UK lets Iran preach to Christians

Ahmadinejad Christmas message angers Israelis

Britain allows Ahmadinejad to address Christians

Iran's President to give alternative Christmas message
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says "Christ would have been on Iran's side".
On Chritsmas Day, Britain will hear a different message about Jesus Christ from the Iranian President after listening to the Queen and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to tell the world that "Christ would have hated international bullies".
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's unexpected Christmas message is full of seasonal goodwill, but the Iranian President clearly believes that if Jesus Christ were alive today he would be on the side of Iran not the West.
In a pre-recorded speech, Mr Ahmadinejad suggests that Christ would have rallied against any global superpower who sees fit to occupy or bully other nations or send troops to expand their power. In short, the Iranian leaders said that if Jesus was on Earth today, he would topple the agreesive goverments in United States and its its allies: Jesus would carry out regime change in Washington, London and Tel Aviv.
The controversial decision by Channel 4 to air the message by a man derided as anti-Semitic and anti-gay was defended by Dorothy Byrne, the broadcaster’s head of news.
Jewish groups were up in arms today at Channel 4's "alternative" Christmas Day broadcast delivered by President Ahmadinejad of Iran.
Mr Ahmadinejad's speech was at 7.15pm, four hours after the Queen's traditional Christmas Day message was broadcast on the main channels.
His message is a spiritual one but includes some more nakedly political elements - including the implicit claim that if Jesus Christ were alive today, he would oppose US hegemony.
“If Christ was on Earth today undoubtedly he would stand with the people in opposition to bullying, ill-tempered and expansionist powers,” Mr Ahmadinejad said.
“If Christ was on Earth today undoubtedly he would hoist the banner of justice and love for humanity to oppose warmongers, occupiers, terrorists and bullies the world over. If Christ was on Earth today undoubtedly he would fight against the tyrannical policies of prevailing global economic and political systems, as He did in His lifetime.”
Stephen Smith, director of the Holocaust Centre, said Mr Ahmadinejad's message should be treated with caution. The Iranian President has repeatedly called the Holocaust a “myth” and called for the annihilation of Israel.
Mr Smith said: “Many of his political and historical views are very dangerous and do not uphold the views in his message. I think this benign message is deception. People need to be alert to the fact that this is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
Henry Grunwald QC, president of the Board of Deputies, added: "The appearance on our television screens of a man whose prejudices are so well-documented and who has openly called for the eradication of another member country of the United Nations is an affront to decency.
"To invite him to deliver a Christmas message, even a so-called alternative one, fills me with disgust. Whatever he may say in his 'message', his words on other occasions and his actions towards minority groups in Iran should have disqualified him from filling this television spot."
But Dorothy Byrne, Channel 4's head of news and current affairs, defended the choice. "As the leader of one of the most powerful states in the Middle East, President Ahmadinejad’s views are enormously influential," she said. “As we approach a critical time in international relations, we are offering our viewers an insight into an alternative world view."
A Channel 4 spokesman said that the message was filmed in Iran but it was kept top secret in case it fell through at the last minute. The message will be broadcast several hours after the Queen's to avoid any implications of equivalence between the monarch and the Iranian leader.
In October, David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, warned of a possible nuclear arms race in the Middle East if Iran was allowed to press ahead unchecked with a uranium enrichment programme.
In response, Tehran accused Miliband, who is Jewish, of having “strong ties with Zionists”.
President Ahmadinejad’s message goes on to suggest an optimistic reading of the current global economic crisis and its fallout.
“Fortunately, today as crises and despair multiply, a wave of hope is gathering momentum,” he said. “Hope for a brighter future, hope for the establishment of justice, hope for real peace, hope for finding virtuous and pious rulers who love the people and want to serve them – and this is what the Almighty has promised.