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Pro-Palestinian protestors marching through Durban during a UN conference on racism in 2001. Last update - 17:28 24/04/2008 Iran said trying to ban Canada Jewish group from anti-racism meet By Haaretz Service Tags: Israel, racism, Durban  Iran is seeking to block a top Canadian Jewish group from receiving accreditation for a major international conference on racism next year, according to a Toronto newspaper. According to the report in the Toronto Star, Iran claimed that the Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy (CIJA) was not a non-profit organization and had "made no significant contribution to fighting racism." The newspaper says that the CIJA, which describes itself as "a non-partisan, umbrella organization for Jewish community advocacy efforts," has called these claims "abolutely wrong." Advertisement According to The Star, the CIJA made a "routine application" for accreditation, which this week became the target of "hours of heated debate at the UN's European headquarters in Geneva, with Iran leading the charge, backed by Egypt and other Muslim countries, and the European Union defending." The newspaper quotes a spokesman for the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which processes the applications, as saying that the CIJA application was initially approved, but that "states have the liberty to make objections." He called the affair "confusing and divisive." The CIJA now has until next Monday, the report says, to counter the claims made against it. If the issue cannot be resolved, the paper says, the group's attendance will be decided in a vote by all member states. The CEO of the group, Hershell Ezrin, called Tehran's actions "deplorable." He said that the group will provide documents to counter the objections by Iran. The World Conference Against Racism is set to take place in 2009, although the exact date and location have yet to be determined. It will be chaired by Libya and co-chaired by Cuba. Israel and the U.S. have conditioned their participation on guarantees the event will not be a rerun of the 2001 Durban anti-racism conference, in which Israel was vilified. The 2001 conference was dominated by anti-Israel attacks during concurrent meetings by non-governmental organizations. These attacks included accusations that Israel practiced apartheid, that Zionism is racism, and that the Holocaust was not a unique event but similar to other events in history. Canada has declined to attend the 2009 conference, and, The Star says, has branded the conference a "gong show." In a bid to prevent a similar controversy at the 2009 conference, NGOs will only be granted observer status. Iran and Canada have been at diplomatic loggerheads for five years, since the death of Canadian journalist Zahra Kazemi in custody in Tehran in 2003. Iran's hardline president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has called for Israel's destruction and often questioned whether the Holocaust took place. Related articles: Israel, U.S. to coordinate on boycott of Durban II conference Abe Foxman / Durban: Not again AJC leader urges Israel to give 'Durban 2' conference a chance Canada row with Iran heats up over push for arrest of Iranian official Related links: The Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy UN anti-racism conference Web site Bookmark to del.icio.us   JDate wins the 'Oscars' The leading Jewish dating Web site is an official honoree of the Webby Awards. 'Worse than Nazi camp' A Libyan envoy to the UN says the situation in Gaza is worse than in concentration camps.   1.   TEARS OF JIHAD in modern days 15:49  |  Genuine Tosefta 23/04/08   2.   the jews never assimilate 16:01  |  sam i am 23/04/08   3.   Yes Sam the Muslim, Jews are Dihimis in your eyes, don`t they? 16:11  |  Genuine Tosefta 23/04/08   4.   Bravo Canada - lead the way 16:14  |  Danny 23/04/08   5.   The most ridiculous posturing by Iran 16:20  |  Lynn 23/04/08   6.   World Conference Against Racism 16:55  |  Tex 23/04/08   7.   Iran always tries to ban free speech, but Holocaust denial is OK 17:07  |  Genuine Tosefta 23/04/08   8.   Bravo Iran: Show the true colors of zionism 17:09  |  Anti-racist 23/04/08   9.   both CIJA and the Conference are racist jokes 17:14  |  anti-racist 23/04/08   10.   In the name of Islam we ban anyone who diagrees with us 17:24  |  Pro-Racism 23/04/08   11.   There are only Muslim lands, Christian & Jewish lands not allowed 17:27  |  Pro-Racism 23/04/08   12.   Delicious Irony & Sam I 17:30  |  Brad 23/04/08   13.   The ultimate Iranian anti-Semitic cynicism. 17:48  |  Fortuna Benmayor 23/04/08   14.   under Harper I`m finally proud to be Canadian 17:50  |  don 23/04/08   15.   Sam- About assimilation 18:31  |  David Israel 23/04/08   16.   Excerpts from the Durban II Debate: 21:39  |  Fortuna Benmayor 23/04/08   17.   Fortuna, this only a small family feud 01:03  |  Genuine Tosefta 24/04/08   18.   Not in my name. 18:04  |  Jesse 24/04/08

Read & React Israeli envoy to UN calls Carter 'a bigot' for meeting Meshal Responses: 147 Israel: Syria may rethink retaliation in light of nuclear revelations Responses: 101 Israel snubs Hamas truce bid as ruse to recover from fighting Responses: 101 Two Israeli guards killed in West Bank shooting; third flees Responses: 68 Yossi Sarid: If it runs like apartheid and acts like apartheid... Responses: 85 Rosner's Domain Syria insists on a return to the pre-1967 lines (WTR) Poll: Will the new spy case harm U.S.-Israel ties? Notes on the new Israeli-espionage affair The real numbers of the Jewish vote in Pennsylvania More Headlines 16:58 Three people killed in Ramle shooting spree 14:35 Two Israeli guards killed in West Bank shooting; third flees 19:13 IAEA chief slams U.S. for withholding data on alleged Syrian nuclear reactor 17:58 7,000 Hamas supporters rally at Gaza north, south borders 18:02 Hackers commandeer Israel Bank site, post anti-Israel jibes 19:44 German Jewish leader backs publication of Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' 18:04 Facing widespread pressure, Nadine Gordimer may pull out of Israel writers meet 13:55 Syria accuses U.S. of aiding Israel in strike on nuke facility 13:28 'One day they told me I'm no longer Jewish' 13:23 Israel: Syria may rethink retaliation in light of nuclear revelations 15:48 IMF praises PA for 'bold reforms,' strides toward fiscal sustainability 13:23 Berlin's Holocaust memorial to host classical open-air concert Previous Editions Select Day 24 apr 23 apr 22 apr 21 apr 20 apr 18 apr 17 apr 16 apr 15 apr 14 apr 13 apr 11 apr

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