Should society be oriented toward freedom, or toward the good, as its highest value? In Iran, the regime has firmly opted for the latter, and beats women who get out of line. Sharia Alert from the Islamic Republic of Iran: “Flowers and beatings for women attending book fair + photo,” from Mohabat News, May 23 (thanks to Lachlan):
According to the semi-official Fars news agency, women arriving at Tehran’s 25th annual International Book Fair in the obligatory Islamic hejab were presented with flowers by the organisers. Meanwhile outside the entrance women deemed to be defying the regime’s Islamic values by not dressing appropriately were beaten and dragged away by religious police.
Shahrzad — After a photograph published on the internet showing officers dragging a woman towards a police van was quickly taken up by major international news agencies, the fair’s organisers condemned such behaviour. Aftab News reported that director Bahman Dari had issued a statement dissociating his office from the beating and public humiliation of women. “We shall not tolerate the physical harassment of women on our territory, and will deal with those responsible.”