出席联合国种族主义问题大会的几十名代表在伊朗总统艾哈迈迪内贾德发表演讲的时候退出了会场。欧洲和加拿大的代表抗议伊朗总统批评以色列建国以及造成巴勒斯坦人流离失所。
继续留在日内瓦会场的一些与会人士向艾哈迈迪内贾德喊叫不满，而艾哈迈迪内贾德则在演讲被打断的时候还以微笑，然后继续演讲。他的演说获得了其他一些与会人士的鼓掌。
在伊朗总统艾哈迈迪内贾德开始发表演讲的时候，两名带着彩色假发的抗议人士中的一人，向伊朗总统投掷东西，但是没有击中艾哈迈迪内贾德。之后安全警卫就把抗议人士赶出了会场。
美国及其一些盟国抵制了联合国种族主义问题大会。他们表示，他们担心这个会议会变成一个反犹太人的平台，并且担心保护宗教的呼吁会阻碍自由言论的既定权利。
Dozens of delegates to a United Nations conference on racism have walked out during a speech by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. European and Canadian delegates were protesting the Iranian leader’s criticism of the founding of Israel, and the displacement of Palestinians.
Some people who remained in the auditorium in Geneva heckled Mr. Ahmadinejad, who smiled at the interruptions but continued his speech. His speech drew applause from others in the audience.
At the start of the Iranian president’s address, one of two protesters dressed in multi-colored wigs hurled an object at the leader, but it missed him. Security guards expelled the protesters from the hall.
The United States and some of its allies are boycotting the meeting. They said they feared the conference would become a forum for anti-Semitism, and were concerned that a call for protection of religion would eclipse established rights of freedom of speech.