Various news sites are reporting that Alireza Forghani, prominent Khamenei strategist and former governor of southern Iran’s Kish Province, has warned that the daughters of American officials will be kidnapped and raped by Muslims in response to any Syrian attack. He would presumably include President Obama’s daughters in a latest insight into the twisted religious fanaticism of Iranian officials. The quote is all-too-believable for Forghani who previously called for the eradication of Jews in Israel. He also previously proclaimed “In the name of Allah, Iran must attack Israel by 2014.”
Forghani is quoted as saying “In just 21 hours [after the attack on Syria], a family member of every U.S. minister [department secretary], U.S. ambassadors, U.S. military commanders around the world will be abducted. And then 18 hours later, videos of their amputation will be spread [around the world].” In most cultures, such a statement would be viewed as a sign of insanity and the person condemned as a public menace. In Iran, however, the promise of raping innocent girls and women is viewed by some leaders as a natural and moral response to anger.
The comment is clearly being cited to encourage people to stand firm with President Obama in attacking Syria. Indeed, I cannot find any direct reference to Obama’s daughters, but that is the headline in many articles. Rather, the quote refers to an “amputation” of such family members. However, even if true (as is now being widely reported), it only reaffirms the level of unhinged extremism that permeates this region. Part of the opposition to the Obama plan to attack Syria is the lack of any stated objective or strategy.
As with the recent murder of a leading women’s rights advocate in Afghanistan, these horrific acts are treated as the work of moral Muslims by some religious leaders in these countries. It is no coincidence that it is the daughters and wives that come immediately to the minds of people like Forghani. In a system that treats women like chattel, this seems like an easy choice for a fanatic. It is ironic that religious extremists (who constantly denounce the lack of morality in the West) seem sex-obsessed in such acts of retaliation. Faced with a possible attack, Forghani’s mind turns immediately to rape. I would not be surprised if faced with fishing rights violations or copyright infringement, his mind turns also to rape. For people like Forghani, public policy appears a vehicle for rape fantasies. However, these appear in his view to be morally justified rapes sanctioned by God.
Oh, good grief: “reaffirms the level of unhinged extremism that permeates this region”
Permeate: 1.spread through: to enter something and spread throughout it, so that every part or aspect of it is affected
Actually, and I believe you have mentioned this before, Professor, Iran, like Iraq, has a large secular population that finds these kinds of statements from their crazier citizens alarming and disgusting. You have directly contradicted your own past statements here by suggesting that this kind of insanity has “permeated” Iran.
I would think someone like you would hesitate to paint all Iranians, and indeed, all Muslims, with the same broad brush and crazy colors that these idiots deserve. Most Iranians would prefer a more moderate government, and even recently voted for one. The power of the Mullahs is fading. And maybe if we can get so-called progressives in this country to stop suggesting that they all think like this, we could finally get Iran back on track to have a moderate, democratically elected leader, like the one the US and UK overthrew in the 1950’s that led to this whole mess there.
@Scott et. al: I am sure that was not Professor Turley’s intention–Hopefully the true nature of this guy was noted so that all are aware. I also, as I noted, made it a point of forwarding this to the Iranian Foreign Minister’s Twitter Feed so that such fools are muzzled. There is enough misunderstanding as it is. We also need to note that the new Iranian Pres and the Iranian FM sent out (to everyone’s amazement) new year greetings to all jews…Let’s be optimistic and not be swayed by these crazies…..