Associated Press
Published: Friday, May 19, 2006
OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper says news reports that Iran could require Jews and Christians to wear coloured labels in public might be true.
He says Iran's hardline Islamist government has proven itself capable of such extremism.
"Unfortunately, we've seen enough already from the Iranian regime to suggest that it is very capable of this kind of action," Harper said.
"We've seen a number of things from the Iranian regime that are along these lines.
"And the fact that such a measure could even be contemplated is absolutely abhorrent."
The National Post newspaper reported Friday that Iran's parliament has passed a law that would require Jews to wear yellow labels, and Christians red ones, on their clothing.
The law must still be approved by Iran's "Supreme Guide," Ali Khamenehi, to come into effect, the newspaper said.
Harper said he could not vouch for the accuracy of the report. But if true, he said it would be a throwback to one of the most odious chapters in human history.
"It boggles the mind that any regime on the face of the Earth would want to do anything that could remind people of Nazi Germany," he said.
The report is a reminder that Iran must never be allowed to gain nuclear weapons, Harper said.
He made the remarks during a news conference with Australian Prime Minister John Howard. Both leaders said they could not confirm the reports.
"I haven't previously heard of that," Howard said in response to a question about the report.
"If that is true I would find that totally repugnant. It obviously echoes the most horrible period of genocide in the world's history -- the marking of Jewish people with a mark on their clothing by the Nazis."
Nazi Germany began requiring Jews to wear yellow stars on their clothing in the buildup to the Holocaust. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has described the Holocaust as a myth and has called for the destruction of the state of Israel.
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UPDATE: 19 MAY 2006 1941 PDT
The latest reports in the media have the Iranians heatedly denying the reports such as the one posted above. This is one situation where I would be overjoyed to post a retraction. Still waiting for something definitive.
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