Strictly speaking, according to the letter of Islamic law, they have her, and she knows it: she has already apologized for the kiss. Whether that will spare her the wrath of Iran’s Sharia enforcers remains to be seen.
“Iranian Actress Could Face Public Flogging Over Kiss,” Variety, May 23, 2014:
Iranian actress Leila Hatami, star of Oscar-winning film “A Separation,” is causing a stir in her home country after publicly kissing Cannes president Gilles Jacob.
Unrelated men and women, according to Iran’s strict Islamic regime, are not allowed to touch or kiss in public.
The kiss, a simple peck on the cheek, took place at the world premiere of “Grace of Monaco” last Wednesday, May 14. It was also the opening night of the Cannes Film Festival in France.
Hizbullah Students, a group of university students linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, have since filed a complaint over the incident.
She must be flogged for “kissing a strange man,” they said in the petition.
The petition adds, “We, the undersigned, who are a group of student Muslim brothers and sisters, ask the cultural and media branch of the judiciary to prosecute Leila Hatami for her sinful act of kissing a strange man in public, which according to article 638 of Islamic Criminal Justice carries a prison sentence.”
Adding, “Furthermore, the action of this film star has hurt the religious sentiments of the proud and martyrs breeding nation of Iran and as such we also demand the punishment of flogging for her as stipulated in the law.”
Hatami is the daughter of popular Iranian director Ali Hatami and is married with two children.
Her reps could not be reached for comment on this story.
John C. Barile says
The Islamic Republic of Iran should be regarded as the malignancy that it is, and be rigorously subjected to the same kind of BDS that it instigates against Israel.
Brian Hoff says
They will find than way to not flogged her.
John C. Barile says
Perhaps. But if she were just another Muslima, rather than an international celebrity, then she would likely be flogged or imprisoned, or both; she would then be another public example of the Islamic Republic’s pursuit of virtue. We know that this is also true in Sunni Saudi Arabia–and coming soon to the Sultanate of Brunei. What kind of justice do you think this is, O You Who Believe?
mortimer says
The long-suffering Persian people mostly hate the mullahs, but the mullahs have one million bullies to crack heads. How will it end? As it did in Rumania. One day, the people will lose their fear, realizing that there are more opponents than proponents of the Islamic regime.
Jacksonl03 says
” . . . a group of university students . . . have since filed a complaint over the incident. She must be flogged for ‘kissing a strange man,’ they said in the petition.”
Boy, that’s some university! Of course, I guess, the childhood indoctrination of Muslim children, having been honed for centuries, is near impossible to overcome even by a decent university.
I’d like to believe as many, including Obama & co seem to that this is one of those tiny student radical Muslim sects that preach violence in voices barely heard amidst the mass of peaceful Muslims of the Religion of Peace.
I can’t do it. Something keeps nagging at me, holding me back.
Rojm says
Every day in the news the word is getting out there that there is problem with a religion that promotes itself a state religion. The press should be all over Islam about this idea of a state religion. Why is not the press, pressing Islamists all over the world who push for a state religion? This is the 21st century. Freedom of religion should be allowed in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan, and so on.
dsinc says
Islam could never allow that. It would be dead within a week.
bettina says
testing the smiley icon now 🙂
Please excuse the interruption.
duh_swami says
That’s Quran 24:2 ainit?
Paddy says
Leila, Leila…why you would want to return to and risk the wrath of such a vile regime for such a simple, customary act of common courtesy is beyond me.
Jerry Collins says
True story: Washington, D.C.
Lady with scarf waiting in rain for cab.
Cab stops and lady gets in.
Cab driver, “Muslim sisters should not be standing in rain, catch cold.”
Lady removes scarf.
Cab driver, “Oh, excuse me Mam, I didn’t know you were Japanese.”
Lady, “I’m not.”
Cab driver, “Where were you born?”
Lady, “In Alaska.”
Cab driver, “Oh, you are Native American.”
Lady, “No, “I’m Italian.”
chumachil says
Jeez, they’re overreacting over a kiss? Wow, the mullahs and their minions are too crazy!
Too bad, Baha’ism started in the 19th century; if it was established two to three centuries earlier (more probably, this Iran suffering from a calamity at that time), maybe most of them are mostly Baha’i (Zoroastians, I think, will be allowed).
Jay Boo says
What can we expect from people who flog themselves in order to please the unknowable Allah.