The following
is a translation of the letter sent in Farsi by
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad to US
President George W Bush. This version was released
by United Nations diplomats. The letter was handed
by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki to
the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, which then handed it
to the Americans.
Mr George Bush,
President of the United States of America
For some time now I have been thinking,
how one can justify the undeniable contradictions
that exist in the international arena - which are
being constantly debated, specially in political
forums and among university students. Many
questions remain
unanswered. These have
prompted me to discuss some of the contradictions
and questions, in the hopes that it might bring
about an opportunity to redress them.
Can
one be a follower of Jesus Christ (PBUH) [praise
be upon his name], the great Messenger of God,
feel obliged to respect human rights, present
liberalism as a civilization model, announce one's
opposition to the proliferation of nuclear weapons
and WMDs [weapons of mass destruction], make war
and terror his slogan, and finally, work towards
the establishment of a unified international
community - a community which Christ and the
virtuous of the Earth will one day govern, but at
the same time have countries attacked; the lives,
reputations and possessions of people destroyed
and on the slight chance of the ... of a ...
criminals in a village or city, or convoy, or for
example the entire village, city or convoy, set
ablaze.
Or because of the possibility of
the existence of WMDs in one country, it is
occupied, around 100,000 people killed, its water
sources, agriculture and industry destroyed, close
to 180,000 foreign troops put on the ground,
sanctity of private homes of citizens broken, and
the country pushed back perhaps 50 years. At what
price? Hundreds of billions of dollars spent from
the treasury of one country and certain other
countries and tens of thousands of young men and
women - as occupation troops - put in harm's way,
taken away from family and loved ones, their hands
stained with the blood of others, subjected to so
much psychological pressure that every day some
commit suicide and those returning home suffer
depression, become sickly and grapple with all
sorts of ailments; while some are killed and their
bodies handed to their families.
On the
pretext of the existence of WMDs, this great
tragedy came to engulf both the peoples of the
occupied and the occupying country. Later it was
revealed that no WMDs existed to begin with.
Of course Saddam [Hussein] was a murderous
dictator. But the war was not waged to topple him,
the announced goal of the war was to find and
destroy weapons of mass destruction. He was
toppled along the way towards another goal,
nevertheless the people of the region are happy
about it. I point out that throughout the many
years of the ... war on Iran [in the 1980s],
Saddam was supported by the West.
Mr
President,
You might know that I am a
teacher. My students ask me how can these actions
be reconciled with the values outlined at the
beginning of this letter and duty to the tradition
of Jesus Christ (PBUH), the Messenger of peace and
forgiveness.
There are prisoners in
Guantanamo Bay that have not been tried, have no
legal representation, their families cannot see
them and are obviously kept in a strange land
outside their own country. There is no
international monitoring of their conditions and
fate. No one knows whether they are prisoners,
POWs [prisoners of war], accused or criminals.
European investigators have confirmed the
existence of secret prisons in Europe too. I could
not correlate the abduction of a person, and him
or her being kept in secret prisons, with the
provisions of any judicial system. For that
matter, I fail to understand how such actions
correspond to the values outlined in the beginning
of this letter, ie the teachings of Jesus Christ
(PBUH), human rights and liberal values.
Young people, university students and
ordinary people have many questions about the
phenomenon of Israel. I am sure you are familiar
with some of them. Throughout history many
countries have been occupied, but I think the
establishment of a new country with a new people,
is a new phenomenon that is exclusive to our
times.
Students are saying that 60 years
ago such a country did not exist. The show old
documents and globes and say try as we have, we
have not been able to find a country named Israel.
I tell them to study the history of World
War I and II. One of my students told me that
during WWII, which more than tens of millions of
people perished in, news about the war was quickly
disseminated by the warring parties. Each touted
their victories and the most recent battlefront
defeat of the other party. After the war, they
claimed that 6 million Jews had been killed. Six
million people that were surely related to at
least 2 million families.
Again let us
assume that these events are true. Does that
logically translate into the establishment of the
state of Israel in the Middle East or support for
such a state? How can this phenomenon be
rationalized or explained?
Mr President,
I am sure you know how - and at what cost
- Israel was established: Many thousands were
killed in the process.
Millions of
indigenous people were made refugees.
Hundred of thousands of hectares of
farmland, olive plantations, towns and villages
were destroyed.
This tragedy is not
exclusive to the time of establishment;
unfortunately it has been ongoing for 60 years
now.
A regime has been established which
does not show mercy even to kids, destroys houses
while the occupants are still in them, announces
beforehand its list and plans to assassinate
Palestinian figures and keeps thousands of
Palestinians in prison. Such a phenomenon is
unique - or at the very least extremely rare - in
recent memory.
Another big question asked
by people is why is this regime being supported?
