Iranian president condemns terrorists who hide behind religion

Mediamax news agency
8 Sep 04

Yerevan, 8 September: Iranian President Mohammad Khatami today said in
Yerevan that “terrorism presents the greatest danger to the modern world”.

The Iranian president, who arrived today in Armenia on an official visit, was
speaking at a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart, Robert
Kocharyan. Responding to a Mediamax news agency correspondent, Mohammad Khatami
especially stressed that terrorism did not differentiate between countries and
regions.

“Today’s realities are such that terrorist acts can be committed both in the
West and the East, both in Iran and America,” the Iranian leader said. He is
especially concerned by the fact that “several terrorists are trying to shelter
behind one religion or another”. “They are committing a double crime, taking
away the lives of innocent people and discrediting religions that preach peace
and humanitarianism,” Mohammad Khatami said.

The Iranian president said that the roots of terrorism need to be found and
analysed for the fight against the phenomenon to be effective. Mohammad Khatami
said that sometimes representatives of oppressed peoples, who did not find
appropriate answers, took cruel steps themselves.

“Terrorism shows itself in different ways: from blowing up aeroplanes and
residential blocks to war on the territory of another state,” the Iranian
president said, stressing that “anyone who puts himself above justice can be
considered a terrorist”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress