‘Although Iran has the right to prosecute them by following the model of the Prophet, the fifteen people are pardoned and their freedom given as a gift to the British people,’ Iranian President Ahmadinezhad said yesterday.
Coming to the conclusion of a two-hour speech, he added about the detained UK sailors and marines: ‘After the news conference they can go to the airport and go back home. They will be going back home today.’
Ahmadinezhad asked ‘Mr Blair not to do anything to them’.
The Iranian president’s gift came after he had presented medals to the Revolutionary Guards who arrested the 15 British personnel for straying into Iranian waters.
Following the presentation, he said: ‘Everyone should know that the great nation of Iran has defended its land and it will allow no-one to violate its land.
‘The English soldiers are still in Iraq and were arrested in Iranian territorial waters.
‘And among the detainees there is one lady who is the mother of a child.
‘Why is it that the most difficult work like patrolling in the field should be given to a woman?
‘Why is there no respect for motherhood, affection?
‘Why is it that the value of women is in a bad way?
‘However, the government of Mr Blair chose to take a conflicting approach.
‘He took the issue to the (UN) Security Council. Why did the Security Council issue a statement without taking all the evidence into account?’
He added: ‘Then Iran is accused and Iran is asked to release the detainees.
‘Would the same people want their land to be violated, have their land violated?
‘Is this the kind of attitude that they want to run in Europe?
‘The European Union, without investigating announced certain stands.
‘Respect for sovereignty – is it just a claim or is it a fact?
‘The English government may not have even the courage to tell its own people about this.
‘The people of England have the right to ask their government about the soldiers that are in Iraq or in Iranian waters – “What are they doing there?”
‘We leave the judgement to people of the world and the people of England.’
Later he added that ‘the liberalism of the Western world has collapsed’ because of the ‘distance between affection and financial inclinations’.
He said: ‘Within the political culture of the Western world, is there no space for loyalty, for philanthropy?’
He added that if people are against suppression ‘it is because suppression can pollute humanity’.
He praised ‘frank speaking, honesty’ and ‘campaigning against those who bully others and suppress others, that is a distinguishing pattern of humanity’.
Ahmadinezhad said: ‘The ‘prophet would give his forgivefulness for everyone.
‘There would only be courage if there was courage in human values.
‘Acquiring power doesn’t mean exceeding jurisdiction, and then with lies and misleading thoughts, to mislead other people.’