Thursday, February 14, 2008

Imagine You Are Gay ... And Live in Iran

If you ever doubted the wickedness of the regime in Teheran, read this piece from the Everyone Group...
The Islamic Republic of Iran is persecuting homosexuals, dissidents and free thinkers, and carrying out political crimes towards them. Homosexual relationships in Iran are considered a crime liable to sadistic corporal punishment and the death sentence. On January 23rd, 2008, Hamzeh Chavi and Loghman Hamzehpour, two homosexual young men of 18 and 19, were arrested in Sardasht, in Iranian Azerbaijan. The authorities use physical and psychological torture to obtain confessions from people who fall into their hands, and the two young men admitted to being in love and having a relationship. Their confession was enough for the Islamic court to commit them to trial with two very serious charges: Mohareb, the crime of those who are "enemies of Allah" and Lavat, sodomy. Iranian criminal law envisages the gallows for homosexuals, who are considered "enemies of Allah". Nevertheless, there are many moderate political and religious figures in Iran who would like to change things and prevent the loss of so many innocent lives. The majority of Iranians are against the horrors of capital punishment through hanging and stoning; only a few extremists believe torture and flogging are admissible methods. The clandestine human rights movements are fighting heroically against these barbaric practices, risking their own lives in an effort to build a better Iran, a country in which minorities are respected and human life becomes a value once more. Thousands of Muslims believe Allah is a God of love, that the death sentences and brutal corporal punishment are crimes against humanity. On December 5th, 2007 an
innocent Iranian boy was martyred by the Teheran regime and then murdered on the scaffold. From all over the world, in answer to the campaign for the life of Makwan Moloudzadeh - promoted by EveryOne Group - thousands of Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and non-believers sent red and white flowers to President Ahmadinejad and the Iranian judges: red, in an attempt to avoid the spilling of innocent blood; white to implore his executioners to spare the life of yet another blameless condemned man. This vast international campaign served only to delay an execution which had already been decided. Today Makwan is the symbol of the martyrdom of the many innocent victims of a ruthless regime. Let us also remember Pegah Emambakhsh, the Iranian lesbian woman who is still waiting for the result of her appeal in the United Kingdom, and who risks being deported to Iran, where torture and stoning await her. EveryOne has received worrying news from the United Kingdom, where the Court of Appeal does not appear inclined to grant Pegah political asylum - in defiance of all the international conventions. Pegah is crushed by the attitude of the British Government and has told us she is tired of fighting, she is reluctant to appear in the newspapers and no longer believes in what Anne Frank defined as "man's inner goodness". We must respect Pegah's wishes, but we have to be ready to say no to the ritish Government, which has abandoned the path of respect for the rights of women, homosexuals and refugees.

There's a petition being organised on this HERE.

24 comments:

Newmania said...

You don`t feel that elements of this law should be incorporated into our legal system then?

You gays are all a like , fuss fuss fuss picky picky picky

Paddy Briggs said...

Iain

This has my full support. The sad thing is that ordinary Iranians (at least the ones I have met during my visits to Tehran) are smart, decent, tolerant and hospitable people. They have been "blessed" for years with psychotic and paranoid leaders. I find it deeply offensive that European companies, including my previous employer Shell, do business in Iran at this time (and want more). For once the Americans are right to keep their distance!

Anonymous said...

But I didn't think there were any gays in Iran ? At least that is what Mr Ahmadinnajacket assures us...

Anonymous said...

I receive information from a group that tries to help political prisoners in Iran. Tens of thousands of innocent people have been murdered by the Iranian regime and this continues. The methods used are barbaric. The sentences are often given by sharia courts. It is a disgrace that the papers so rarely report any of this.

As for the Archbishop of Canterbury he is beneath contempt.

Tapestry said...

She is right.

Wherever democracy dies, evil wins.

In Britain individuals are crushed by uncaring State power, just as our country is being crushed by EU bureaucracy.

Gordon Brown is not only stupid. He also is evil, trading with the devil, anytime the devil grants him more power.

For more sickening exposure of countries where God has deserted the people, see http://the-tap.blogspot.com/2008/02/putins-russian-art-exhibition.html

Wrinkled Weasel said...

Pegah Emambakhsh seems to have dropped off the radar. I cannot find anything about her after November 2007. What is her fate?

It's ironic that a government that has banned shirtlifting carpet munching poofter/dyke jokes and that sends out dictats about "unacceptable words" is actually having an administrative problem with the life and death of a Lesbian.

However, I suspect this woman entered the country illegally, and as with all illegal immigrants there must be rules. Every week we get a sob story about some seeming deserving case. We cannot take on the deserving of the world. It is not possible. Illegal immigration into this country costs us dear. It is out of control, and until such time it is brought under control I want to see a moratorium on all asylum applications, however worthy.

