MetaFilter posts tagged with Islam and Iran

"a killing spree of staggering proportions"

jeffburdges — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:36:58 -0800

Amnesty International believes that Iran has executed at least 600 people in 2011 in what it calls "a killing spree of staggering proportions". Activists believe the E.U.'s aid to Iran under the UN Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has been used during crackdowns on dissidents and minorities because such aid consists of police and light military equipment. And almost 500 executions were for alleged drug offenses with members of marginalized groups making up the disproportionate majority of such death sentences. There has also been an effort by the regime to include convictions for other morality type crimes. Last week, Iranian born Canadian resident Saeed Malekpour's death sentenced for "acting against the national security, insulting and desecrating the principles of Islam, and agitating the public mind" was recently confirmed. There is more on Saeed Malekpour's case on iranhumanrights.org, united4iran.org, etc., apparently he wrote photo uploading software that porn sites later used. Also, Iranian authorities have been arresting lawyers like Nasrin Sotoudeh who spoke out against applying the death penalty to minors. As a tech aside, 31 year old Indonesian named Alexander Aan is facing five years in prison for a ‘God does not exist’ Facebook post

I Scheme with Genie

East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 — Sat, 07 May 2011 00:45:12 -0800

Ahmadinejad allies charged with sorcery. Several people said to be close to the president and his chief of staff, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, have been arrested in recent days and charged with being "magicians" and invoking djinns (spirits). Increasingly, there is a rift between the President and his Supreme Leader.

