We have previously discussed the unparalleled bravery of the women fighting discriminatory Islamic law requiring them to wear veils and limiting their freedoms due to their gender. This is particularly true of the women engaged in protests over compulsory headscarves in Iran. Now however the Islamic regime is cracking down and not just arresting women but charging them with “inciting prostitution.” It is the perfect sexist charge to go with deeply sexist legal system. A woman who asserts her most basic right to expression and religious choices is treated by the Islamic government as fostering prostitutes.
According to Amnesty International, almost three dozen women have been arrested by the regime which is afraid that other women might start to question this and other laws. Many women joined the protest after Vida Movahed, 31, took off her hijab in public in Tehran in December.
One of those arrested is Shaparak Shajarizadeh, who will stand trial for inciting corruption and prostitution. Narges Hosseini faces the same charges and has already been held for over a month . . . for taking off her hijab.
These women could face ten years in prison.
As with Islamic laws in other countries like Saudi Arabia, the government does not rely on free choice to advance its religion but the threat of criminal prosecution.
Iranian police are reportedly on the look out for “bad hijab” violations, including tens of thousands of violations in cars for allowing scarves to fall off or pull back.
These women are fighting one of the most brutal and oppressive regimes in the world. Yet, these protests have clearly unnerved the clerics who are trying to restore terror to enforce faith.
I have previously explained elsewhere why the corrupt FBI failed to do its job to protect American lives in the latest mass murder case in Florida. The FBI had more than ample information and warnings to surveil Nikolas Cruz, but chose to do nothing. Then, they lied repeatedly to the public about their failures. The FBI simply has much, much higher priorities. For example, when Clinton met with now-former DOJ head Loretta Lynch in the infamous tarmac meeting, rather than being concerned about the flagrant abuse that was obviously involved, the FBI’s most pressing concern was working to determine who leaked this important information. In short, the FBI is a political organization, not a security organization, and the lives of Americans are totally inconsequential to their political activities.
As many of you know, however, newer information has come to light that proves that Sheriff Israel and his Broward County officers also failed to do their jobs, again, with more than enough ample information and warnings of the threat to American lives. But what you don’t know is that they too have political priorities, and the lives of Americans are also totally inconsequential to their political activities.
The following video explains what some of Sheriff Israel’s priorities actually are:
As best as I can tell there are two very different groups of Iranians.
Funny thing, though, the Left praises Islam all of the time and calls anyone who criticizes their policies “haters,” “racists,” and “Islamophobes.” But they are either silent about Islam’s endless abuses of human rights or they pretend (like Jon Turley does) that they have “concerns” when human rights are abused as part of typical Islamic policy.
Funny thing that actually progressives really don’t like the reactionaries in Iran, or Ralphie for that matter, for much the same reasons.
Izzat so, Benson? Then, please explain the following:
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1069231
Rafizadeh is a tool.
Even if such an ad hominem is warranted, arguendo, it provides nothing helpful or meaningful. And it’s cheap and feckless to attacker the messenger rather than to analyze and respond to the message.
you can’t have both multiculturalism and human rights in the same state. human rights is a liberal norm. any strong traditional culture steeped in a thousand years of history is going to have norms that demand respect under multiculturalism that are incompatible with individualistic human rights.
human rights implies intolerance of many different cultural norms. it is a dominant western culture that masks its dominance with fancy talk.
personally, i could care less if they have to wear hijabs in the middle east. no wars there, let them order their societies as they like, and stay there. that’s my idea of tolerance. it’s also called sovereignty
It is ironic that US feminists declare the hijab a symbol of feminism, and they wear hijab out of solidarity, while in the Middle East, the hijab is recognized as a sign of oppression. It is cast off as a symbol of fighting real patriarchal oppression.
In Iran, they call hijab “roosari”. In Iran, sexual harassment is intense. Men will follow women, taunting them, making remarks – it’s really quite aggressive. These aren’t the dregs of society, but your average guy. They are taught from birth that all women are asking for it. The Middle East in general is a restrictive society, across borders. Men and women don’t really mingle, which may lead to the really intense harassment and stalking of women. There’s this thing they do, with their tongue pressed on the roof of their mouth while they suck in air. Can’t describe it. The men on the street harass, and the male relatives at home go nuts and get violent trying to protect their female relatives.
It’s nuts.
Go Persian girls. Most Persian women I have met have an iron will. They make up half the country. It’s about time they count. Yalla Dohktare joon.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/iran-blog/2015/sep/15/iran-hijab-backfired-sexual-harassment
Madonna and Ashley Judd should get on the next flight to Iran and pass out some pink “vag” hats. Hmm that would go over like a fart in a divers helmet. Those Mullah’s would hang them both from a crane.
Sometimes we & our family members feeling sorry for their lot in life yet we/they fail to consider others living under worst tyranny here in the US, Iran & else where.
I seen today’s news Amazon made 5.6 billion something whatever in profits last year & paid Zero in taxes.
My wife & I paid more in taxes last year then both our kids earned, but as we have always known, that sh*t ai’nt right & it’s always a screw job until we decide a way to change things.
Oops, nice song but I might to post this one:
Amazon may have had loss and/or credit carryforwards from sadder years to offset last year’s taxes. They also don’t have to pay US taxes on most foreign earnings until those earnings are repatriated to the US. That, of course, changes with the new tax reform. All corporations had to pay a one time toll charge on all of their undistributed foreign earnings, and net operating losses incurred after 2017 can only offset up to 80% of taxable income in future years.
Courage
Let’s not forget, shall we, that Iranian women–yes, the fairer sex–played a major and pivotal role during the Iranian revolution in 1979. They are not the oh-so- innocent victims and bystanders that JT wants to lead us to believe. . .just some poor, desperate, freedom-loving, women, put upon by a male dominated society, simply wishing for a say in how they dress and present themselves and devoid of any blame for what they have wrought in their miserable and horrible lives under Sharia law. Granted, the revolution pre-dates the birth of many of those who are now bristling at the restrictions inherent in this repugnant society, but who is to blame for their complete and total lack of freedom? Their very mothers and grandmothers–yes, women–participated and marched, right alongside the men, down the streets of Tehran–like savages, screaming, Death to America and Death to Israel–and they were wholly immersed in the process of overthrowing the Shah and installing Khomeini into power. . .women participated and were involved in the capture of the American Embassy, whereby they, actively, assisted in the kidnapping and the holding of individuals, as hostage, for months and months, on end. Ahhh, yesss. . .poor, poor victims. Some of us, JT, have long memories. Very long memories. Are we supposed to feel sorry for a regressive and repressive society, where these rebellious individuals had mothers and grandmothers who actually ushered into that once, great country, a nightmare of repression and fear? Are we supposed to mourn the loss of freedom and choice, which was, without a doubt, supported, cheered and sustained over the course of the past 40 years, by the females in said society? Well, pardon me for not pitying those who have, as they say, reaped what they have sewn. Perhaps, those protesting were not active members in the original protests, 40 years ago, but their immediate relatives, undoubtedly, were. The Shah was evil and Khomeini, with his mullahs, were going to usher in utopia. . .a religious society, ruled by Sharia law. This falls under the category of, too bad, so sad.
Exactly right bam bam. Theirs is hardly “unparalleled bravery,” as that honor is reserved for those rangers at Pointe du Hoc. Rather this is pulling back on the reins of a horse you just kicked in the flanks.
Using your logic, our own revolution had no just cause.
Olly:
From the British perspective it didn’t.
I don’t believe that you comprehended what I was attempting to impart–namely, that women, in this very particular situation, should not be painted as the terminal victims. . .victims, who played no part or role in forming the repressive and dreadful society in which they now find themselves. Sure, of course, some of the younger generation are bristling at the restrictions under which they must survive, but it was just a very short time ago–in terms of history–that females actively, and, forcefully, brought about the changes that these young women now find so smothering. It’s the same way in which I view those who, when displeased with a verdict, in our judicial system, take to the streets, and proceed to destroy, loot and burn down their very own neighborhoods, only to cry, moan and complain that their communities have no businesses or opportunities. While that may, in fact, be the case, the widespread support and encouragement, received by those in said neighborhoods, whereby the destruction was sanctioned and cheered, affects the manner in which one views later complaints about why these communities are so dilapidated and devoid of thriving businesses. Logic? You want logic? Don’t destroy your communities. . .your societies. . .and, then, moan and complain as to what that destruction has wrought. Cause and effect. It’s that simple.
bam bam, I read your original post several times prior to my reply because I did comprehend what you were saying and I was surprised how short your very long memory actually is.
Well, pardon me for not pitying those who have, as they say, reaped what they have sewn.
I don’t believe a pardon would relieve you of the ignorance of your post. You’ve determined any society that has allowed their own government to abuse the rights of their own citizens deserves to remain abused. More importantly, your post implies anyone within that society that opposes the current regime does not deserve any external support of any kind because they or some previous generation supported the rise of this regime.
We have many within our current generation that have supported an uber presidency. We have many that have supported weaponizing our government to infringe the rights of anyone that opposes their worldview. Are they they then condemned to reap the whirlwinds of their ignorance should their opponents take power? It is reasonable to argue the potential ramifications of supporting an unjust government. It is reasonable to point out we deserve the government we support. It is reasonable to recognize the hypocrisy of complaining about abuses of power only when it comes from a regime one does not or has not supported. We should encourage and support anyone that takes a stand consistent with the principles of our DoI. This is where whataboutism has value; to test whether someone is making that principled stand.
