Condemn Terrorist Attacks

Iranians have been hurt by terrorism ever since Islamic Republic has come to power in Iran, both by being terrorized by Islamic Republic agents in Iran and abroad, and by IRI making all Iranians look like terrorists ever since the hostage-taking.

The terror of Dr. Shahpour Bakhtiar in Paris and Ghasemloo and the Mykonos terrors in Germany and murder of Foruhars in Iran are just a few examples of such terrorist acts of Islamic Republic agents. The terrorist threats of Iranian fanatic Muslim groups against Salman Rushdie and the silence of Iranian government when they raised bounty for Rushdie's head are other such examples of terrorism.

The events of today in New York are familiar to Iranian dissidents and democratic and progressive Iranians who have been attacked by terrorists of Islamic Republic for over twenty years.

Please join the following thread on Jebh-e BB for discussion of terrorism and terrorist attacks and how you can help by donating blood and other means:

Dear friends:

Attached is the press release issued by MEHR Foundation on recent tragic terrorist attack. We would appreciate it if you would distribute it. A copy is also pasted here. Thank you.

Mission for Establishment of Human Rights in Iran (MEHR IRAN)
P.O. Box 2037
P.V.P., CA 90274

Tel: 310-377- 4590
Fax: 310-377-3103
URL: mehr.org

______________________

9/13/01

MEHR FOUNDATION’S PRESS RELEASE 0N TERRORISM

At this time of sorrow and shock, we at MEHR Foundation condemn the vicious and cowardly acts of terrorism and loss of countless lives of innocent people and express our deepest sympathy with the families of the victims in New York and Washington D.C. and all Americans. As Human Rights activists who have been in close contacts with torture survivors and the families of the victims of the terrorist acts of the Islamic Regime of Iran, we can identify with the families devastated by this barbaric act and feel their pain. The spread of terrorism to the US signifies the fact that terrorism has been a global problem and should be dealt with on a global level. If the world is ready to tackle this problem, then any and all political and economical considerations should be put aside.

unfortunately this has not been the case and the sponsors of terrorist activities at home and abroad have been either ignored or being dealt with in a very isolated form mostly for economical considerations. It is time for freedom loving countries to reevaluate their relationships with the countries which harbor, finance and train terrorists. The Islamic Republic of Iran has been recognized as a terrorist regime and has been condemned year after year by credible international institutions. Unfortunately, the European Union members have ignored these facts and as we are releasing this statement at this tragic moment, the European Union is hosting representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran to establish more economical ties.

We Iranian/Americans who have been victims of the Islamic Republic of Iran with extreme fundamentalist leaders who have no respect for human life and dignity either inside Iran or abroad, are shocked and deeply saddened to witness such barbaric acts in New York and Washington D.C. or any other place in the world. In order to eradicate terrorism and fundamentalist regimes that promote hatred, we hope the world would unite on their approach to this issue and take a close and fresh look at all forms of terrorisms and the sources that cultivate them. It is the time to realize that it is dead wrong to allow brutal regimes to terrorize their own people at home and expect them to refrain from terrorism abroad.

We would like to urge the world community to take a firm stand against the regimes that violate human rights and values, and do not give any sort of legitimacy and recognition to terrorist regimes such as Islamic Regime of Iran. This will allow and help the struggle of the people for freedom and democracy to prevail. Once the leaders of these terrorist countries are isolated or driven out of power by their people, then the tyrants who have committed crimes against humanity should be brought to justice through international avenues.

MEHR Foundation calls for those responsible for the US terrorist attacks to be brought to justice, in accordance with international human rights law.

Mission for Establishment of Human Rights in Iran (MEHR IRAN)
P.O. Box 2037
P.V.P., CA 90274

USA

Tel: 310-377- 4590
Fax: 310-377-3103
URL: mehr.org

AMY K. STEWART The Daily Herald on Thursday, September 13

PROVO -- Some BYU and UVSC international professors are worried about racist retaliation toward some Americans in light of Tuesday's terrorist attacks.

"BYU is home to a lot of wonderful Muslim people," said Donald Holsinger, director of BYU's Kennedy Center for International Studies.

Throughout news reports on Tuesday morning, many people who were interviewed alluded to their beliefs that one or more Middle Eastern terrorist groups could be responsible for the attacks.

But Holsinger said he doesn't want to see nationalities targeted for Tuesday's violence.

"Most are just as horrified by this as the rest of us," he said. "And they may be afraid for themselves."

Holsinger said he can relate to how Americans of minority national origins, such as those from the Middle East, may be feeling.
He remembers how he felt when he traveled to Vietnam and toured the museum of American war crimes.

A group of Vietnamese school children were there, viewing the graphic descriptions of horrors allegedly done to their people by Americans.
"The children were looking at me. I was nervous and it was very awkward to be in there," Holsinger said.

"I wondered, 'Are they going to take this out on me?'" he said.

Holsinger said he hopes Americans don't jump to conclusions as to who are the culprits of the terrorism.

"Even if we did know ... we should be careful not to draw unwarranted inferences that everybody who is of the same kind of background is our enemy," Holsinger said.

Jeff Ringer, associate director of the BYU Kennedy Center, agrees.

"There will be all sorts of speculation," Ringer said. "Without knowing where to focus, people will be looking."

All Muslim people are not the same, said Masoud Kazemzadeh, UVSC political science assistant professor.

"Most Muslim people in this country are a law-abiding group who practice a religion," Kazemzadeh said.

People should try not to confuse those residents with fundamentalist Muslim terrorists, he said.

As the full terror of the attack unfolded, Kazemzadeh said that, sadly, the terrorists achieved their goals.

"This attack was unprecedented," Kazemzadeh said. "It will probably strengthen the leadership within the terrorist groups."

Terrorist groups usually want to prove how powerless the United States is, he said.

Kazemzadeh said there is no reason to think there is any danger on a local level. However, he said, had the attacks come a few months later, that would not be the case.

"If this had occurred during the Olympics, we would have been the next logical target," he said. "But right now there is absolutely no concern."

Kazemzadeh said he looks at whomever made the attacks as brutal terrorists who should be condemned in the strongest terms. He also expressed his concern for the innocent people who were directly involved.

"As a person, any loss of life is tragic," he said. "One at this magnitude is most tragic. I am very saddened, and that's all I can say."

Herald staff writers Debra Jandreau and Jennifer Minnich contributed to this report.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A4.