Vanguard of American Journalism

Blasdelb — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 16:31:06 -0800

Current TV previously & previously, the media company founded by Al Gore after the 2000 election, has picked up the kinds of in depth long form journalism being rapidly dropped by major networks, but has been tantalizingly unavailable for those without cable; until now. They have been putting their Vanguard episodes up on their website and on YouTube. Season One, Episode 1, A Day With the Tribe (10:59) Laura Ling visits a native tribe in Brazil's Amazon forest, also chases some dudes holding a vagina. Episode 2, The Meth Trail (12:25) Exploring the role of crystal meth in the gay community Episode 3, Diving Too Deep (19:31) As lobster stocks in Nicaragua become increasingly depleted, local divers are forced to take more risks Episode 4, Death Train (11:18) Central Americans have a lot further to go to get to America, many take a notorious train. Episode 5, Rebels in the Pipeline (26:09) Exploring the causes behind the increasing levels of oil-related violence in the Niger River Delta Episode 6, From Russia With Hate (19:35) An investigation into Russia's anti-immigrant and neo-nazi groups Episode 7, Elixir of the Toxic Frog (25:13) In search for the Kambo frog, one of many organisms that could hold secrets for modern medicine Episode 8, Prison Power Play (43:29) Laura Ling reports on the complex power plays taking place at Corcoran, one of the country's most notorious prisons Episode 9, Saving Madagascar (24:26) Adam Yamaguchi investigates the unique environmental situation in Madagascar. Episode 10, Blood Roses and Deadly Diamonds (26:16) Vanguard heads to Colombia and Sierra Leone to explore the unromantic stories behind two symbols of love. Episode 11, Scarf Wars (24:43) A view of Turkey with its current identity crisis, mixing democracy and Islam Episode 12, Lost in Democracy (18:04) An exploration of Bhutan's struggle to preserve its culture in the modern world Episode 13, City on Steroids (28:21) A view of China's new megacities through an exploration of Chongqing, population 12 million and counting Episode 14, End of the Road (25:24) An investigation into why the Pan-American Highway, which runs from Alaska to Argentina, stops for 60 miles; at the Darién Gap. Episode 15, Lagos la Vida Loca (14:46) An exploration of the world's fastest growing megacity Episode 16, Destination Anywhere (24:58) An view of the Philippines number 1 export, people Episode 17, World's Sugar Daddy (12:50) An exploration of Brazil's bio-fuels program, the Saudi Arabia of ethanol Episode 18, Pollution to Protest (24:13) An investigation into the destination of much of the West's e-waste, southern China. Episode 19, World Without Water (28:23) A look at three places--Florida, China, and Nevada, as the 21st Century begins with the Age of Drought Season 2, Episode 1, America's Secret War With Iran (24:57) Vanguard asks if America is already at war with Iran, previously Episode 2, The Great American Detour (48:33) Vanguard zigzags from Los Angeles to New York by bus, stopping to talk to young Americans about national issues affecting them in the lead up to the election. Episode 3, Modern Day Pirates (25:32) Kaj Larsen goes on a search for modern day pirates in the straits of Malacca, talking to trackers and sailors before visiting the pirate dens themselves. Episode 4, I Heart Global Warming (22:57) An exploration of Greenlanders surprising reactions to global warming Episode 5, Maxed Out (23:42) An investigation into the troubles of young Americans trying to get by in the new economy Episode 6, Chinatown, Africa (24:29) An investigation into China's rapidly growing presence in Africa Episode 7, Getting Out of Prison (49:32) Vanguard follows several young inmates out of prison and into the often losing battle to keep from going back in. Episode 8, Japan: Robot Nation (25:05) Outlining Japan's unique solution to its unique demographic problems Episode 9, Fully Automatic America (50:55) An exploration of the vastly different gun cultures in Knob Creek, Kentucky and Camden, New Jersey. Episode 10, The Most Controversial Jail in the World (24:18) An investigation into Maximum Security Detainee Camp #5 in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Episode 12, Battle of Saipan (25:12) A view of Saipan's dramatic rise and crash in the global economy Episode 13, Narco War Next Door (51:37) A groundbreaking investigation into the massive amount of violence in Juarez, Mexico caused by drug cartels Episode 14, Beach of Death (23:54) Christof Putzel and Kaj Larsen travel to Somalia to investigate the worlds most failed state Episode 15, Lost Vegas (24:28) During the boom years, no place in America boomed more than Las Vegas. But when the economy collapsed, Vegas fell hard. Episode 16, Outsourcing Unemployment (25:08) An investigation into the effect America's recession has had on China Episode 17, Thank You, Recession (23:56) In light of the current recession, vanguard explores how Argentinians handled their recent one. Season 3, Episode 1, The Oxycontin Express (47:09) An investigation into prescription drug abuse in America, winner of 2009 Peabody Award. Episode 2, Cuba: Waiting for a Revolution (22:16) Adrian Baschuk travels to the last remaining Communist state in the western hemisphere to investigate whether or not there exists any possibility of regime change. Episode 3, Forest of Ecstasy (22:05) An investigation into the source of the raw ingredient for much of the world's supply of illegal ecstasy, rural Cambodia. Episode 4, Notes from a War on Terror (22:33) Mariana van Zeller travels to Sri Lanka to see how the Tamil Tigers, one of the world's most lethal and influential terrorist organizations, were finally defeated. Episode 5, Porn 2.0 (22:14) Christof Putzel takes a behind the scenes look at the adult entertainment industry, examining its history and impact on the ever-changing face of new media. Episode 6, Prison Contraband (45:31) Janet Choi goes inside a California state prison to investigate contraband smuggled inside the cells, and how cellphones are the new security threat. Episode 7, Remote Control War (20:44) Vanguard looks at the rapid rise of remote controlled weapons and their future Episode 8, Cocaine Mafia (20:58) Christof Putzel investigates how Europe's growing appetite for cocaine is funding the growth of West African crime syndicates and fueling a turf war with the Camorra. Season 4, In a special episode Vanguard interviews its former VP and correspondent Laura Ling who was arrested by North Korean authorities and used as a pawn global politics. Episode 1, Missionaries of Hate (44:47) Vanguard travels to Uganda to look at the roots of the recent crisis surrounding a potential new law. previously previouslier previouslierer previousliest Episode 3, The World's Toilet Crisis (44:25) Adam Yamaguchi travels to India, Singapore and Indonesia to understand why people don't use toilets and what's being done to end the practice of open defecation. Female Genital Cutting (7:43) A look at the practice of Female Genital Mutilation in Sierra Leone And you thought you were going to get work done this weekend

