Iran Calls for End to Violence While Students Attend Suicide Bomber Seminars

By Linda Orlando

Iranian Foreign Minister Manoucheher Mottaki said during a visit to Brussels Monday that the violent protests taking place across Europe in recent weeks must be ended. "We should try to cool down the situation," Mottaki said. "We do not support any violence." Mottaki said he had contacted several European foreign ministers and officials from many Islamic countries in efforts to calm the protests.

The violent conflicts are in response to caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad that were first printed in a Danish newspaper in September and reprinted recently in other European papers. The cartoons offended Muslims all around the globe, resulting in protests and violent outbursts in many countries. Demonstrations so far have claimed at least 45 lives worldwide, including 15 who died in Nigeria Saturday and 10 killed in Libya on Friday.

Mottaki said that although freedom of expression is important, European governments are hypocritical in their respect for freedom of expression. He pointed out the fact that people who claim the Holocaust did not take place are being put in jail for expressing their opinions. "When we are talking about the freedom of expression ... it is very strange to see some European authors, some European members of parties are kicked out from their post or their position because they are making or creating some doubt about some part of some historical happening," Mottaki said. He said that freedom of expression should be tempered with sensitivity and respect of other people’s beliefs. "We are facing angry Muslims all around the world," he said. "We have to try our best to avoid any violence. This is what we are trying to do in Iran."

Mottaki’s words sound inspirational and reassuring, but they are apparently just lip service without substance. An Iranian group calling itself Esteshadion—the "Martyrdom Seekers"—held a meeting in Tehran over the weekend at Khajeh Nasir University to sign up students for seminars on suicide bombing. In the seminars, students study videos showing suicide attacks around the Middle East and learn about methods of attack. Lectures are given from a former Revolutionary Guard member, who has nothing but praise for the practice of using suicide bombers to terrorize and attack other countries.

Esteshadion has warned the United States and Britain that if there is a strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, they will attack coalition military bases in Iraq. Muhammad Ali Samadi, one of the leaders of Esteshadion, said "Their possible attacks to [nuclear facilities of Iran] will not certainly be a ground attack—that would be, a missile attack—but they should know that they have interests in some sensitive areas which can be targeted by our suicide attackers." The group claims to have already trained over 1,000 students, and hopes to sign up thousands more.

At the meeting over the weekend, more than 200 people gathered to learn about the seminars offered by Esteshadion, and 50 people signed up. University student Ahmed Salehi said, "For example, if some day it's necessary to attend such operations, I will definitely do that. I will attack the one who have attacked us."

Instead of telling the world that Iran is trying to "do their best to avoid any violence," Foreign Minister Mottaki should be taking his message to the streets of his own country. If Iran is sincerely interested in ending violence in the world, their first order of business should be ending the suicide bombing seminars being marketed at Khajeh Nasir University.