Honorary Ahmadinejad event criticized

NEW YORK, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- A scheduled New York event meant to honor Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is "obscene," Catholic League President Bill Donohue said Monday.

The religious leader called on his supporters to attend a rally Monday night in New York aimed at disrupting Thursday's Ramadan event, a Catholic League news release said.

"Catholics need to stand with their Jewish brothers and sisters in protesting this obscene event. Ahmadinejad is a menace to freedom-loving people the world over, and the sight of religious groups embracing him is nauseating," Donohue said. "The Catholic League is proud to take part in this rally and we encourage people of all religious groups to have a contingent represent them on Thursday evening."

The religious groups behind the honorary event at the Grand Hyatt Hotel are the Americans Friends Service Committee, Mennonite Central Committee, Quaker United Nations Office, Religions for Peace and the World Council of Churches.

The rally was initially organized by Women International and the Jewish Action Alliance.