Iran

[scottycelt]

Religions oppressing other religions is a world-wide problem scotty, certainly not confined to Islam in Iran as I'm sure you'll agree. As a non-religious person I call on all religious people to 'get it sorted' so that the rest of us can get on with our lives unmolested but I'm not holding my breath :smiley:

I'll do my best to sort out those religious people and try and ensure you remain unmolested, amsey ... ! :ok:

[amateur51]

I'll do my best to sort out those religious people and try and ensure you remain unmolested, amsey ... ! :ok:

Most reassuring scotty :smiley:

[Serial_Apologist]

Does anyone know anything about the situation for gay women in Iran today? Are they treated as lesbians were in this country in Victorian times, as being an impossibility?

[Resurrection Man]

Does anyone know anything about the situation for gay women in Iran today? Are they treated as lesbians were in this country in Victorian times, as being an impossibility?

Do you even need to ask that question? It is predominantly an Islamic state. Same goes for lesbians as it does for gays and given the attitude towards women by some factions within the Islamic faith then I'd think they would get an even worse raw deal.

Either that or, as you say, label it up as 'political protest' but punish it nevertheless.

[gradus]

Not in the flow of debate at this point but an Iranian refugee told me yesterday that he thought that no more than 30% of Iranians cared about religion and that the only reason that Iran is in the grip of the religious minority was that the government has the guns.

[heliocentric]

Not in the flow of debate at this point but an Iranian refugee told me yesterday that he thought that no more than 30% of Iranians cared about religion and that the only reason that Iran is in the grip of the religious minority was that the government has the guns.

I'm sure there's some truth in that, but the situation (as I understand it, and I'm not claiming to be an expert) is probably a bit more complicated: while "moderates" like Rafsanjani and Moussavi gather most of their political support from more well-off Iranians (which would probably include many, though by no means all, of those who would have the wherewithal to leave the country and set themselves up elsewhere), whereas the appeal of a figure like Ahmadinejad is based not on his religious orthodoxy but on his perceived orientation more towards the poorer sectors of Iranian society, who would presumably think that having the Quran waved at them is a price worth paying for universal health care, education and so on. Having said that, his achievements at home have been quite mixed, and not just because of the economic stresses caused by sanctions. I would imagine that the unrest following his possibly dodgy reelection in 2009 might be a pointer towards a further change of direction in Iran's ruling class after the elections next year.

[charles t]

Not in the flow of debate at this point but an Iranian refugee told me yesterday that he thought that no more than 30% of Iranians cared about religion and that the only reason that Iran is in the grip of the religious minority was that the government has the guns.

Rite-O, Gradus. A popular travel documentary maker - Rick Steves - made a non-CIA approved trip to Iran...Interviewing

that apparent 70% of which you speak, and these Iranians were Westernized - to the max.

[Simon]

Ah'jad is most certainly not of religious tract-waving orthodoxy and his relations with the grey Ayatollahs have rarely been warm. One reason why those who have had dealings have not found him the ogre he can sometimes appear.

His most recent speech was something of a surprise to many ... there's a possibility of an agenda that few would have thought possible, unlikely though it perhaps still is... we shall see.

Of course, all that depends on Israel behaving with some moderation. Never a good bet. :sadface:

[amateur51]

Ah'jad is most certainly not of religious tract-waving orthodoxy and his relations with the grey Ayatollahs have rarely been warm. One reason why those who have had dealings have not found him the ogre he can sometimes appear.

His most recent speech was something of a surprise to many ... there's a possibility of an agenda that few would have thought possible, unlikely though it perhaps still is... we shall see.

Of course, all that depends on Israel behaving with some moderation. Never a good bet. :sadface:

Care to give us a link, Simon? :smiley:

[heliocentric]

Care to give us a link, Simon?

Ahmadinejad's speech to the UN can be consulted here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/107095626/Transcript-Mahmoud-Ahmadinejad-s-speech-to-the-UN-General-Assembly-Wednesday-September-26-2012

The speech was described by Shimon Peres as "shameful", although actually the US and Israeli UN delegations had boycotted it, which might be regarded as not entirely mature.

[Serial_Apologist]

Ahmadinejad's speech to the UN can be consulted here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/107095626/Transcript-Mahmoud-Ahmadinejad-s-speech-to-the-UN-General-Assembly-Wednesday-September-26-2012

The speech was described by Shimon Peres as "shameful", although actually the US and Israeli UN delegations had boycotted it, which might be regarded as not entirely mature.

Anyone see Knitting Yahoo raising a board at the UN today, drawing a thick red marker pen across his version of Iran's nuclear readiness at 90^% prepared, and ominously intoning in so many words, this far and no further? :yikes:

[Bryn]

Ahmadinejad's speech to the UN can be consulted here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/107095626/Transcript-Mahmoud-Ahmadinejad-s-speech-to-the-UN-General-Assembly-Wednesday-September-26-2012

The speech was described by Shimon Peres as "shameful", although actually the US and Israeli UN delegations had boycotted it, which might be regarded as not entirely mature.

Or follow it here.

[heliocentric]

drawing a thick red marker pen across his version of Iran's nuclear readiness

Completely beyond satire.

[Resurrection Man]

Scary thing is, though, that none of us here really knows who is right and who is wrong. Which nation state did this, that or the other. Or what their true intentions are.

One would like to think that most people here would try and research into the actual facts but sadly most only selectively quote from their favourite paper or URL link of choice. Anything that feeds their pre-conceived ideas. Hidden agendas seen at every turn. Just as long as those blinkered viewpoints are reinforced.

Hey ho...so much for intelligent analysis and an open mind.

[amateur51]

Scary thing is, though, that none of us here really knows who is right and who is wrong. Which nation state did this, that or the other. Or what their true intentions are.

One would like to think that most people here would try and research into the actual facts but sadly most only selectively quote from their favourite paper or URL link of choice. Anything that feeds their pre-conceived ideas. Hidden agendas seen at every turn. Just as long as those blinkered viewpoints are reinforced.

Hey ho...so much for intelligent analysis and an open mind.

So what's your conclusion, o wise one?