How Caviar Turned Out To Be Halal

reenum — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:00:00 -0800

A look at how fatwas are issued, and how Iranian authorities were able to change the classification of caviar from haram (forbidden for Muslims to eat) to halal (permissible for Muslims to eat) in order to retake the caviar industry from the Soviets. [PDF]

"Israel is our only hope as the post-American president is aiding and abetting a nuclear Iran. Barack Obama is enabling Iran’s Islamic bomb" - Pamela Geller

mek — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:27:42 -0800

As the "ground zero mosque" story approaches bipartisan consensus, thanks to unexpected statements by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (joining a growing opposition), several journalists trace the origins of how the Park 51 community center became(warning: CNN) a toxic subject. What they found was Pamela Geller, a blogger at Atlas Shrugs, who has some very interesting vlogs. You may previously know her from this cozy 2006 interview with Bush's infamous anti-UN UN ambassador John Bolton.

The new Islamic revolution

koeselitz — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:28:50 -0800

Six days ago, Seyed Ali Mousavi, nephew of Iranian opposition leader and figurehead of the Green Movement Mir Hossein Mousavi [wikipedia | facebook] was shot dead during the latest round of protests in Tehran; Seyed Ali had apparently been threatened by the police, and had recently lost his position at the Iran Academy of Arts and Sciences. After burying his nephew amidst government-sponsored protests on Wednesday, Mir Hossein Mousavi showed renewed resolve in a statement on his website which read in part: "I’m not afraid to be one of the people’s martyrs in their struggle for their just demands... My blood is no redder than theirs," and quoted the words of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the republic: "Kill us; we will only become stronger." [New York Times | Times Onlines (UK) | Al-Jazeera | Payvan Iran | Iran Focus News | Reuters | BBC] In the past weeks and days, Iran has found itself in the grip of a growing crisis. Six months ago, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad retained the presidency by defeating reformer Mir Hossein Mousavi in what many people have called a rigged election; since then, a rising tide of dissension against the government, dubbed the Green Movement, has sought to reform government through peaceful protests and legal channels. The government has meanwhile apparently chosen a hard-line response, cracking down on protests harshly and killing several dozen activists involved. Mousavi is no stranger to revolution; he and his wife were imprisoned twenty-one years ago for organizing protests which in part precipitated the overthrow of the Shah, and Mousavi himself was a friend and associate of Ayatollah Khomeini in those days. In the late 1980s, Mousavi served as the last Prime Minister of Iran until the post was dissolved in 1989. Tehran awoke this New Year's Day to a standing police force in the streets maintaining control of all major downtown intersections. While he has some support among the religious leaders, several clerics have been vociferous in their condemnation of Mousavi and his compatriots, particularly Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, who called them "flagrant examples of the corrupt on earth" and urged their swift execution "as in the early days of the revolution." In just a few weeks, on February 11, The Republic of Iran will celebrate its twenty-first anniversary.

Happy Valentine's Day, Mr. Rushdie

rdone — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 09:41:28 -0800

Today is the 20th anniversary of the permanent fatwa pronounced by the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini against the life of Salman Rushdie for writing his novel The Satanic Verses. Said the Ayatollah: "Even if Salman Rushdie repents and becomes the most pious man of all time, it is incumbent on every Muslim to employ everything he has got, his life and wealth, to send him to Hell."

