thr 023                                                               


Press-US-Civilization   /GNR/                                         


   West must prove it is the "civilized world": daily                


Tehran, Sept 20, IRNA -- `Kayhan International', in its viewpoint     


column on Thursday, scoffed at remarks by European and American       


commentators that the recent terrorist assaults on New York and       


Washington were attacks on the "civilized world".                     


    It said the attacks would have better been described as "attacks  


on humanity".                                                         


    By saying that "the attacks were attacks on the civilized world   


the implication is that the rest of the world is uncivilized," it     


argued.                                                               


    If the Western world considers itself the cradle of civilization, 


it must abide by "civilized principles such as fairness and justice," 


it said.                                                              


    "But the increasing harassment of Muslims in Europe and the United


States, shows to what extent the Western world sticks to the civilized


principles," lamented the paper.                                      


    "When Sikh gas station attendants and Pakistani grocers are killed


because they are mistaken for Arabs, in the wake of the attacks on    


World Trade Center and the Pentagon, it is clear that the first       


principle of civilization, which is the rule of the law is violated," 


it went on to say.                                                    


    Indeed, stereotyping is one of the clearest manifestations of a   


lack of respect for justice and fairness. "Attacks on those who are   


presumed to be Arabs manifest the utter ignorance of other cultures   


and other people around the world," the daily stressed.               


    "When Muslim women cannot practice their religion in the cradles  


and birthplaces of Western democracy," how can these so-called        


democracies claim to be truly civilized?" further asked the paper.    


    Citing the Islamic Republic of Iran as an example of a truly      


civilized state, the paper pointed out that despite over two decades  


of U.S. hostility against the Iranian nation as exemplified in the    


unsuccessful 1953 coup, no American has been killed or harassed in the


country to date.                                                      


    It said nations "who do not have enough to eat, but they still    


share the little that they have with those who are needier" are the   


rightful claimants to the title of "civilized world".                 


    "Well-fed nations who cannot tolerate to see someone different,   


someone with a darker skin hue and darker hair color" cannot lay claim


to such title, it stressed.                                           


    Indeed, if the Western world claims to be civilized, "it should,  


in practice, ensure the rights of Muslims to free worship and free    


exercise of their religious duties," it argued.                       


    "Mere claim that a society is civilized is not enough, they must  


prove that they are civilized in practice."                           


FH/LS/AH                                                              


End                                                                   


::irna    11:45