Rangel Response to Iranian VP Rahimi's Speech

Statement

Congressman Charles B. Rangel issued the following statement in response to the speech given by the Iranian vice-president Mohammed Reza Rahimi at an international antidrug conference in Tehran:

"Hate speech by definition is destructive. It undermines free exchanges of ideas and puts the focus on hatred and stereotypical portrayals of groups and individuals. I condemn all hate speech.

The recent comments by the Iranian vice-president, Mohammed Reza Rahimi, on Tuesday, June 26, at an international antidrug conference held in Tehran were unjustifiable. Instead of giving a speech about how Iran could work with the international community to stop drug trafficking, he folded drug issues into Iran's anti-Semitic ideology by accusing "Zionists" of controlling the illegal drug trade.

Last Tuesday's incident in Iran is just another example of how hate speech is an impediment to eliminating the illegal drug trade. VP Rahimi's remarks are disturbing to Jews around the world, threatening to Iranian Jews, and offer no solution to the problem of drug trafficking. We must always stand forcefully against hatred, regardless of its source."

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