In light of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s upcoming visit to New York, activist groups are urging the Warwick hotel on Sixth Avenue to reconsider hosting the Iranian delegation during next month's UN General Assembly.
The CEO of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) group sent a letter to the General Manager of the Warwick Hotel in New York, Paul LeBlanc, as well as the President of Warwick International Hotels, Richard Chiu, after learning that they are currently in discussions with Iranian officials to host Ahmadinejad and his delegation for the second consecutive year.
“...By this letter, UANI and its supporters demand that the Warwick immediately reconsider its decision to accommodate the Iranian delegation and refuse to host Ahmadinejad,” the letter states.
“...in 2011, at the same time that the Warwick was providing luxury accommodations to the Iranian delegation, Ahmadinejad was delivering a speech before the General Assembly in which he despicably claimed that the U.S. orchestrated the September 11 terrorist attacks, condemned the killing of Osama bin Laden and denied the Holocaust. Ahmadinejad's remarks were so objectionable that members of the U.S., EU, Canadian and other Western delegations were compelled to walk-out of the meeting in protest. Nevertheless, despite the widespread outrage engendered by his remarks, Ahmadinejad was welcomed back to the friendly confines of the Warwick upon the conclusion of his speech,” the letter continues.
“In light of Ahmadinejad's past rhetoric and the regime's record of persecution and support of terrorism around the world, New Yorkers, and by extension all Americans, will not look kindly on the Warwick if it provides Ahmadinejad with comfort and accommodation during his stay in New York City....,” it concludes.
UANI is calling for a boycott of the hotel and plans to be outside protesting when Ahmadinejad shows up during the week of Sept. 24, The New York Post reported.
B’nai B’rith also wrote to the hotel twice urging it to rescind the invitation to Iranian leader who continually threatens to wipe Israel off the map and poses a grave threat to the international community at large.
Allowing him to stay “would leave a serious stain on the hotel’s reputation,” said Daniel Mariaschin, executive vice president of B’nai B’rith.
Kenneth Bandler, spokesman for the American Jewish Committee, said, “No New York City hotel should welcome Iranian President Ahmadinejad.”
Hotel representatives failed to return numerous requests for comment. Last year, they wouldn’t even confirm his presence, according to The Post.