Mass Executions – Iranian Style
A report that more that more than 70 prisoners have been suddenly executed in Mashhad has appeared in Planet Iran
There are reports that in the past few days more than 70 people detained in Mashhad prison were executed suddenly and without prior notice. Based on the information available, prisoners under the age of 18 years were among the executed.
Based on reports by Neday-e Sabz Azadi, some of the people who were allegedly arrested in connection with drug smuggling had already received their sentences. The sentences issued did not include the death penalty, and in some cases, they had only been sentenced to pay a fine. But, in a sudden unannounced move, a judicial order was issued to execute them.
So far, the reason behind the execution ruling is not clear, however, there are speculations that the executions were carried out on orders by the Intelligence and Security organizations. Based on information obtained by a Neday-s Sabz Azadi reporter, in the past and at the beginning of the 1st term of the 9th government (Ahmadinejad’s presidency in 2005), in a similar case like the one in Mashhad, more than 60 people were suddenly executed. The executions took place in the wake of the disclosure of ties between a high-ranking security official and drug smuggling groups. Most of those executed in 2005 were citizens of Torbat-e Jam and Taibad. Family members of the security official in question were among the executed.
I received this by e-mail, from an anti-death penalty group, I subscribe to, so I suspect it is true, but I can’t find the actual article. But it is still chilling.
How can countries like Japan, India and the United States, which consider themselves civilised, still retain this barbaric practice?
Has Iran Backed Down?
There are reports in The Times and on the BBC, that Iran may have backed down over the stoning of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.
But if you read the reports, Iran would not deny they have substituted hanging, which in Iran is often from a crane in a public square. How barbaric is that?
I have just read the BBC report and find that her husband was murdered. What was she doing in court anyway? Or is that how Iran treats its victims and widows?
Why have we not sent the Iranian ambassador home?
An Act of Barbarism
The Times has the headline right in every way, when it reports on Iran’s proposed stoning of a woman for adultery.
What can we do about it? Very little! Except sign the petition.
ustice – Iranian Style
This report is appalling.
Can we really deal with Iran until they join the twentieth-century?
Mad Mullah Science
I almost gave myself a hernia laughing at this story on the BBC. Apparently, according to one Iranian cleric, promiscuous women cause earthquakes. Here’s the first few paragraphs.
Promiscuous women are responsible for earthquakes, a senior Iranian cleric has said.
Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi told worshippers in Tehran last Friday that they had to stick to strict codes of modesty to protect themselves.
“Many women who do not dress modestly lead young men astray and spread adultery in society which increases earthquakes,” he said.
Tens of thousands of people have died in Iran earthquakes in the last decade.
It gives a whole new meaning to “Did the earth move for you?”
What a load of old rubbish.
On a serious side, according to PeopleQuake, Iran will be very short of people, as Iranian women have decided that giving birth to children in such a country is not a good idea for their lot. The birthrate is well below that needed to sustain the population.
Perhaps the Mad Mullah could read some science from some of the many educated people in his country.
Iranian Despots
I use the term despots advisedly and in a measured fashion. But read the first leading article in The Times and you’ll see that they have used measured, but firm tones in denouncing the Iranians for illegally imprisoning employees of the British embassy in Tehran.
To me the real problem with Iran is that the religious leaders have just too much power. I’ve read extensively on Islam and where are sound principles that were inherent in that once great religion when it was founded many hundreds of years ago. In those days, it embraced science with a vengance and women were equal.
It seems to me now that few Muslim countries are economic successes and like Iran, they always blame others for their plight. How many too, are true democracies? You can put forward all sorts of reasons, but the lack of empowerment of women is in my view, one of the main reasons. After all, the one Muslim country, that is a success is Malaysia and what do they do? Educate women properly and let them have a lot of the good jobs.
I’m very worried for Iran. Wounded, desperate and cornered animals have a habit of lashing out and taking quite a few with them.
I hope that the worst doesn’t happen. But I fear it will.
President Ahmadinejad’s Personal Hygiene
This is another from PopBitch.
One of the things Iran’s President Ahmadinejad is most known for in political and diplomatic circles is his B.O. He has been described to us as smelling “musty” and “like a billy-goat”. Our drunk Whitehall source this week gave an interesting take on the West’s attitude towards him. The Chinese are said to be appalled by Ahmadinejad’s standards of personal hygiene – it offends their cultural norms. And so, despite everything – democracy, freedom ‘n all that, Britain and the US don’t mind him staying in power. The Chinese are not likely to give political support to somebody so weird/smelly. Which will help delay Iran getting nuclear weapons.
Let’s hope the last bit of the story is right.
On another serious note, someone who treats his countrymen and especially countrywomen, doesn’t deserve to be in power. The sooner he goes and Iran gets a proper non-religious democracy the better.
But I doubt, I’ll see that in my lifetime.
Can anybody name a Muslim country that has moved from a religius dictatorship to something even a little bit better?
The Iranian Basket Case
Many years ago before the fall of the Shah, I was peripherally involved in the selling of a Chieftain tank factory to the Iranians. I was providing software to the project but I left before it all fell apart with the overthrow of the Shah in 1979 with the Iranian Revolution.
I’m not sure if I can remember too well, my feeling about the project at the time, but now, I would feel that selling arms to regimes of that nature was not a good idea. In fact, I tend to that a lot of the weaponry we have is next to useless in the sort of wars we’re having to fight at present. But that is something for another topic and I’m not a military expert anyway. But are many politicians?
Anyway over the years, I met quite a few Iranians and I would think that all have been pleasant individuals who really only want to get on with their lives. I remember one Iranian pilot in Hong Kong, who was extremely charming to my late wife and myself, and invited us to see the joys of his country. And there are many, as a friend who visited last year on holiday testified.
And then they have plenty of oil and I believe other resources too!
So why is the country such a basket case?
One could blame the Muslim religion. I could do! But in this case, I’ll blame the religious and political leaders, who will do anything to keep power. And we all know where dictatorships lead too!
I believe strongly, that we should save energy and tax it heavily so that we save precious resources, reduce global warming and return the tax to the people, so that they can decide how it should be spent for the benefit of the people.
Let’s take just one example of their basket case strategies in this area.
Petrol is subsidised and read what happens in the Guardian, that well-known right wing rag!
It’s just a few pence a litre!
No wonder why there has been so much protest about the elections in recent days!
And it’s getting worse, with diplomats being expelled on both sides.
The Anonymous Widower 