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Untrue, or too hot for public consumption at this time? That remains to be seen. While Nazi analogies dominate analyses of this, as I pointed out yesterday it is actually a revival of traditional elements of Islamic law for dhimmis. That makes it entirely reasonable that an aggressive Islamic state like Iran would reinstitute such laws; but now that international attention has focused upon them for contemplating doing so, it is likely not that they will abandon the project, but simply implement it when the world media has turned to other matters.
From the National Post, with thanks to Filtrat:
Several experts are casting doubt on reports that Iran had passed a law requiring the country’s Jews and other religious minorities to wear coloured badges identifying them as non-Muslims.The Iranian embassy in Otttawa also denied the Iranian government had passed such a law.
A news story and column by Iranian-born analyst Amir Taheri in yesterday’s National Post reported that the Iranian parliament had passed a sweeping new law this week outlining proper dress for Iran’s majority Muslims, including an order for Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians to wear special strips of cloth.
According to the reports, Jews were to wear yellow cloth strips, called zonnar, while Christians were to wear red and Zoroastrians blue.
The Simon Wiesenthal Centre and Iranian expatriates living in Canada had confirmed that the order had been passed, although it still had to be approved by Iran’s “Supreme Guide” Ali Khamenehi before being put into effect.
Hormoz Ghahremani, a spokesman for the Iranian Embassy in Ottawa, said in an e-mail to the Post yesterday that, “We wish to categorically reject the news item.
“These kinds of slanderous accusations are part of a smear campaign against Iran by vested interests, which needs to be denounced at every step.”
Sam Kermanian, of the U.S.-based Iranian-American Jewish Federation, said in an interview from Los Angeles that he had contacted members of the Jewish community in Iran — including the lone Jewish member of the Iranian parliament — and they denied any such measure was in place.
Mr. Kermanian said the subject of “what to do with religious minorities” came up during debates leading up to the passing of the dress code law.
“It is possible that some ideas might have been thrown around,” he said. “But to the best of my knowledge the final version of the law does not demand any identifying marks by the religious minority groups.”
Ali Reza Nourizadeh, an Iranian commentator on political affairs in London, suggested that the requirements for badges or insignia for religious minorities was part of a “secondary motion” introduced in parliament, addressing the changes specific to the attire of people of various religious backgrounds.
Mr. Nourizadeh said that motion was very minor and was far from being passed into law.
That account could not be confirmed.
Meir Javdanfar, an Israeli expert on Iran and the Middle East who was born and raised in Tehran, said yesterday that he was unable to find any evidence that such a law had been passed.
“None of my sources in Iran have heard of this,” he said. “I don’t know where this comes from.”
Well, all this bewilderment and denial follows a consistent pattern; this is how mujahedin have consistently behaved when caught red-handed. So I don't think that it means that this law doesn't exist or will not be implemented. And I wouldn't be in the least surprised if it is implemented, quietly, and soon.
Posted by Robert at May 20, 2006 6:14 AM
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Because Iranian government folks were caught red-handed by an increasing watching world, the deniels are going to be flying. Iran, we the world is watching you.
Posted by: bigcatgirl13106![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at May 20, 2006 6:49 AM
The issue is not the Iranian denial. Will their denial pass the same consistency test as their denial of the holocaust? That is the question.
Posted by: nadineken at May 20, 2006 7:48 AM
What shouldn't Mahmoud and the mad mullahs implement a traditional Islamic Law about the status of dhimmis?
Are ayatollahs afraid to please Allah?
Or just waiting until the EU gives them the nuclear technology go-ahead first?
(Don't want to upset the suckers while you are picking their kryton/cyclotron/centrifuge pockets?)
Posted by: profitsbeard at May 20, 2006 10:11 AM
That they actually thought about making the religious minorities in Iran wear distinguishing colours, should raise alarm bells. This shows that the image that Islam tries to portray in the West is very different from the Islam practiced in Islamic countries.
There they are prepared to turn their backs on many human rights issues. This time it is not the religious minorities (we think); it is just the rights of the women of Iran being trampled on - again.
There was another report from Iran, where women might be allowed to watch football or soccer matches in the stadiums. Even though a separate section would be allocated for women only, it is thought that if these women see the men’s legs while they are playing the game, the women might lose control of themselves and ...……. So it is believed that because the women are incapable of controlling their 'drive', throughout an entire football match, that they should for their own sakes, not be permitted to watch the match from the stadium.
In the West the Muslim women proudly pronounce that they wear the Islamic uniform dress by choice, that this is their identity. But when you are in Islamic countries, the clothes are seen as needed to control the women, were she is unable to control herself.
Posted by: Pass It On at May 20, 2006 7:32 PM
Any article with a headline beginning "Experts say..." has me feeling around to see if my wallet is still in my pocket.
Posted by: MP at May 22, 2006 1:47 PM
Iran has already gone far beyond badges for religious minorities. They may be, and likely are, planning a nuclear holocaust to iradicate all those they consider inferior. At any rate the way they deny the Nazi holocaust and denigrate other religions at home and abroad reveals only a small part of their Jihadi minds-their is plenty of hate there for all of us!
Posted by: infidelion1095 at May 23, 2006 1:04 AM
And I wouldn't be in the least surprised if it is implemented, quietly, and soon.
A law like this *can't* be implemented "quietly" if the government expects it to be observed.
Posted by: Seamus at May 23, 2006 7:27 PM
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