Mahathir defends Muslims' right to criticize their Jewish oppressors
27 October 2003
KUALA LUMPUER - Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Monday defended the right of all Muslims to criticise their Jewish oppressors, and slammed the West for being “under the thumb” of Jews.
The premier, who is due to end his 22-years in power at the end of the week, said the Islamic world has a right to condemn Israel and its supporters for killing Palestinians and for “taking Muslim land to give it to the Jews”.
“Are we not allowed to say that we are angry with the Jews?” said Mahathir. “Are the Jews some kind of creature who cannot be condemned in any way?”
“I am not anti-Semitic ... I am against these Jews who kill Muslims and the Jews who support the killers of Muslims,” he told a news conference.
Mahathir also lashed out at the West, which he tagged as ”anti-Muslim people”, for double standards in protecting Jews while allowing others to insult Islam.
“I condemned the Europeans as much as I condemned the Jews,” he said.
“You say you are not under the influence of the Jews, and yet when I criticize the Jews, the whole of the European Union wants to condemn me.
“But when somebody condemns the Muslims, calls my prophet ’terrorist’, did the European Union say anything? Which shows that they are under the thumb of the Jews.”
The veteran premier also took a swipe at Western trade practices which he claimed lack morals, saying that Europeans would “colonize new land” in order to expand their trade.
“I don’t care if the Europeans don’t like me. I have European friends, but when they do something wrong, I’m going to tell them it is wrong,” he said.
Mahathir, one of Southeast Asia’s longest elected leaders, sparked off global controversy when he called on Muslim leaders at the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) summit on October 16, to fight back against their Jewish oppressors who “ruled the world by proxy”.
The premier, who has been credited for transforming Malaysia into one of the region’s thriving economic powers, brushed off fears of an economic backlash as a result of his comments and the refusal to withdraw his OIC statement following condemnation by Washington, the European Union and Australia.
“I think our country can weather a lot of stress.
“In the past, they have tried to kill us economically, they robbed us of our money, they impoverished us. But we manage,” he told reporters.
Mahathir is due on Friday to step down as premier. He will be succeeded by his deputy, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Known for his controversial speeches and outspoken criticisms of Western economic and political practices, Mahathir has long been seen as a voice for the Muslim world and developing countries. |