Illustrations of the Shahnama, the Persian epic poem

Kattullus — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:26:29 -0800

The Princeton Shahnama Project is an "archive of book paintings--commonly known as Persian Miniatures--that were created to illustrate scenes from the Persian national epic, the Shahnama (the Book of Kings). The Shahnama is a poem of some 50,000 couplets that was composed by Abu'l Qasim Firdausi over a period of several decades in the late tenth and early eleventh centuries. The core of this archive is a fund of 277 illustrations from five illustrated manuscripts of the Shahnama that are housed in Princeton University's Firestone Library." The site also has the complete Shahnama in the Warner & Warner translation but here's another translation by Helen Zimmern Many illustrated versions of the Shahnama exist. You can see a few images of The Great Mongol Shahnama with some information on two webpages on the Metropolitan Museum website and at The Legacy of Genghis Khan website, part of a 16th Century copy can be browsed on the Asia Society website and it's also been turned into a comic book. MeFite and all around gentleman & scholar tellurian posted about Cambridge University's massive Shahnama Project last Nov. 3rd which has even more images.

Persia

homunculus — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:05:12 -0800

Persia: Ancient Soul of Iran. "A glorious past inspires a conflicted nation."

Raving Mad: Satan vs Allah

domdom — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 08:55:14 -0800

Satanist Rave Shut Down outside Tehran. Iran's drive to enforce Islamic morals netted revellers from Britain and Sweden after police swooped on a "satanic" concert organised over the internet. Police arrested 230 people and seized drugs, alcohol and 800 illicit CDs after raiding the event in Karaj, 12 miles west of Tehran. Those arrested included young women in skimpy and "inappropriate" clothing, officers said.

Iranian man stoned to death for adultery after serving 11-year prison sentence

shivohum — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 10:19:43 -0800

Iranian man stoned to death for adultery after serving 11-year prison sentence. Unsuccessful, unofficial investigation here. Amnesty International pleads for life of his partner.

"We bring peace" .... Right, sure ya do...

Menomena — Thu, 24 May 2007 19:43:19 -0800

A group of Mennonites at the University of Waterloo has come under fire for inviting a fundamentalist Iranian cleric to speak at a religious-studies conference. Ayatollah Mesbah-Yazdi, who has openly supported human-rights violations in Iran, once lovingly declared: "If anyone insults the Islamic sanctity, Islam has permitted for his blood to be spilled, no court needed either." While Iranian-Canadians are up in arms, academic dean Jim Pankratz defends the invitation: "We really do believe it's important to talk to those who take opposing, even hostile, views." Persian bloggers see it quite differently.

Doing our homework on the Middle East

LobsterMitten — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 14:41:44 -0800

22 basic suggested readings on the Middle East from history professor and informed commenter on Middle Eastern affairs Juan Cole.

The Redirection

homunculus — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 09:22:27 -0800

The Redirection. "Is the Administration’s new policy aiding our enemies in the war on terrorism?" New article by Seymour Hersh in the New Yorker.

The Persians Call it Nesf-e-Jahan (Half The World)

adamvasco — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 07:15:47 -0800

Esfahan is home to the Blue Mosque and other buildings with their unique blue tiles which are beautifully shown in photographs by flickr's horizon. Esfahan is a world heritage site and is home to many examples of traditional Persian Architecture which is made up of eight traditional forms which taken together form the foundation on which it was based in the same way that music was once based on a finite number of notes.

Hi kids! Do you like violence?

goodnewsfortheinsane — Sun, 06 Nov 2005 09:47:27 -0800

Animated video broadcast on Iran's IRIB state television, apparently aimed at children, seemingly promotes the virtues of becoming a suicide bomber. Coralized wmv link, transcript.

Edoardo Agnelli was a moslem

persia — Thu, 03 Nov 2005 16:07:17 -0800

Iranian students demonstrate outside Italian embassy in Iran.Chanting anti-Zionism slogans, the ralliers called for the withdrawal of the Zionists from the occupied Palestine.
They also called for the Italian government's explanation on the Nov 15, 2000 assassination of the Eduardo Agnelli suspiciously at the hand of the zionists. Edoardo Agnelli, born in June 9, 1954 in New York of a Christian father and a Jewish mother, had converted to Islam four years before the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979. He was the only son of the Italian tycoon Gianni Agnelli -director and the main shareholder of Fiat and Ferrari automaking factories - who died of prostate cancer in January 24, 2003.
Some pictures which prove he was a Moslem.

