This kind of thing is based on the principle of ihtiyat, precaution: avoiding things that are technically not violations of Sharia provisions so that one doesn’t even come close to violating actual Sharia provisions.
“No Pizza for Women. Men Can’t Serve Women Tea. Iran’s TV Censorship Gets Weirder,” by Amir Hossein Miresmaeili, Iran Wire, September 29, 2021:
On Monday, September 27, two separate items were shared by Iranian state-controlled media that brought the regime’s ridiculous censorship of women back to the fore. Amir Hossein Shamshadi, head of PR at Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, no less, disclosed on his personal Instagram page that according to a recent “audit” of the organization, directors were no longer permitted to depict men pouring tea for women in their workplaces.
Women, Shamshadi went on, were also not to be shown consuming any red-coloured beverages, sandwiches or pizza, or wearing leather gloves. Images of men and women in domestic environments were also to be specially reviewed by IRIB directors before broadcast.
The IRIB is also responsible for licensing and overseeing Iranian home theatre and streaming platforms, via a subsidiary called Satra. Also on Monday, the latest episode of the Iranian talk show Pishgoo, which airs each week on the Namava streaming site, shied away from showing its own guest’s face. Actress Elnaz Habibi had come on the program to talk to presenter Pejman Jamshidi, but only her voice was heard for the entire, surreal duration.
Viewers were understandably baffled, and veteran actor Amin Tarokh took to Instagram to complain. “I wish the guest’s name had been subtitled, at least,” he lamented. “Because we didn’t see her face at all, had the host not mentioned it [at the beginning], we’d have no idea which artist was being talked about! What pleasure is derived from getting a close-up look at the creators of the program, and a far-off one at the guest, just because they’re a woman? Especially a lady like this who’s very decent. All you get from the IRIB is a voice and no picture.”
Coincidentally, on the same day the Iranian Students Polling Agency (ISPA) published the results of its latest survey on Iranians’ overall interest in the IRIB. Some 1,581 citizens aged 18 and over had the question put to them: “How do you follow the news of the day?”. Just 42 percent cited the IRIB as their preferred source of news, with another 41 percent opting for the internet and social media in the first instance. Smaller numbers preferred other satellite networks, word of mouth or “other means”. Based on ISPA’s previous published surveys, this suggests Iranians’ overall reliance on the IRIB for news has decreased by a full 15.6 percent since March 2019….
Wellington says
Islam is not only evil, it’s ridiculous.
mortimer says
The absurdities of Sharia law stem from its obscure tribal origins based in superstition, and in their over-inter-interpretation by medieval mullah-legalists.
Islamic law is a lobster trap. Once a society falls into it, it is almost impossible to get out. Only the iron will of Attaturk liberated Turkey from Sharia, but the idiocy of present-day Turkish fanatics is dragging them back into the Middle Ages.
Islam is not based in empirical facts or in sound reasoning. Allah’s ‘eternal’ book is a series of contradictions (called ‘abrogations’) and the hadiths contradict and overrule the Koran even more. Mullahs spend their entire careers explaining how these bone-headed contradictions can be simultaneously true, and why Allah and Mohammed did not actually say what they said in the Koran and hadiths.
Islam is an absurd set of nonsensical and contradictory claims that can only be believed through a grim obscurantist denial of reality.
Keith O says
A couple of things Mortimer, Insinuating that Islam is dragging Turkey back into the middle ages is a distortion. I would have said the dark ages.
And the numerous contradictions in Islam’s fantasy storyline would make perfect sense, to an illiterate, superstitious, primitive peasant like they had when the cult was founded, or like they have in modern day Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, ETC.
tim gallagher says
I was just going to say that it is insane, Wellington. Ridiculous will do though. You couldn’t make this insanity up. Women can’t be seen drinking red coloured drinks or wearing leather gloves, etc. Complete insanity. What a waste of anyone’s life it is to be sitting around dreaming this sort of utter bullshit up. There are people who are actually dealing with genuine issues and helping the human race to progress and then there are these islamic morons dealing with crap like this. Of course, if it helps keep women oppressed, keeps them under the thumb, I guess they think it is serving its real purpose. Very well said, mortimer. It is definitely “bone-headed” rubbish. Islam is insane.
