It actually undermined Shi’ite values, but for the mullahs, that’s the same thing. In any case, note here again the absolute intolerance of dissent, the inability to deal with opposing points of view in any way other than to silence them forcibly. That same authoritarian impulse is present in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s “Islamophobia” campaign, which seeks not to refute or debate the so-called “Islamophobes,” or to demonstrate that what they say is false in any way, but simply to shut them down. The campaign to smear them as “hatemongers” and “bigots” goes hand-in-hand with this — it doesn’t prove them wrong, it just makes timid and ignorant people think they better run the other way rather than listen to them.
“Iran shuts down newspaper, cites anti-Islamic article,” from the Associated Press, October 28 (thanks to Twostellas):
TEHRAN, Iran “” Iran has shut down a reformist newspaper over an article that allegedly undermined Islamic values.
State TV reported Monday that Iran’s media supervisory body banned the daily Bahar, citing a law authorizing media closures over articles deemed to violate Islamic values or insult Islam.
Bahar published an op-ed article on Wednesday that expressed doubts the Prophet Muhammad had appointed a successor “” a statement that contradicts the beliefs of Shiite Muslims.
Shiite Muslims believe Muhammad designated Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib, his son-in-law, as the leader of the Islamic society.
Last week, Bahar’s chief editors temporarily shut the publication down for two weeks, possibly in an effort to avoid the ban.
Since 2000, Iran’s judiciary has shut down more than 120 pro-reform newspapers and jailed dozens of editors and writers.