by the regime in Tehran".
Iran knows this conference is going to cause outrage abroad but it says it wants to test the limits of the West's commitment to freedom of speech, says the BBC's correspondent in Tehran, Frances Harrison.Iran knows this conference is going to cause outrage abroad but it says it wants to test the limits of the West's commitment to freedom of speech, says the BBC's correspondent in Tehran, Frances Harrison.
Iran's president regularly speaks out against the Holocaust Iran is drawing a parallel with the Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, which provoked outrage in the Islamic world but were defended by Western liberals, she says.
Iran is drawing a parallel with the Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, which provoked outrage in the Islamic world but were defended by Western liberals, she adds.
The US state department described the conference as "yet another disgraceful act on this particular subject by the regime in Tehran".
Khaled Kasab Mahameed, an Israeli Arab who plans to attend the conference and runs a small museum about the Holocaust in his home in Nazareth, told the BBC that the concept was flawed.
"I think the Iranian president acknowledges the importance and the centrality of the Holocaust in shaping policies in the world.
"He thinks that Israel gets support because of the Holocaust, so his only weapon is to deny it, and that's not good."
Iran's one Jewish MP, Morris Motamed, told the BBC he opposed the conference.Iran's one Jewish MP, Morris Motamed, told the BBC he opposed the conference.
"Holding this conference after having a competition of cartoons about the Holocaust has put a lot of pressure on Jews all over the world and it can give nations and governments a very negative impression of Iran," he said."Holding this conference after having a competition of cartoons about the Holocaust has put a lot of pressure on Jews all over the world and it can give nations and governments a very negative impression of Iran," he said.