WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 16 Pages Price 20,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13298 Monday JANUARY 7, 2019 Dey 17, 1397 Rabi’ Al thani 30, 1440 Tehran says EU Iran, Russia Jahanbakhsh misses Tehran gallery hosts is captive to U.S. to hold naval Iran’s first match Niazi, inspired by Western economy 2 drills 2 against Yemen 15 classical music 16 Decision on CFT, Palermo to be made within a month: MP Draft bill prepared to cut POLITICS TEHRAN — A senior against Transnational Organized Crime deskIranian lawmaker says (UNTOC), within the next month. that the case of convention against financing Falahatpisheh said the process of rat- of terrorism (CFT) is slated to be closed in ifying the CFT was slowed down in the the Iranian parliament next week. Expediency Council because it was related Speaking on Sunday, Heshmatollah to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). zeroes from currency Falahatpisheh, chairman of the Majlis The CFT is one of the four bills put forward National Security and Foreign Policy by the government to meet standards set by the See page 4 Committee, said the Expediency Council FATF. It includes reforms to the anti-money is expected to decide on the CFT bill and laundering rules, changes to the law banning Tehran’s accession to the Palermo Con- financing of terrorism, and accession to the vention, aka United Nations Convention Palermo Convention. 2 Iranian space satellites pass pre-launch tests TECHNOLOGY TEHRAN — Payam, announced, Fars reported on Saturday. deskDousti and Nahid sat- Mojtaba Soradeqi said that they are ellites have passed pre-launch testing and imagery satellites with a resolution of less are ready to be launched. than 50 meters. Dousti satellite is ready for launch and “By manufacturing satellites we Payam satellite passed technical testing on prove our ability in technical achieve- Friday, the deputy director of space tech- ments in infrastructure systems,” he nology at the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) explained. 10 Syria sends reinforcements to Hama, Idlib amid clashes By staff & agencies ground following recent infighting among The Syrian army has reportedly dispatched terrorists. military equipment, including artillery, Syrian army bases and residential areas armored vehicles and personnel carrier, have come under stepped-up attacks by to the outskirts of western provinces of terrorist groups, especially al-Qaeda-linked Hama and Idlib. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS/Organization An informed military source, cited by for the Liberation of the Levant/Levant Russia’s Sputnik news agency, said the Liberation Committee/Tahrir al-Sham) File photo military build-up is meant to boost read- which is currently engaged in a fighting iness against any possible change on the with Turkish-backed militants. 13 EDITORIAL Islam is not inherently hostile to religious freedom: Philpott REPORT Mohammad Ghaderi What is your main question in your new of September 11th, 2001. One side says that Islam Ramin Hossein Abadian Tehran Times editor-in-chief EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Mehr News Agency By Javad Heirannia book “Religious Freedom in Islam: The Fate of is a violent religion. The other side says that Islam @ghaderi62 a Universal Human Right in the Muslim World is essentially like any other religion - basically journalist TEHRAN — Daniel Philpott, a professor of po- Today”? peaceful but containing some violent elements. litical science at the University of Notre Dame, A: In the book I confront the question of The outcome of the debate matters a lot. Today, Tel Aviv fears says “If a religion can be shown to be hospitable whether Islam is hospitable to the principle of the U.S. has a president, Donald Trump, who is Tel Aviv fears the to religious freedom then we can say that it is a religious freedom, a universal human right. Of manipulating the U.S. population’s worst views Hezbollah more peaceful and tolerant religion.” course, this question can be asked of any religion. of Islam and of Muslims. I do not agree with this future; what Zionists Author of “Religious Freedom in Islam” adds It is fair to point out that until modern times, no approach. Through writing this book, I hope to than ever “religious freedom is present in the Muslim world religion authoritatively espoused a teaching of arrive at a fair and balanced assessment of the are concerned and that Islam is not inherently hostile to it.” religious freedom, and that all religions have had a Muslim world. I think that religious freedom is sraelis are riddled with fear, fear of “Religious freedom allows religious people and history of violence and intolerance towards other a good criterion for this assessment because it most about Hezbollah missile capability and the communities the space in which they can flourish religions. Still, in this book I pose the question involves an enduring commitment to respect the hese days, Israeli officials are not Iinvaluable