Berlin rejects Ahmadinejad's Islamophobia accusations
The German government has rejected accusations from Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that the murder of an Egyptian Muslim woman in a Dresden courtroom was evidence of the German government's brutality.
Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm argued that there was "no place" for racial hatred or Islamophobia in Germany.
"We condemn such acts, wherever they take place," said Wilhelm.
The 31-year-old Muslim woman, Marwa al-Sherbini, was killed by a Russian-born German during his appeal hearing for insulting her with racist slurs, in a case that sparked anti-German demonstrations outside the German embassy in Tehran over the weekend.
Ahmadinejad on Sunday demanded the United Nations impose sanctions against Germany and accused the West of applying double standards when it comes to human rights.
The incident was proof for of the "brutality of the German government and clear evidence for corruption in the German justice system," said Ahmadinejad.
Ahmadinejad added that while Berlin and Washington had plenty to say regarding events in Tehran following Iran's presidential elections, no reaction had been registered regarding al-Sherbini's murder.
"We want condemnation from the United Nations Security Council and the imposition of sanctions," said the Iranian president.
Government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm acknowledged the Iranian president's remarks but insisted that there was no climate that promoted such actions. He said it was now a matter for the German justice system to punish those who commit these acts.
On July 1, the pregnant Egyptian woman mother of a three-year-old was stabbed 18 times in a courtroom in the Eastern German city of Dresden by a Russian-born German, who was appealing an earlier conviction for making racist slurs against the Egyptian in a children's playground in 2008. Dresden prosecutors had asked her to testify in his trial.
Sherbini's husband was seriously wounded by a policeman who mistakenly identified him as the perpetrator.
nrt/dpa/AP
Editor: Neil King
Ahmadinejad tells UN to weigh in on Marwa case
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has criticized the lack of UN action regarding the brutal murder of a pregnant Egyptian woman in a German courtroom.
President Ahmadinejad, in a Thursday letter, took direct aim at UN Chief Ban Ki-moon for remaining silent over the murder of Marwa el-Sherbini
"It is most surprising for Your Excellency to refrain from condemning this unfortunate incident so far," said President Ahmadinejad. "We had expected a broad and thorough investigation into this disgraceful crime and of course the punishment of its perpetrators."
"Why should some statesmen continue to enjoy immunity in spite of this blatant crime against humanity?" asked Ahmadinejad.
Ahmadinejad urged the United Nations to take necessary action to punish both the assailant and the German court officials who had failed to ensure Marwa's safety.
"The cruel murder of Marwa el-Sherbini has pained the hearts of people and left a number of thorny questions in the minds of the people of the world," continued Ahmadinejad.
He cited the "inadequate preventive action by the judge, the prosecutor, the jury, and security agents, who stood by and watched the gruesome scene" as what is most troubling.
"The seriously proposed hypothesis is that the crime was committed with prior arrangement with the (German) judiciary and security forces," said Ahmadinejad. "The whole incident became suspicious after security guards gunned down Marwa's husband, who had attempted to save her."
He went on to criticize Western media outlets, saying they have attempted to silence debate on the horrific incident.
"Was the murder of Mrs. Sherbini an indication of the extreme racism in segments of the German state and its judiciary?" he asked of the UN Secretary-General. "Why has the German government not taken concrete steps to bring the instigators to justice?"
"It is surprising that political heavyweights in Europe and the US, who portray themselves as defenders of human rights, have kept quiet over the crime," he added.
Egyptian Marwa el-Sherbini, 31, who was about four months pregnant and wore the Islamic head scarf, was suing her neighbor for abusing her and calling her a terrorist when the defendant approached the witness stand and stabbed her 18 times in front of her 3-year-old son.
The assailant, Alex W. is currently under arrest pending investigations and a trial.
ZAP/SBB/AA
Not only in her hometown Alexandria there will be a street named after her, but also in Dresden!!!
http://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article4131901/Fall-Marwa-Ahmadinedschad-schreibt-Protestbrief.htmlSo we should rename 6 million streets in Germany for all murdered Jews also!
Topic: Ahmadinejad attacking Germany (Read 1561 times)