Is support for this regime in line with the
teachings of Jesus Christ (PBUH) or Moses (PBUH)
or liberal values? Or are we to understand that
allowing the original inhabitants of these lands -
inside and outside Palestine - whether they are
Christian, Muslim or Jew, to determine their fate,
runs contrary to principles of democracy, human
rights and the teachings of prophets? If not, why
is there so much opposition to a referendum?
The newly elected Palestinian
administration recently took office. All
independent observers have confirmed that this
government represents the electorate.
Unbelievingly, they have put the elected
government under pressure and have advised it to
recognize the Israeli regime, abandon the struggle
and follow the programs of the previous
government.
If the current Palestinian
government had run on the above platform, would
the Palestinian people have voted for it? Again,
can such position taken in opposition to the
Palestinian government be reconciled with the
values outlined earlier? The people are also
saying why are all UNSC [United Nations Security
Council] resolutions in condemnation of Israel
vetoed?
Mr President,
As you are
well aware, I live among the people and am in
constant contact with them - many people from
around the Middle East manage to contact me as
well. They do not have faith in these dubious
policies either. There is evidence that the people
of the region are becoming increasingly angry with
such policies.
It is not my intention to
pose too many questions, but I need to refer to
other points as well.
Why is it that any
technological and scientific achievement reached
in the Middle East regions is translated into and
portrayed as a threat to the Zionist regime? Is
not scientific R&D [research and development]
one of the basic rights of nations?
You
are familiar with history. Aside from the Middle
Ages, in what other point in history has
scientific and technical progress been a crime?
Can the possibility of scientific achievements
being utilized for military purposes be reason
enough to oppose science and technology
altogether? If such a supposition is true, then
all scientific disciplines, including physics,
chemistry, mathematics, medicine, engineering,
etc. must be opposed.
Lies were told in
the Iraqi matter. What was the result? I have no
doubt that telling lies is reprehensible in any
culture, and you do not like to be lied to.
Mr President,
Don't Latin
Americans have the right to ask, why their elected
governments are being opposed and coup leaders
supported? Or, why must they constantly be
threatened and live in fear?
The people of
Africa are hardworking, creative and talented.
They can play an important and valuable role in
providing for the needs of humanity and contribute
to its material and spiritual progress. Poverty
and hardship in large parts of Africa are
preventing this from happening. Don't they have
the right to ask why their enormous wealth –
including minerals – is being looted, despite the
fact that they need it more than others?
Again, do such actions correspond to the
teachings of Christ and the tenets of human
rights?
The brave and faithful people of
Iran too have many questions and grievances,
including: the coup d'etat of 1953 and the
subsequent toppling of the legal government of the
day, opposition to the Islamic revolution [of
1979], transformation of an embassy into a
headquarters supporting the activities of those
opposing the Islamic Republic (many thousands of
pages of documents corroborates this claim),
support for Saddam in the war waged against Iran,
the shooting down of the Iranian passenger plane,
freezing the assets of the Iranian nation,
increasing threats, anger and displeasure
vis-a-vis the scientific and nuclear progress of
the Iranian nation (just when all Iranians are
jubilant and collaborating with their country's
progress), and many other grievances that I will
not refer to in this letter.
Mr President,
September 11 was a horrendous incident.
The killing of innocents is deplorable and
appalling in any part of the world. Our government
immediately declared its disgust with the
perpetrators and offered its condolences to the
bereaved and expressed its sympathies.
All
governments have a duty to protect the lives,
property and good standing of their citizens.
Reportedly your government employs extensive
security, protection and intelligence systems -
and even hunts its opponents abroad. September 11
was not a simple operation. Could it be planned
and executed without coordination with
intelligence and security services – or their
extensive infiltration? Of course this is just an
educated guess. Why have the various aspects of
the attacks been kept secret? Why are we not told
who botched their responsibilities? And, why
aren't those responsible and the guilty parties
identified and put on trial?
All
governments have a duty to provide security and
peace of mind for their citizens. For some years
now, the people of your country and neighbors of
world trouble spots do not have peace of mind.
After 9-11, instead of healing and tending to the
emotional wounds of the survivors and the American
people - who had been immensely traumatized by the
attacks - some Western media only intensified the
climates of fear and insecurity - some constantly
talked about the possibility of new terror attacks
and kept the people in fear. Is that service to
the American people? Is it possible to calculate
the damages incurred from fear and panic?
American citizens lived in constant fear
of fresh attacks that could come at any moment and
in any place. They felt insecure in the streets,
in their place of work and at home. Who would be
happy with this situation? Why was the media,
instead of conveying a feeling of security and
providing peace of mind, giving rise to a feeling
of insecurity?