experience of Lebanese as religious communities without interference towards Islam. I do this because in the West, full, equal citizenship of members of other reli- feeling so hot, and are extremely resistance fighters in the Syrian War. from the state or from people of other faiths”, where I live, a lively debate -- even a culture war, gions. If a religion can be shown to be hospitable concerned about the future, as it Israeli troops in the newly created Professor Philpott said the Tehran Times. one could say -- has been taking place over the to religious freedom then we can say that it is a T Gates of Fire Battalion simulated war is quite evident in Tel Aviv’s statements. Following is the full text of the interview: nature of Islam at least as far back as the attacks peaceful and tolerant religion. 7 with Hezbollah in northern occupied land Recent developments in Syria are one in December 2018. The battalion held a of the challenges Israel faces, particular- training program during the past month ly following the U.S. President Donald in which it practiced a wide range of sce- Anti govt. protests rock Europe Trump’s announcement to withdraw U.S. narios it might encounter during a war. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of was killed last January in Kosovo. Protests erupted that same day in reaction to troops from Syria in the next four months. Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth Belgrade for the fifth week running on Saturday The demonstrations started on November the law change and have been continuing for over The news came as a shock to Israel. quoted Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s Minister of to protest against the government of Serbian 23, after opposition politician Borko Stefanovic a week, occasionally being marred by violence. Balancing power in Syria Energy, saying that “Hezbollah missiles President Aleksandar Vucic. was attacked and beaten in the southern city of Thousands rally against Hungary’s The Zionist regime knows all too well may target all of Israel. Zionists consider Protesters holding banners and signs with Krusevac. Police arrested three suspects, but they overtime work law, PM Orban that, in the wake of a series of victories and Hezbollah a very dangerous and highly anti-Vucic slogans, blew whistles and shouted were later released on December 25. Elsewhere, thousands have marched through widespread gains by the Syrian resistance, experienced enemy.” that the president was a “thief,” as they marched Hungary: Thousands march in Budapest’s city center to protest against a new the balance of power in Syria has changed The Israeli Defense Forces, referring to through the Serbian capital. Budapest to protest against ‘slave law’ law that allows employers to ask staff to work in favor of Damascus. the precision of the Lebanese Hezbollah A section of the protest held a banner read- Meantime, protests continued in Budapest up to 400 hours per year of overtime. The visits of the leaders of Arab missiles, writes: “Hezbollah is capable of ing ‘One of the five million,’ referring to Vucic’s on Saturday against the latest amendments to Opposition groups have staged several rallies in states and their delegations to Syria, targeting Israel’s critical facilities, and statement that he would not meet protesters’ Hungary’s labor law. the past weeks in the Hungarian capital and other as well as the opening of some Arab the 2006 Lebanon War seems nothing demands, even if five million people showed up An amendment proposed by the governing cities against what they said was an authoritarian and non-Arab embassies in Damascus, compared to a conflict with Hezbollah on the streets. Fidesz party was approved by members of Parlia- rule of conservative nationalist Viktor Orban. are among the new developments in in future.” Protesters demanded the resignation of In- ment, 130-52 with one abstention on December 12. Saturday’s rally, organized by opposition that country. In this regard, Lebanese Daniel “Danny” Rubinstein, an Israeli terior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic, as well as a It allows employers to ask for up to 400 hours parties, trade unions and civic groups, mainly regional expert Hassan Hurdan said: journalist, said that “Hassan Nasrallah is transparent investigation into the assassination of overtime work per year, resulting in it being targeted the new labor law dubbed by critics as “Zionists feel much worried about their future in the region because of the a great figure. Gamal Abdel Nasser fought of Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic, who branded by critics as the ‘slave law.’ “slave law.” 13 for six days, but Hassan Nasrallah kept developments in Syria. Syrian develop- Israelis four weeks in their place in 2006.” ments have signaled this clear message Tamir Yadai, the head of Israel’s Home to Israel that Bashar al-Assad is the Front Command warned that “Hezbollah ultimate victor.” is capable of targeting deep inside Israel “The Arab countries that once massively.