Iran Culture Min. Urges UNESCO To Adopt Stance Against Insults To Religions

Tehran, Oct 15, IRNA – Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini criticized the international communities for their inattention to the sacrilegious film insulting Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) produced by a US filmmaker. He also called on the UNESCO to pass laws to prevent repetition of insults to the divine religions. Addressing a protest rally staged by Basijees (volunteer forces) and school students Sunday against the anti-Islam film, he added that the Zionists have shown their malice against the Prophet and Islam on several occasions. They hurt the sentiments of one and half billion Muslims across the world and committed the act under the pretext of freedom of expression, he noted. Today the US and Europe have joined hands to manifest insult to religions as common but the Muslims will never allow the enemies to commit such acts, he said. Referring to Iran’s ban on Oscar in protest at the sacrilegious film made by the US and financed by the Zionist regime, he hoped that such reactions will turn into an attack against the enemies. Deploring the silence of the international organizations, such as UNESCO, against insulting measures, he called for a clear stance vis-à-vis those insulting divine religions. The demonstrators condemned arrogant powers’ policies by chanting slogans./end