This is not just ANY society. This is a society which, contrary to your sudden bout of amnesia, didn’t just simply “allow” its government to abuse the rights of its own citizens. Forget the victim mentality that you have been raised to believe applies to all. It doesn’t. At least, not here. The victims are, in reality, the abusers and the predators, who adhere to parts of the abusive and repressive system and not to others. Abusers, who, willingly and consciously, destroyed a thriving and vibrant society, which was destroyed and demolished because, in part, it was supported by the West. Influenced by, the West. Communicated with, the West. Adopted a lifestyle and clothing of, the West. Abuse? Do you define abuse as the successful demand and fight for a certain way of life, including, a very specific and regimented legal system? The Iranian people fought for and won the ability to have this repressive regime. . .and most would call that, success. . .they got exactly what they deserved. . .a nightmare. You and I may find the conditions to be abusive, but to those fervently seeking to live under these conditions–under these laws–this is just what the doctor ordered. . .an Islamic heaven on Earth, where women are covered, from head to toe, where men call the shots and where life is ruled by strict Islamic adherence and in accordance with Islamic dictates. Utopia. Am I supposed to pity the restless women, who, for decades, have supported and fostered this inhumane and barbaric system? They are not, by any means, suddenly, put upon victims. Get that out of your head. Do I support freedom? Absolutely. Freedom to dress as one pleases? Of course; however, you are forgetting that these rebellious young women are not fighting the tyranny and the abuse that is Islam. . .they are not criticizing Islam. . .they are not calling for the dissolution of Islam. . .an ideology which fuels this abuse. . .they just want to have more freedom of dress. Can’t have it both ways, folks. Pick freedom or pick Islam. You don’t get both. Unless and until Islam, itself, undergoes a dramatic shift and change–which will never occur–these people cannot be painted as victims. . .no matter how much you try. They adhere to a cult, with a cult mentality. Changing one aspect, of what the cult demands, doesn’t dismantle the underlying cult or its foundation. This is the kind of a society that generations have supported and fostered, and a society which coincides with the dictates of Islam. Unless and until the Iranian people declare that Islam, itself, is barbaric and inhumane, then the lifestyle, imposed by the mullahs, will always remain barbaric and inhumane. You think that you have a solution for women wanting to uncover their heads in an Islamic state? Laughable. Dream on. Therein is the true ignorance.
I must admit. . .I love the part about supporting these freedom fighters. . .exactly why the previous Iranian government was toppled. It was accused of conspiring with the West, which fueled the fire of its demise.
You think that you have a solution for women wanting to uncover their heads in an Islamic state? Laughable. Dream on. Therein is the true ignorance.
So these Iranians protesting against unjust laws stemming from a cult-like religion are not worthy of support from western countries because they haven’t denounced their own cult-like religion? Those silly Iranians don’t deserve any freedoms as long as they live in a country controlled by a cult-religion. Where or what should they begin with? How about a good old fashioned Koran burning party? It’s only been 40 years since they jettisoned their western ways, so either go all in now or not at all. I mean that’s what the Europeans did when they wanted religious freedom, right? They woke up one day and said this sucks. They told their leaders we demand freedom to pursue our own happiness, the leaders agreed and the world applauded. The next day some decided to take their new found freedom and set off to explore North America. And within no time at all, everyone had equality and the 1st amendment. I believe that all happened during Christmas. Yeah, Western nations with their more enlightened religion stopped persecuting people almost immediately. Those Iranians and others living under that cult-religion should follow the model of the West. After all, we accomplished this fight for freedom in a mere blink of an eye because we had Christianity as our guide. Perfect.
.
Bam bam – they still open the school day chanting “Death to Israel! Death to America!”, all the way down to elementary school.
Not all the women participated in the overthrow of the Shah. Many liked their freedoms and wanted to keep it. The problem is when you have imams claiming you will go to hell with Western dress, and you’ve been raised to believe everything they say. I was acquainted with a Persian woman who appeared to suffer from PTSD from the fall of the Shah. Her father was in the military, and he, and I think most of her family, was murdered, when she was a child. They came to her house at night and just took everyone out. She was barely able to escape herself and fled to the US. She would shake and cry recounting that night, unable to get out more than a sentence or two, so she rarely spoke of it.
In the US, the Iron Jawed Suffragettes won us the right to vote, but there were indeed many women opposed to the idea. That does not mean that the female opinion was unanimous.
