Based on the president's previous anti-Semitic statements, some groups condemned the channel's choice, whereas others noted that "the British media are rightly free to make their own editorial choices." Because the Iranian president denies the Holocaust, advocates the destruction of the state of Israel, encourages clashes and oppresses gay people, human rights groups, MPs and Holocaust memorial charities criticized Channel 4's decision as a search for ratings and condemned it as embarrassing and scandalous. On the other hand, some found Channel 4's decision very courageous. They congratulated the channel because it did a great service to neither Semites nor anti-Semites, but upheld freedom of speech, as people have the right to hear all sides and make up their own minds rather than hearing the usual comments from the same commentators or lobbyists. They see it as a clear sign that the UK is for freedom of choice and keeping the liberal dream alive. Despite criticism, Channel 4's Dorothy Byrne, head of news and current affairs, said the network had a responsibility to give a platform to "alternative voices": "As we approach a critical time in international relations, we are offering our viewers an insight into an alternative worldview."
The full text of Ahmadinejad's speech is available on the Web. To make my point, the following excerpts from Ahmadinejad will suffice: "Jesus, the Son of Mary, is the standard-bearer of justice, of love for our fellow human beings, of the fight against tyranny, discrimination and injustice. … Now as human society faces a myriad of problems and a succession of complex crises, the root causes can be found in humanity's rejection of that message, in particular the indifference of some governments and powers toward the teachings of the divine Prophets, especially those of Jesus Christ. … If Christ were on earth today, undoubtedly he would stand with the people in opposition to bullying, ill-tempered and expansionist powers … undoubtedly he would hoist the banner of justice and love for humanity to oppose warmongers, occupiers, terrorists and bullies the world over … undoubtedly he would fight against the tyrannical policies of prevailing global economic and political systems, as he did in His lifetime. … We believe Jesus Christ will return, together with one of the children of the revered Messenger of Islam and will lead the world to love, brotherhood and justice. … The responsibility of all followers of Christ and Abrahamic faiths is to prepare the way for the fulfillment of this divine promise and the arrival of that joyful, shining and wonderful age."
Now the last part is really problematic. According to Ahmadinejad's school of Shiite Islam, also just as in some Jewish and Christian sects, for the Mahdi, Messiah or the expected Savior to come, there needs to be chaos, clashes, oppression and bloodshed. So the believers should work to prepare the conditions for that savior to come. That is, they should play the hand of God; they are commissioned to force the will of God. Yet they forget that their expected savior will never be greater and superior than Moses, Jesus or Mohammed, peace be upon them all. If those greatest Messengers of God worked, toiled, suffered and struggled among their community and enemies under very difficult conditions and circumstances for decades, and if God almighty did not let them destroy the Nimrods, pharaohs, the Romans, the polytheists with a single wave of their hands, the expected savior of the apocalyptic worldviews would, and will not have extraordinary powers to do so. Any savior needs people and communities around that are well versed, educated, trained and qualified socially, culturally, morally and professionally. Such people, generations and communities will not come ready made, out of the blue.
Besides, the idea and expectation of the Savior have been abused in all times and societies. It has become a tool exploited by the enemies of religion and used to defame sincere believers. Moreover, some people are backed by certain interests and powers to emerge with such claims to use against any believers, be they Jewish, Christian or Muslims. Such cases may well come to the fore in the near or distant future, just as they did in the past. In any community, people who have deviated as well as the anti-religious, educated yet violent and ignorant who wish to rule over the fate of people, nations, around the world might well take advantage of the expectation of the Mahdi/Messiah and exploit the meaning of such a title on behalf of their plots. This can and will be done in the name of deceiving believers through the exploitation of religious concepts. This will condemn sincere religious communities to annihilation. This is a particular danger during the current phase in which believers and masses from all communities around the world are suffering under some sort of oppression, depression and provocation. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that care and caution be adopted against such plots and against the exploitation of such concepts. They are not a matter of televised cross-cultural show-offs.