Soldiers of the Hidden Imam

y2karl — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 16:34:45 -0800

What of Iran's nuclear program? That was not a pressing concern for the young people I met. None of them raised the issue in conversation with me. When I asked them about it, they fell into two groups... Yet both insisted with equal vehemence that an American or Israeli bombing of nuclear installations, let alone an Iraq-style invasion, would be a wholly unacceptable response to Iran's nuclear ambitions... A perceptive local analyst reinforced the point. Who or what, he asked, could give this regime renewed popular support, especially among the young? "Only the United States!" If... whatever we do to slow down the nuclearization of Iran does not end up merely slowing down the democratization of Iran; and if, at the same time, we can find policies that help the gradual social emancipation and eventual self-liberation of Young Persia, then the long-term prospects are good. The Islamic revolution, like the French and Russian revolutions before it, has been busy devouring its own children. One day, its grandchildren will devour the revolution

Soldiers of the Hidden Imam

Did we jump to conclusions?

dirtynumbangelboy — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 00:23:52 -0800

It turns out that those boys who were hanged in Iran may not have been quite so innocent after all. [original post]

Dick Cheney's Pre-Emptive Nuclear War on Terror

digaman — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 09:46:52 -0800

In case of emergency, nuke Iran. From the folks who brought you Operation Iraqi Freedom and the "last throes" of the insurgency, the latest strategy for enhancing homeland security and US global standing is to launch a nuclear first-strike against Iran in the event of another 9/11-style attack -- whether Iran has ties to the attackers or not. As Juan Cole points out, turning a Shiite Muslim nation into the next Hiroshima could have disagreeable consequences. (First reported by the American Conservative, not your typical liberal rag, and via DailyKos.)

Gay Teens Executed in Iran

digaman — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 12:34:51 -0800

Iran executes two teenagers. Their crime? Making love. Homosexuality is a crime under Sharia law. Meanwhile, newly "liberated" Iraq moves closer to embedding traditional Islamic laws in its new constitution, reducing rights for women. Will Iraqi gays be the next to suffer the wrath of "Allah's law" after years of secular oppression under Saddam Hussein?

Cristobal Vila's Isfahan Movie

silusGROK — Sat, 07 May 2005 17:55:49 -0800

An amazing piece of animation made all the better by its magical subject: the lovely architecture of Persia and its storybook capital for some 200 years, Isfahan. Cristobal Vila, principle of Eterea Studios, shares behind the scenes information... and you can even purchase a print from the movie, if you're so inclined. Be sure to check out his other works. Via Times & Seasons.

We all should've known this before...

ibmcginty — Sat, 04 Dec 2004 11:16:24 -0800

Criticize Iran? Obviously, you're with the Mossad. As it turns out, Al Jazeera is run by Americans and Zionists bent on discrediting Islam in the West, heightening tensions among Islamic countries, and obstructing President Khatami's Dialogue Among Civilizations initiative. Tehran Times has the scoop.

Iran is not on the verge of revolution

hoder — Thu, 27 May 2004 09:54:48 -0800

Iran expelled me, but its press restrictions play into the hands of the west's fantasies about Islamism: "Contrary to the fantasies of neo-conservatives, Iran is not on the verge of revolutionand, if it was, the US wouldn't be able to orchestrate it. There is no coherent political opposition or leader able to harness public discontent. A significant number of Iranians are profiting from an economic boom and are not ready to risk their livelihood for democracy protests," writes Dan De Luce, the Guardian's reporter in Tehran who has recently been expelled by the Iranian goverment.

Billboards of Tehran

mediareport — Sat, 28 Dec 2002 09:16:36 -0800

By their billboards ye shall know them: the Tehran street advertising collection. See Western luxuries, goofy icons and hardline Islamist and reformist propaganda compete for Iranian minds. Watch out for those changing Iranian ad standards, though. [via hoder]