Several religious groups invited Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for a dinner in New York City this evening, sparking all kinds of reactions. The groups innocently state that they want to have an “interfaith dialogue” but some criticize the move as legitimizing a man who should be considered, well, an extremist.

He is president of a country where blasphemy against Islam is punishable by law—in fact, a law is in the works there to make it punishable by death.

On the surface, it may seem startling that Ahmadinejad would accept such an invitation. However, he is no doubt gunning for coverage as a “good guy” both in Iran and abroad.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom called the dinner “counterproductive,” asking the religious sponsors to either cancel it or skip it. Commission Chair Felice Gaer told the Christian Science Monitor:

“I participated in a meeting with Mr. Ahmadinejad when the Council on Foreign Relations met with him. He really manipulates the veneer of being for peace, religion, and human rights in a way that is disgraceful.

“I am a great supporter and advocate of engagement. But you have to have somebody to engage with, and there has to be some sincerity. He laughs when you mention any problem situation and responds to questions with a question. … It’s a hypocritical exercise.”

The subject for the peace-mongering dinner: “Has not one God created us? The significance of religious contributions to peace.”

Representatives from the Mennonite Central Committee, the American Friends Service Committee, the World Council of Churches, and Religions for Peace plan to take part in the dinner.