Contact: Stacey Holliday, Concerned Women for America, 202-488-7000 ext. 126

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 /Standard Newswire/ -- Concerned Women for America (CWA) deplores the decision of the Washington National Cathedral to give a former Iranian President and Islamic cleric a platform last night to spread his propaganda about the “peaceful religion of Islam.”

Mohammad Khatami was identified by the cathedral dean as a man of peace and moderation, even though during his presidency opposition was outlawed in Iran, and other religious and cultural influences were suppressed.  In the midst of the war on terror, entertaining such a speaker was ill-advised and disrespectful of our soldiers fighting overseas; the hosts of the event at the Cathedral should have known better.

“Shame on the leadership of the Cathedral for being so gullible.  Khatami’s speech was a slap in the face to Americans; his ‘dialogue’ about Abrahamic faiths is a cover for his nation’s persecution of those who adhere to those faiths,” said CWA’s Dr. Janice Crouse, Senior Fellow of the Beverly LaHaye Institute. “Why welcome a ringleader of Iranian persecution and oppression?  Khatami was given a bully pulpit even though we know that his ‘dialogue’ is demagoguery and his version of history doesn’t square with the facts.

“Mr. Khatami and his hosts could use a dose of realism –– his policies resulted in the persecution of Christians, other religious minorities, and even those among Iran’s own who were dissidents.

“Let’s pray that along with giving Khatami a platform for dialogue, the Cathedral will also offer an altar of repentance where God’s forgiveness and transformation is available to those who seek His face.”

Concerned Women for America is the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization.