Muslims ’must face Soviets’

Press, 27 February 1980, Page 9

Muslims ’must face Soviets’

NZ’A-Reuter Hong Kong i lie Iranian President (Mr Abdhassan Bani-Sadr) has • sail all Muslims must unite in calling on the Soviet' Ucon to pull out of Afghaniftan, “and if they do not , th* Muslims of the world ■mist act to push back the I Rtssians.” In an interview published in the Hong Kpng-English-iaiguage daily, 'the “Star,” .'M- Bani-Sadr said: "Iran ; wll do its utmost to see i i flat the Russians withdraw ' from Afghanistan and , stop ilterfering in its affairs.” i He also said he was ; .■•amazed at the naivete of; American authorities,” who < le indicated had failed to j

understand the Iranian revolution, the United States embassy seizure in Teheran, and his own election as President. Mr Bani-Sadr was interviewed in Teheran. ■ On the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. Mr BaniSadr was quoted as ' saying the Russians had “made a big mistake.” “1 have also a personal theory for the Soviet action,” he said. “I believe the Russian action was prompted by fears aroused in the wake of Iran’s Islamic revolution. The Muslims in the Soviet Union have suffered a great deal from authoritarian rule, and they should be given a chance to determine the system of government they want.”