Islamic supremacists the world over are desperately insecure and fearful of any kind of challenge. Thus they move to crush free speech regarding Islam, demonize and smear their opponents rather than engage them in discussion or debate, and endeavor to stifle all dissent. Islamic Tolerance Alert from the Islamic Republic of Iran. “Report: Iran confiscates Buddha statues to stop promotion of Buddhism,” from the Associated Press, February 17 (thanks to Anne Crockett):
TEHRAN, Iran “” An Iranian newspaper is reporting that government authorities are confiscating Buddha statues from shops in Tehran to stop the promotion of Buddhism in the country.
Sunday”s report by the independent Arman daily quotes Saeed Jaberi Ansari, an official for the protection of Iran’s cultural heritage, as saying that authorities will not permit a specific belief to be promoted through such statues.
Ansari called the Buddha statues symbols of “cultural invasion.”
He did not elaborate on how many have been confiscated so far, but said more would be seized from shops.
Iran has long fought against items, such as Barbie dolls and Simpsons cartoon characters, to defuse Western influence, but this appears to be the first time that Iranian authorities are showing an opposition to symbols from the East.