Hizbullah's Al-Manar TV honored French Holocaust denier Roger Garaudy by naming a ceremony for outstanding students after him. The ceremony, which recognizes the achievements of exceptional Lebanese students, is named every year after a prominent personality. The 8th ceremony, held this year on August 29, was named after Garaudy, who died in June, for his "intellectual convictions" and his "exceptional courage in facing political taboos, especially regarding Israel and Zionism."
The ceremony was broadcast live on Al-Manar TV.
Click here to view excerpts from the ceremony on MEMRI TV.
Ceremony Dedicated To "French International Intellectual" Garaudy
Announcer: "We have a tradition of naming each year's ceremony for outstanding students after an outstanding individual. The name of the personality for this year's ceremony will be announced by the student who scored the highest grade on the high-school final exams in general sciences. He is from the Beit Al-Hikma high school in Chehim – Wael Raif Hajj Ali."
Applause
Wael Raif Hajj Ali: "In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful, on behalf of my colleagues, let me welcome you all to the Al-Manar ceremony.
"We welcome you to the 8th Al-Manar Festival of Excellence. This year's festival is dedicated to the French international intellectual, Dr. Roger Garaudy."
Applause
Cut to footage of Garaudy
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Algerian Writer Tazaghart: Garaudy Was "Demonized And Marginalized" For His Views On The Holocaust
Le Monde diplomatique Editor Alain Gresh: "The history of Dr. Roger Garaudy is intertwined with the history of France, and especially that of the French Communist Party."
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"He had very strong positions against Israel..."
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Algerian writer Othman Tazaghart: "In his book [The Founding Myths of Modern Israel], he shed light on how the Zionists and Israelis exploit the Holocaust. They peddle in it in order to justify their aggressive policies. As a result, he was attacked, demonized, and marginalized for decades."
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Al-Manar TV Director-General: Garaudy "Paid A Heavy Price For Confronting Zionism, And For Questioning The Holocaust"
Announcer: "We are happy to host Al-Manar TV Director-General 'Abdallah Qassir."
Applause
Interviewer: "Why was French intellectual Roger Garaudy selected to be the namesake of this year's festival?"
'Abdallah Qassir: "The truth is that Roger Garaudy is an exception in a world in which many have tried to cast fixed molds. Roger Garaudy rebelled against what he inherited, and was able to boldly advance his intellectual convictions, and he personified the ideological conflict of the 20th century."
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"I think that Roger Garaudy, in addition to his intellectual convictions, had exceptional courage in facing political taboos, especially regarding Israel and Zionism. He paid a heavy price for confronting Zionism, and for questioning the Holocaust, its figures, and so on."
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