Some believe that the hype
paved the way - and was the justification - for an
attack on Afghanistan. Again I need to refer to
the role of media. In media charters, correct
dissemination of information and honest reporting
of a story are established tenets. I express my
deep regret about the disregard shown by certain
Western media for these principles. The main
pretext for an attack on Iraq was the existence of
WMDs. This was repeated incessantly - for the
public to, finally, believe - and the ground set
for an attack on Iraq.
Will the truth not
be lost in a contrive and deceptive climate?
Again, if the truth is allowed to be lost, how can
that be reconciled with the earlier mentioned
values? Is the truth known to the Almighty lost as
well?
Mr President,
In countries
around the world, citizens provide for the
expenses of governments so that their governments
in turn are able to serve them.
The
question here is what has the hundreds of billions
of dollars, spent every year to pay for the Iraqi
campaign, produced for the citizens?
As
your excellency is aware, in some states of your
country, people are living in poverty. Many
thousands are homeless and unemployment is a huge
problem. Of course these problems exist - to a
larger or lesser extent - in other countries as
well. With these conditions in mind, can the
gargantuan expenses of the campaign - paid from
the public treasury - be explained and be
consistent with the aforementioned principles?
What has been said, are some of the
grievances of the people around the world, in our
region and in your country. But my main contention
- which I am hoping you will agree to some of it -
is: Those in power have specific time in office,
and do not rule indefinitely, but their names will
be recorded in history and will be constantly
judged in the immediate and distant futures. The
people will scrutinize our presidencies.
Did we manage to bring peace, security and
prosperity for the people or insecurity and
unemployment? Did we intend to establish justice,
or just supported especial interest groups, and by
forcing many people to live in poverty and
hardship, made a few people rich and powerful -
thus trading the approval of the people and the
Almighty with theirs'? Did we defend the rights of
the underprivileged or ignore them? Did we defend
the rights of all people around the world or
imposed wars on them, interfered illegally in
their affairs, established hellish prisons and
incarcerated some of them? Did we bring the world
peace and security or raised the specter of
intimidation and threats? Did we tell the truth to
our nation and others around the world or
presented an inverted version of it? Were we on
the side of people or the occupiers and
oppressors? Did our administration set out to
promote rational behavior, logic, ethics, peace,
fulfilling obligations, justice, service to the
people, prosperity, progress and respect for human
dignity or the force of guns? Intimidation,
insecurity, disregard for the people, delaying the
progress and excellence of other nations, and
trample on people's rights? And finally, they will
judge us on whether we remained true to our oath
of office - to serve the people, which is our main
task, and the traditions of the prophets- or not?
Mr President,
How much longer can
the world tolerate this situation? Where will this
trend lead the world to? How long must the people
of the world pay for the incorrect decisions of
some rulers? How much longer will the specter of
insecurity - raised from the stockpiles of weapons
of mass destruction - hunt the people of the
world? How much longer will the blood of the
innocent men, women and children be spilled on the
streets, and people's houses destroyed over their
heads? Are you pleased with the current condition
of the world? Do you think present policies can
continue?
If billions of dollars spent on
security, military campaigns and troop movement
were instead spent on investment and assistance
for poor countries, promotion of health, combating
different diseases, education and improvement of
mental and physical fitness, assistance to the
victims of natural disasters, creation of
employment opportunities and production,
development projects and poverty alleviation,
establishment of peace, mediation between
disputing states and distinguishing the flames of
racial, ethnic and other conflicts where would the
world be today? Would not your government, and
people be justifiably proud? Would not your
administration's political and economic standing
have been stronger? And I am most sorry to say,
would there have been an ever increasing global
hatred of the American governments?
Mr
President, it is not my intention to distress
anyone. If prophets Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,
Ishmael, Joseph or Jesus Christ (PBUH) were with
us today, how would they have judged such
behavior? Will we be given a role to play in the
promised world, where justice will become
universal and Jesus Christ (PBUH) will be present?
Will they even accept us?
My basic
question is this: Is there no better way to
interact with the rest of the world? Today there
are hundreds of millions of Christians, hundreds
of millions of Muslims and millions of people who
follow the teachings of Moses (PBUH). All divine
religions share and respect on word and that is
monotheism or belief in a single God and no other
in the world.
The holy Koran stresses this
common word and calls on all followers of divine
religions and says: (3.64) "O followers of the
Book! Come to an equitable proposition between us
and you that we shall not serve any but Allah and
(that) we shall not associate aught. With Him and
(that) some of us shall not take others for lords
besides Allah, but if they turn back, then say:
Bear witness that we are Muslims. (The Family of
Imran)."
