Khatami's Harvard visit sparks immediate protest
By Kristin Erekson and Julie Masis
The Jewish Advocate
Jewish leaders throughout Boston have expressed outrage toward Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government for welcoming former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami with open arms as he prepares to give a speech on campus this Sunday, officials said.
Nancy Kaufman, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Counsel of Greater Boston and a 1989 graduate of the Kennedy School, said she is "deeply offended and quite surprised" by the fact that such a prestigious institution would invite a "known supporter of terrorism."
A statement issued by Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's office said Khatami has endorsed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's call for the annihilation of Israel and has also described the terrorist group, Hezbollah, as "a shining sun that illuminates and warms the hearts of all Muslims and supporters of freedom in the world."
During the period of time Khatami served in office, from 1997 to 2005, he controlled Iran's secret nuclear weapon program, according to additional details in the governor's statement.
"We are all for free speech, but it has its limits," Kaufman said. "Someone who supported the people who brought 9/11 to us and who advocates the destruction of Israel is crossing the line."
Bonnie Rose Schulman, spokeswoman for the Israeli Consulate in Boston, also expressed concern.
She said: "While we understand that Harvard has the authority to bring whoever they want to address the community … Khatami represents a country whose government stands for all that Israel opposes."
Romney told the Advocate Wednesday that he would not use state taxpayer's money to fund police escorts and VIP treatment for a man "deemed by our state department as the No.1 sponsor of terror in the world."
Yet the Kennedy School is still firmly backing Khatami's planned visit, noting in a statement released earlier this week that "they have a long tradition of providing an opportunity for leaders from around the world to speak to the community on public policy issues and, just as importantly, to give the audience the opportunity to ask challenging and unfiltered questions of these leaders."
Khatami will be speaking about the "Ethics of Tolerance in the Age of Violence," according to a press release posted on the Kennedy School's Web site.
Harvard Students for Israel, a pro-Israel student group on campus, plans to hand out fact sheets outside the lecture hall Sunday informing people about Khatami and statements he has made in the past. The organization has also sent out an e-mail urging Jews to enter the lottery for tickets to Khatami's speech, giving them the chance to ask tough questions about civil injustices in Iran and Iran's nuclear program.
Rebecca Rohr, a junior at Harvard, said it is not the goal of the organization to prevent Khatami from speaking.
"Khatami should be allowed to speak if he's invited, but we're very alarmed that Harvard invited someone who openly supports Hezbollah to speak on campus."
