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Former U.S. President
Carter is interviewed following his keynote address at the
Islamic Society of North America. During his address Carter
said s “My hope is all Christians, all Muslims, all people
of other faiths, even those who don’t have one, will join in
this crusade to end the plight of our wives, our sisters,
our daughters.” (Photo by Karen Hudson Samuels/Tell Us
Detroit) |
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Violence
Against
Women
and
Mid-East
Peace
Top
Speech
by
Former
U.S.
President
Jimmy
Carter
By Karen
Hudson
Samuels/Tell
Us
Detroit
DETROIT
(Tell Us
Det) -
Introduced
as the
“Most
respected
and
revered
U.S.
president”
Jimmy
Carter
delivered
an
impassioned
keynote
address
Saturday
to well
over
3,000
attendees
at the
51st
annual
convention
for the
Islamic
Society
of North
America
held at
Detroit’s
Cobo
Hall.
Violence
against
women,
human
rights
and
justice
in the
Middle
East
were all
topics
President
Carter
touched
on, even
quoting
the
Koran
and
Bible to
drive
home his
message.
“The
horrendous
abuse of
women
and
girls
around
the
world is
the most
terrible
human
rights
violation
on
earth”
said
Carter.
The
former
President
cited
the
genital
mutation
of young
women in
Africa,
the
killing
of baby
girls
born to
families
who want
boys in
India,
and the
rape of
enlisted
soldiers
and
girls on
American
college
campuses
as
examples
of
violence
against
women on
a global
scale.
In
explaining
their
mistreatment,
Carter
told the
audience
it was
similar
to how
passages
of the
Bible
were
misconstrued
to
justify
discrimination
against
African
Americans
in this
country.
“One of
the
reasons
for
discrimination
against
females
in this
world is
the
misinterpretation
of holy
scriptures.”
“Men and
women
are
created
equally
from one
soul,”
Carter
said.
“If you
were
taught
by your
parents
or you
believe
you’re
superior
to your
wife
just
because
you’re a
man,
Allah
says
you’re
wrong.”
Turning
to
unrest
in the
Middle
East,
the
former
President
said he
stills
prays
for
peace.
Carter
recalled
his
efforts
to
broker a
settlement
between
then
Egyptian
President
by
Egyptian
President
Anwar
and
Israeli
Prime
Minister
Menachem
Begin
which
recognized
the
"legitimate
rights
of the
Palestinian
people"
and the
return
of
territories
in the
West
Bank and
Gaza.
Giving
the
Palestinians
a
homeland
is one
part of
the
accord
said
Carter
that has
not been
implemented.
“You
can’t
bring
peace to
the
Middle
East
without
justice
and
human
rights
for the
Palestinians,”
said
Carter.
The
appearance
of a
former
President
at the
Islamic
Society
of North
America
convention
was a
first
for the
organization
which
drew
attendees
and from
around
the
country.
Governor
Rick
Snyder
was a
guest
speaker
Friday
at the
convention
.
Members
of the
Tea
party
were
reportedly
critical
of both
Carter
and
Snyder
for
speaking
to group
they say
is
linked
to Hamas
and
other
radical
Islamic
groups.
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