Karen S–
Of course, not ALL of the women in Iran supported the overthrow of the Shah and the implementation of Shariah law; however, to somehow suggest or imply that women–as a whole–exist in Iran, simply as victims. . .beacons of pure light. . .freedom fighters, who, without any fault or blame, have failed to actively instigate, foster, create and support the repressive and nightmarish regime, under which they now exist, is incorrect. You know, Karen. . .we reap what we sow. As a society–and, yes, women were alongside of the men, taking over our embassy, holding hostages and welcoming the implementation of Shariah law–the Iranian people have embraced this lifestyle. Like all decisions, there are some things which we didn’t expect were going to happen. Those who didn’t want to live under Sharia law escaped to the US and Europe, and both of us know individuals, now residing in the West, who are the true victims of this society gone mad. The true victims. The victims who were forced to flee and leave their homes, their jobs, their lives and their country because men–and women–wanted to embrace the joy that is Islam and live under its rules and restrictions. Do I feel for those who wish that they had greater freedom in their daily lives? Of course. These restrictions, however, are not vestiges of something that occurred hundreds of years ago. . .the parents and grandparents of these freedom fighters, waiving their headscarves, as a society. . .as a whole. . .brought about this misery. Those who saw the light, escaped. The mere fact that their families remained in Iran, for close to four decades, without leaving–as many did–for the West, is quite telling.
I get what you are saying. There are women members of the religious police, I think it’s the Gasht-e Ershad. They go around scolding women for having their roosari pushed back too far. In addition, female genital mutilation is done by the women of the family. A female elder takes the child to the butcher, and the butcher is usually female. Persians will swear up and down that it doesn’t happen in Iran, but it sure does in some areas. It’s more common in Africa and the UAE.
Some of the women who fought to put a religious extremist government into power went on to have daughters who hate living that way, and who are rebelling against them. Some of them have sons who get jailed for having Western haircuts. There is a generational chasm in Iran, where the young people really don’t like living under repression.
It wasn’t always feasible to leave Iran when things got tough. Some people stayed and tried to keep their heads down. Others stayed because they loved religious oppression with a side of violence.
All I know is that the women protesting are trying to push back on this regime. I do not agree with women who agitate for their own oppression, but those who try to stand up to this massive force do have my blessings and best wishes for success. I do not hold the daughters responsible for what their mothers did. And if their mothers ever see the light, my response would be, finally.
One of the main difficulties in the Middle East is that humans rights abuses are encoded in the Qur’an. Mohammed is held up as the ideal Muslim. He said that the best Muslim was of his generation, and each successive generation was of lesser worth. Mohammed was a warlord, whose preachings of peace promptly changed when he got an army and power. If you put the verses in chronological order, the tenor changes quite rapidly. He espoused everything from pedophilia, female genital mutilation, keeping and raping sex slaves, enslaving children, enslaving black people, valuing black Muslims half that of Arab Muslims, doing away with adoption so that you can marry your adopted son’s wife after he divorces her to make her available to you, he had more wives than anyone else was allowed to, and, as Aisha herself said, she thought her god hastened to fulfill his wishes and desires. Aisha said no other woman suffers as much as a woman believer. Perhaps one of the hurdles women face is because Mohammad said most women go to hell.
For conditions to improve in the Middle East, the religion has to be reformed. It has already been reformed, but they don’t understand that’s what they are doing. Any Muslim who opposes FGM is a reformer. Any Muslim who opposes slavery is a reformer. If you would oppose living literally as Mohammad had done, the paragon of Muslim virtue, then you are a reformer. But no one thinks that is what they are doing. Very few read all of the suras of the Qu’ran, or Sahih Muslim, or Sahih al-Bukhar. If they did, they would think, heck no, they would never do most of those things. Then they are reformers (or, according to ISIS, apostates).
Any religion can be reformed into a peaceful, positive faith. No religion has been spared its share of reform, and Islam is no different. Taking off the veil is reform, and you can still behave modestly without it. Heck, using a roosari instead of a chador is a form of reform.
How are women to become self-determinative, and acknowledged as equally as intelligent as men, when this is what Muslim women are faced with:
Sown, not sewn. . .lol.
Sown. . .not, sewn.
Sown.
One can only hope the courts have more sense than the state police. However, I doubt it.
Do ours?
mespo – rarely in the Ninth Circuit. 😉
Maybe if those ladies had some Defensive AR 15s , Extra large Clips, LOL, & Cannons to protect them from the Bat Sh*t Crazy Combo Gov’t cloated as Islamic Satanic Religion, then maybe the tyrannts could hear their voices.
Oh wait, am I speaking of Iran or Tyrants in general? LOL
Thank you Professor Turley for showcasing the Non-Violent protest of what those of us in the know refer to it as the #GIrlsofRevolutionStreet which began with a single protest of 31-year old Vida Movahed who began this protest that has continued–I just was chatting w/someone that returned from Iran..and the resistance continues ever more and a humble postscript to your thoughts..Thank you again: https://twitter.com/monaeltahawy/status/968251697532489729