Posted on 05/22/2006 11:25:21 AM PDT by DoctorZIn
Top News Story
A roundup of reports on Iran's new Islamic Dress Code.
- Chris Wattie, National Post claimed a new law passed by the Iranian parliament that would require the country's Jews and Christians to wear colored badges to identify them and other religious minorities as non-Muslims.. This report was later withdrawn.
- Amir Taheri, The New York Post provided much more detail on the new law. This is original source for the original National Post story. My thoughts on this report.
- Chris Wattie, National Post published this report after the National Post pulled her earlier story.
- Agence France-Presse reported that Iran's only Jewish MP strongly denied the report in the National Post.
- Andrew G. Bostom, The American Thinker provided some historical background to the dress code debate.
- Michael Rubin, The Corner published some additional background.
- Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that Jewish leaders, the Israeli government and chancelleries of free countries are scrambling to find out whether there is truth to the report.
US mapping out plans to support the Iranian opposition.
- Los Angeles Times reported that U.S. officials have recently taken a series of steps to increase pressure on Iran, most recently creating new offices in the State Department and Pentagon specifically to bolster opposition to the Tehran government.
Iranian struggle with Iran's new Taliban.
- Rooz Online reported the Iranian press claimed that Ramin Jahanbegloo, the prominent Iranian scholar and philosopher is one of the key elements in the so-called "soft overthrow" of the Islamic republic.
- Rooz Online reported that the core of the Iranian hardliners constitutes the Iranian Taliban and that they are taking control of all the social structures and at the same time the institution that selects the leader.
- Rooz Online reported on the ideological activities of 9,000 Passdaran Revolutionary Guards Corps and Bassij that aims to organize those who have a similar political outlook.
- Rooz Online reported that the new EU3 package designed to lure Iran into accepting a moratorium on Iran’s nuclear enrichment activities includes a section that deals with human rights.
Western intelligence agencies reconsidering Iran's nuclear timeline?
- The Financial Times reported that western intelligence agencies are likely to speed up their estimates of when Iran could develop a nuclear weapon.
Bush should respond the Ahmadinejad's letter?
- Kenneth R. Timmerman, FrontPageMagazine.com argued that President Bush should respond to Ahmadinejad's letter. He should treat it as an opportunity to address the Iranian people, talking over the heads of the media and taking his case directly to the people.
- Youssef Goleyjani, Iran va Jahan wrote the letter that George Bush never wrote, a point by point response to Ahmadinejad.
Here are a few other news items you may have missed.
- Xinhua reported that German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said economic sanctions against Iran are possible.
- ABC News reported that European countries have asked the United States to consider selling new airplanes to Iran as part of a proposed package of incentives aimed at resolving the nuclear crisis with Tehran.
- The Jerusalem Post reported that Mohamed ElBaradei will press Washington to moderate its stance on Iran in a meeting this week.
- Monsters and Critics.com reported that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice rejected a call by Henry Kissinger for Washington to negotiate with Iran.
- The New York Times discussed the effects of Iran's having closed the curtains on its nuclear programs.
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My reponse to the Amir Taheri report:
This article has created a firestorm of controversy. Some have denied that the Iranian parliament has drafted a law on a common Islamic dress code. But further reports seem to indicate that in fact the parliament has indeed produced such a law, but it has not yet been approved by Iran's Supreme Leader.
The discussion of special dress for religious minorities has created the greatest controversy. Amir Taheri said the law "envisages separate dress codes for religious minorities." This was taken by many to mean that the current law requires it, but the word "envisages" means: To conceive an image or a picture of, especially as a future possibility: envisaged a world at peace.
Why does he say it "envisages" it? Perhaps it is because it has been reported that a separate dress code for minorities has been included in earlier versions of the proposed law. Later in the article he discusses specifics of what this dress code would require. This has created confusion for many since in this part of the article it appears as if he is saying it is part of the current bill. Hopefully Amir will clarify this point in the near future. Unfortunately, since no one has yet published a complete translation of the actual text of the law we will have to wait until it is available. One would think that the main stream media would publish a complete translation of it, but as of this time it is not available.
If the Supreme Leader approves of this law, how it will be implemented will likely be the responsibility of a committee that consists of members from the Ministry of Islamic Orientation, the Ministry of Commerce and the Cultural Subcommittee of the Islamic Majlis.
What does not appear to be in dispute is that those faithful to the Khomeinist revolution will be quickly identifiable, as will as those who are not. This in and of it self would have a chilling effect on the Iranian population.
It should also be remembered that the Islamic Republic seldom acts in a manner to anger vast numbers of Iranians all at the same time. They tend to act incrementally. My expectation is that the regime has drafted a broad and non specific bill and then the committee's over seeing its implementation will slowly and incrementally add ethnic and religious elements to it. Time will tell.
Thanks so much for providing this daily news capsulation of all things pertaining to Iran. It is much appreciated. - OB1
Oh that's a good one. Classic. By it's own inability to be tough with Iran, the European Union will be overrun within 10 years.
"Our aim is to make sure that every Muslim, wherever he or she happens to be on this earth, is a living and walking symbol of Islam," says Pourhardani.
If they keep this up, they might as well paint targets on their backs.
Unfortunately, it is not unlikely that you are right.
Thanks for the ping.
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I undstand Ahmadinejad was heard to comment that the return of Muhammed Al-Madhi was imminent, only2 or 3 year away. The guy is pure-d dangerous nutcase
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