“Netanyahu has taken part in the rally and denounced terrorism while he rules a brutal regime which itself kills children and backs acts of terror in Syria,” said Ayatollah Mohammad-Ali Movahedi-Kermani in a sermon to worshippers at weekly Friday prayers in the Iranian capital, Tehran.
Ayatollah Movahedi-Kermani expressed surprise over well-known world criminals marching on streets to condemn terrorism, in a reference to anti-terrorism rallies held on Saturday in the French capital, saying: “It is surprising that these criminals (Netanyahu) have attended a demonstration and condemned terrorism, this murderous and child-killing regime condemns terrorism. If you condemn terrorism, then who is supporting and nurturing the terrorists in Syria?”
Netanyahu went uninvited to the Paris rally held a few days ago in protest at recent killings in the French capital.
France had reportedly asked the Israeli premier to stay away from the weekend solidarity march, but Netanyahu ignored the call.
On Sunday, thousands of anti-terrorism protesters gathered for the rally, with world leaders and officials in attendance. The event came after days of deadly attacks, which claimed the lives of 17 people and three gunmen in France.
During the march, Netanyahu was seen elbowing his way to the front of the parade of world leaders. He also waved to the crowd, a gesture some commentators deemed to be at odds with the sombre mood. Netanyahu has also been slammed for his call on members of the French Jewish community to immigrate to Israel for safety reasons.
Ayatollah Movahhedi-Kermani said that the Western governments have realized the strength of Islam and in a bid to curb the pace of its advance, have resorted to such illogical acts. “The West has felt the power of Islam and sees it is quickly making its way in Europe and has strong attraction, thus resorts to such hideous attempts,” the senior cleric said.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Movahedi-Kermani reiterated that terrorists such as operatives of the ISIL terror group have come back to haunt their creators.
He also decried the publication of a sacrilegious cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad in a satirical French weekly, and said the reason behind such profane moves is that Islam is growing and making its presence felt in the West.
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