Wellington says
Did you notice, tg, that the Arabic word, ihtiyat, that Robert Spencer referenced in his article seems to sound very close to the English word, “idiot?” To the extent this is the case how appropriate.
tim gallagher says
I hadn’t noticed that, Wellington, but it is appropriate. Some of the drivel that the islamic “scholars”, who decide on these bizarre rules come up with, is amazing. They do inhabit a strange, but very barbaric, universe, that’s for sure. I suppose that, if it all keeps women right in their place, living as very much inferior and controlled human beings, then that’s what it really seems to be all about.
gravenimage says
Spot on, Wellington.
mortimer says
I am grateful to the Iranian Students Polling Agency (ISPA) for their efforts. However, I believe that those giving credence to Iranian propaganda is a bit exaggerated and those disbelieving it is underreported.
I believe people are afraid to admit their true feelings even in anonymous surveys. They can’t be too careful. Probably 60% or 70% disbelieve the propaganda. The others are fanatical Muslims.
somehistory says
Every time that I personally read of some stupid orders from mozlums…and others who are also fond of giving stupid orders…I recall that our Creator gave only 3 commands to the first humans.
God told Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth; and subdue it…(make it all a paradise garden)…and have in subjection the fish of the sea, the flying creatures of the air, the domestic animals of the land.”
And, later God told Adam and Eve that He had given them “all the trees of the garden,’ from which they could “eat to satisfaction,’ except for the one tree that would show them being disobedient if they partook.
Yet, man…supposedly wise, supposedly learned, etc….make up countless laws and some go to the extreme…as the fools in iran are doing. Such stupidity.
The evils of islam….and its inherent stupidity…come from satan, the serpent in the Garden who led the first humans into sin (Law-breaking). And, demon snake that he is, he continues to lead humans into every evil of which he can desire.
Jesus gave us Two Commandments to follow which would lead to happiness and life.
Better just Two that make incredible good sense, and cause good to happen, than to be in this sickening, evil, and oh-so-stupid dictatorship inspired by satan the devil and known as islam.
PMK says
The headline was a laugh! Tomatoes are forbidden in Islam? Cheese is forbidden? I guess cherries are also forbidden? WHY? Heaven forbid women in Iran be seen drinking tomato juice or V8!
gravenimage says
I’ve heard that tomatoes are forbidden because they are “Christian food” and that its shape “resembles a cross” when it is cut in half (one of the few areas in which Muslims have a good imagination…).
Here’s one of my favorite examples of Islamic stupidity, from ten years ago:
“Islamic cleric bans women from touching bananas, cucumbers for sexual resemblance”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2011/12/islamic-cleric-bans-women-from-touching-bananas-cucumbers-for-sexual-resemblance
Raja says
It seems, the ones influenced by evil spirits need to be kept in control. On the one hand, you have marauding people ravaging on infidels at the drop of the hat, on the other, you need to reign in on the naturalized barbarians (thanks to islam). The Islamic think tank must be in splits, wondering how to manage the mavericks, at the same time keep them glued to the Satan’s way through countless dictates.
These grotesque rules conforms to the PM Imran’s idea of Pious Muslims not being robots. So the onus is on the women to keep the lusting men from doing any “mischief”. Women in Islamic states better remain in letter boxes- for your own safety and for the safety of your nation.
gravenimage says
Islamic Republic of Iran TV: Women can’t be shown eating pizza
……………
Islam: stoning women to death; Halal; showing them enjoying a pizza, Haram.
God, I hate Islam.
GenEarly says
Islam and ProgreSSive USSA mostly Insane? 23 Genders, Men having monthly periods? ETC on and on.
Seems most Societies on Planet Earth are either Insane or quickly approaching it.
OLD GUY says
Iran is an islamic dictatorship ruled country. Islam is all about control of everything you think or do, any sign of freedom has to be denied through violence. Why any political leader would support the migration Invasion of muslim/islamic people into western society is a serious question. Islam is the death of FREEDOM, the liberal west had better WOKE UP to the danger they are bringing to their countries.
Oskar says
Iran was a beautiful secular country during the Pahlavi dynasty. Even though I’m not an Iranian, just looking at the photos, videos and musics about “Iran before 1979” makes me both sad and happy. Sad because those days are end now, happy because there were good old days in Iran, which the Iranians can uphold the legacy of it. Just like Turkey was a de-facto and de-jure secular state before Erdogan, with some flaws of course, but that was still better than today’s Islamist-fascist Turkey under Erdogan. I just hope that there will be a secularist revival in the former secular, now Islamist countries. The Iranians and the Turks abroad, especially in the Western Europe, must organize themselves against the dictatorships of Iran and Turkey.