JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People

Close

Share

  • Share Share
  • Email Email
  • Print Print

Ahmadinejad nixes visit after Jewish protests

SAO PAULO, Brazil (JTA) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad canceled his visit to Latin America one day after Jewish-led protests in Brazil.

No reason was given for the cancellation, which was announced Monday by the Iranian news agency IRNA.

Thousands of Brazilians Jews and non-Jews demonstrated in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro on Sunday against Ahmadinejad's visit to their country, scheduled for Wednesday, which would be his first stop in Latin America.

In Sao Paulo, some 1,000 people including secular and Orthodox Jews, as well as Evangelical Christians, homosexuals and Gypsies, gathered in a major square to protest. In Rio, another 1,000 demonstrators walked along Ipanema beach carrying signs and shouting messages against terrorism, homophobia and racism.

Ahmadinejad had planned to visit Brazil, Venezuela and Ecuador with a 110-member delegation, the largest to join him on an international mission, according to the Iranian Embassy in Brasilia. The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had declared that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva would express his discontent with Ahmadinejad's description of Israel as a "cruel and racist" entity.

Click to login and write a letter to the editor or register for a new account.

Discussions About this Article Elsewhere

cheap databases join

From cheap databases · 12/01/09 03:23 AM

[...] "You have to listen for that clue to what they are hiding," she said. "A man comes in saying `I don't know what you are interested in me for.' Neighbour,outside DML currently operates Devonport on a management contract. DML confirmed that VSEL had joined the group. Neighbour,outside [...]

Not registered? Sign up now. It's fast and it's free.

Free JTA Toolbar