[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 155 (Thursday, October 30, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REPUDIATING ANTI-SEMITIC SENTIMENTS EXPRESSED BY DR. MAHATHIR MOHAMAD, 
                  OUTGOING PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 28, 2003

  Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise as a cosponsor and in strong 
support of H. Res. 409, a resolution to repudiate the Malaysian Prime 
Minister for racist comments harmful not only to the global Jewish 
community but to the advancement of peace in the Middle East and global 
tolerance of racial and ethnic diversity.
  The speech by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to a gathering of 
Muslim leaders earlier this month has been described by other world 
leaders of democratic and free nations--including President Bush during 
his recent trip to Asia--as offensive and anti-Semitic. Rhetoric of 
this nature, which embodies age-old stereotypes, can be neither excused 
nor rationalized. It only serves to incite further sectarian violence 
and should be condemned universally.
  Even more disturbing is that none of 57 national representatives 
attending the Organization of the Islamic Conference, including some 
U.S. allies, have raised their voices in protest. In fact, many 
demonstrated complicity in spreading this message of hate and 
incitement against Jews by applauding the Prime Minister's remarks. The 
standing ovation he received and the subsequent defense of his remarks 
by almost all the participants at this meeting of Muslim leaders 
reminds us that anti-Semitic beliefs remain prevalent throughout the 
world, even in moderate states like Malaysia.
  I was proud to be one of 80 Members of the House who signed a letter 
to the Prime Minister of Malaysia condemning his remarks and calling 
upon him to clarify or retract his statements. I also commend the 
Senate for passing a resolution condemning the statement and requesting 
that President Bush condemn the remarks during his meeting with the 
Malaysian Prime Minister in Bangkok during Asia-Pacific Economic 
Cooperation (APEC) summit.
  Mr. Speaker, we must always take a stand against hatred and bigotry 
by world leaders whose rhetoric threatens to make peace in the Middle 
East and around the world more elusive. I am pleased to be a cosponsor 
of this important resolution and urge my colleagues to support it 
today.

                          ____________________