Mr President,
According
to divine verses, we have all been called upon to
worship one God and follow the teachings of divine
prophets. To worship a God which is above all
powers in the world and can do all He pleases. The
Lord which knows that which is hidden and visible,
the past and the future, knows what goes on in the
Hearts of His servants and records their deeds.
The Lord who is the possessor of the heavens and
the earth and all universe is His court planning
for the universe is done by His hands, and gives
His servants the glad tidings of mercy and
forgiveness of sins. He is the companion of the
oppressed and the enemy of oppressors. He is the
Compassionate, the Merciful. He is the recourse of
the faithful and guides them towards the light
from darkness. He is witness to the actions of His
servants, He calls on servants to be faithful and
do good deeds, and asks them to stay on the path
of righteousness and remain steadfast . Calls on
servants to heed His prophets and He is a witness
to their deeds. A bad ending belongs only to those
who have chosen the life of this world and disobey
Him and oppress His servants. And a good and
eternal paradise belong to those servants who fear
His majesty and do not follow their lascivious
selves.
We believe a return to the
teachings of the divine prophets is the only road
leading to salvations. I have been told that Your
Excellency follows the teachings of Jesus (PBUH),
and believes in the divine promise of the rule of
the righteous on Earth.
We also believe
that Jesus Christ (PBUH) was one of the great
prophets of the Almighty. He has been repeatedly
praised in the Koran. Jesus (PBUH) has been quoted
in Koran as well; (19,36) "And surely Allah is my
Lord and your Lord, therefore serves Him; this is
the right path, Marium."
Service to and
obedience of the Almighty is the credo of all
divine messengers.
The God of all people
in Europe, Asia, Africa, America, the Pacific and
the rest of the world is one. He is the Almighty
who wants to guide and give dignity to all His
servants. He has given greatness to Humans. We
again read in the Holy Book: The Almighty God sent
His prophets with miracles and clear signs to
guide the people and show them divine signs and
purity them from sins and pollutions. And He sent
the Book and the balance so that the people
display justice and avoid the rebellious.
All of the above verses can be seen, one
way or the other, in the Good Book as well.
Divine prophets have promised: the day
will come when all humans will congregate before
the court of the Almighty, so that their deeds are
examined. The good will be directed towards Heaven
and evildoers will meet divine retribution. I
trust both of us believe in such a day, but it
will not be easy to calculate the actions of
rulers, because we must be answerable to our
nations and all others whose lives have been
directly or indirectly effected by our actions.
All prophets, speak of peace and
tranquility for man - based on monotheism, justice
and respect for human dignity.
Do you not
think that if all of us come to believe in and
abide by these principles, that is, monotheism,
worship of God, justice, respect for the dignity
of man, belief in the Last Day, we can overcome
the present problems of the world – that are the
result of disobedience to the Almighty and the
teachings of prophets - and improve our
performance?
Do you not think that belief
in these principles promotes and guarantees peace,
friendship and justice?
Do you not think
that the aforementioned written or unwritten
principles are universally respected?
Will
you not accept this invitation? That is, a genuine
return to the teachings of prophets, to monotheism
and justice, to preserve human dignity and
obedience to the Almighty and His prophets?
Mr President, History tells us that
repressive and cruel governments do not survive.
God has entrusted the fate of man to them. The
Almighty has not left the universe and humanity to
their own devices. Many things have happened
contrary to the wishes and plans of governments.
These tell us that there is a higher power at work
and all events are determined by Him.
Can
one deny the signs of change in the world today?
Is this situation of the world today comparable to
that of ten years ago? Changes happen fast and
come at a furious pace.
The people of the
world are not happy with the status quo and pay
little heed to the promises and comments made by a
number of influential world leaders. Many people
around the world feel insecure and oppose the
spreading of insecurity and war and do not approve
of and accept dubious policies.
The people
are protesting the increasing gap between the
haves and the have-nots and the rich and poor
countries.
The people are disgusted with
increasing corruption.
The people of many
countries are angry about the attacks on their
cultural foundations and the disintegration of
families. They are equally dismayed with the
fading of care and compassion. The people of the
world have no faith in international
organizations, because their rights are not
advocated by these organizations.
Liberalism and Western style democracy
have not been able to help realize the ideals of
humanity. Today these two concepts have failed.
Those with insight can already hear the sounds of
the shattering and fall of the ideology and
thoughts of the liberal democratic systems.
We increasingly see that people around the
world are flocking towards a main focal point -
that is the Almighty God. Undoubtedly through
faith in God and the teachings of the prophets,
the people will conquer their problems. My
question for you is: Do you not want to join them?
Mr President,
Whether we like it
or not, the world is gravitating towards faith in
the Almighty and justice and the will of God will
prevail over all things.
Vasalam Ala
Man Ataba'al hoda Mahmood Ahmadi-Najad
President of the Islamic Republic
of Iran
