Robert,

Could it be because now that Iran has been put under the microscoptic glass, any actions by the government is going to be seen in a more harsher light with the help of the news communications services?

What could happen is that once the heat is taken off them, then they could get this law active. This remains to be seen.

Posted by: bigcatgirl13106 at May 23, 2006 8:18 AM

I agree Bigcatgirl. This is just like them denying they are going to build nukes. Deny, deny, deny.

Posted by: freewoman at May 23, 2006 8:25 AM

Of course this story could be true, and of course it is the sort of thing that could easily happen under Islam. But it is better to reserve judgement until we find out for sure that it is true.

There is enough bad stuff going on in Islam that we are 100% sure about.

Posted by: Interested at May 23, 2006 8:25 AM

In 2001 (or thereabouts) the then Taliban government in Afghanistan introduced zonnar dress markings for the few dhimmis who remained in that country. It was not confined to Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians which are the only faiths other than Islam that are recognised in Iran. Kabul had only two known Jews (one of whom lived in the city's only surviving synagogue) so the majority of those ordered to wear special markers were Hindus and Christians. The Afghan Minister of Religous Affairs - a Mr Walli - announced that Sikh men, (Sikhs like Hindus were quite a small minority in Kabul and mainly traders) need not not wear special coloured markings on their attire as Sikh turbans and other attributes rendered them recognisible anyway. However, Sikhs like other religious minorities were ordered to fly special flags over their abodes, presumably so the 'Faithful' should recognise such places as the homes of untouchable and inferior beings. I don't know when the Taliban's law demanding zonnar markings for dhimmis was abolished (one sincerely hopes it has actually been repealed following the Taliban's overthrow).

Posted by: moris2 at May 23, 2006 8:30 AM

Interested,
I share your sense of caution and that for the moment, monitoring is all that is required.
But do read Melanie Phillips' article as it appears that the original reporter -- Taheri -- stands by his story. And his supposed to be a generally credible person.

Posted by: Raw Data at May 23, 2006 10:54 AM

Raw Data,

The law was defined in 2004 and apparently now awaits the equivalent of a 'Senate aproval'

http://www.benadorassociates.com/article/19508
" I have been informed of the ideas under discussion thanks to my sources in Tehran, including three members of the Majlis who had tried to block the bill since it was first drafted in 2004.
I do not know which of these ideas or any will be eventually adopted. We will know once the committee appointed to discuss them presents its report, perhaps in September. "

Posted by: Cynic at May 23, 2006 11:51 AM

Meanwhile, from the department of ethnic relations within Iran, a new cartoon (this time, not Danish) sparks riots from Azeris, forcing the regime to shut down a newspaper. Maybe it's a problem they have with cartoons in general, rather than just depictions of Mohammed.

Well, let's hope this snowballs into a conflict between Azeris (25%) and Farsis (50%) - 75% of the population. After all, nothing better than internecine war within dar ul Islam, particularly since the West seems incapable of taking on Iran.

Posted by: Infidel Pride at May 23, 2006 12:49 PM

"let's hope this snowballs into a conflict between Azeris (25%) and Farsis (50%) - 75% of the population. After all, nothing better than internecine war within dar ul Islam, particularly since the West seems incapable of taking on Iran."
-- from a posting above

How can you suggest such a thing? Why would Infidels benefit from "instability" in Iran? Why would Infidels wish to see any Muslim country riven by ethnic or sectarian strife? That is exactly what we wish to avoid in Iraq, in order to create a Light Unto the Muslim Nations. That is exactly what we would wish to avoid in Afghanistan, where it would be truly horrible of local warlords, Tadzhik here, Uzbek there, Pashtun over there, Hazara right here, all started to fight.

That would be terrible.

Ask George "History Will Absolve Me" Bush. He knows that everyone "wants freedom." And Americans were put on this earth to save the world, and to bring that freedom, that message of purple-thumbed freedom, everywhere. So that we can all get along with the real business of livingm the only thing that matters. GDP. GNP. Growth. Growth. Growth.

Posted by: Hugh at May 23, 2006 12:56 PM

My bad. How could I have overlooked Quran 5:32?

Posted by: Infidel Pride at May 23, 2006 1:29 PM

There is enough bad stuff going on in Islam that we are 100% sure about. Posted by: Interested

Posted by: Infidel Pride at May 23, 2006 1:48 PM

More comment today by Andrew Bostom at the American Thinker.

The Yellow Badge of Denial

Posted by: Yojimbo at May 23, 2006 4:01 PM

But do read Melanie Phillips' article as it appears that the original reporter -- Taheri -- stands by his story.

Yeah, and Dan Rather stood by the story about those Air National Guard memos, too.

Posted by: Seamus at May 23, 2006 7:23 PM