In the meantime, we must make one thing very very clear to the Muslim population of this country. We do not tolerate persectution of our citizens because of their sexual orientation. Never. We must also pursue with vigour, incidents of Muslim LGBT persecution in THIS country.

I wonder...what is the Government doing about our own LGBT Muslims? Sod all probably because they are too busy appeasing the Muslim Council of GB

Sorry that I cannot suddenly change my views about the state of asylum rules in this country, but I fully support the cause of freedom for British LGBT to live in safety and peace and will stand up and say so if and when it is required.

Anonymous said...

I don't understand. According to the Archcommunity-Songster of Canterbury, you can have your sharia law a la carte, like Christianity. The bits you don't like, like judicially murdering gays and apostates, you just pretend don't exist. So why not just pretend this stuff doesn't exist? If you grow a beard and look like a druid the doublethink gets easier.

Anonymous said...

are you sure they don't support it?

Over 90% of the Afghan people supported death penalty for apostate Abdul Rahman.

Anonymous said...

okay, try this from Churchill:

"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.
Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities — but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome."

Anonymous said...

I'm a little confused here. Didn't Mahmoud Ahmadinejad tell us there are no gays in Iran? ;-
))

The Military Wing Of The BBC said...

The liberal elite just don't get it:
Islam is not another version of Christianity - its just not a very nice religion.

Western liberalism is based largly (in my view) on John 8.7 - "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"

Now look up on Wikipedia punishments in the Koran for audultary (called "Zina") the incidents of punishments are endless, including Mohamad deciding that a pregant women should be stoned for the crime (after of course she has given birth).

Christianity advocates punishment after death with a higher power as judge. Islam advocates it
after lunch with self appointed judge juries and executioners.

Jesus Christ was a pacifist. Mohamad was the leader of an army.

There is no such thing as a moderate Muslim because the religion itself just isn't moderate.

The British elite - including the Tories - continue to allow large scale Islamic immigration.

Iain - you publish stories like this yet never seem to call for the re-introduction of the primary purpose rule. In 20 years time England will not be the liberal place that it once was.

I growing tied of Littlejohn type figures in the media - they bang on about this stuff, trouser their fee, yet come up with no ideas as to how the voter can do anything about it.

Sabretache said...

How about 'Imagine you're gay and live in Saudi Arabia'? Or maybe 'dissident' and live in Uzbekistan or Tagikistan or any one of a dozen or more other Feudal/criminal/genocidally vicious Western-backed Regimes whose support in maintaining Western control over ME/Caspian oil supplies and pipeline routes is needed

Your wickedness charge is both simplistic and selective. I guess that, from one still aspiring to climb the greasy pole of Western politics, it's to be expected though. After all, to express a balanced view on such matters, or worse still to tell the truth about our 'Allies', is to relinquish any prospect of joining the power elite at Privy Council level.

Your intro line reminded me forcefully of Shrub's 'Axis of evil' and Bliar's 'arc of extermism' - Good company eh?

Anonymous said...

Tone, it obviously escaped your notice that the Tories haven't been in power for the last 10 years so were not responsible for levels of immigration.

The obvious thing to do would be to vote for a Party that would bring back strong and effective immigration policies and policing.

There, that wasn't difficult, was it?

Iain Dale said...

That shows how little you know me. I spoke out against the Saudis over the arms scandal a few months back and I would happily speak out against them for the record on gay rights.

I highlighted this because my attention was drawn to this petition. Simple as that. Dont attribute motives I do not have.

And just for the record, it is highly unlikely I will now put myself forward at the next election. So don;t be so cynical, next time.

The Military Wing Of The BBC said...

Judith
- and the Conservative Party's view of the Primary purpose rule?

-300,000 Islamic immigrants per year (many 1st Cousins).

I live in a small town with a large Islamic community. Many, many stories of this rule now being used to bring in 2nd and 3rd wives. - (There is no central UK registrar to record who is already married so "official" bigomy to get the necessary papers is easy).

What is the Conservative party's view of this?

How about the BBC broadcasting womens' rights programes in Urdo (etc) during the day. English/Urdu lessons on the BBC?

Here's one: Mosques that don't allow women in them during MAIN prayers should see all Local Autority "assistance" withdrawn - including all the "ministers of religions' " rights to Council Tax exemptions.

No calls for any of this from the Conservative party?


You see, there is so little time left now that moral relativism and not wanting to upset anyone in marginal seats really will be the death of everything that was once England.

The Conservative Party has left behind the concerns of its natural constituency because they have been cowed by the MSM. For me and many like me there is only one place to go: except most people are too scared to admit this in public, let alone stand for them as a candidate.

Stan Bull said...

Guess where gay Palestinians seek refuge? Why Israel, of course. Many on the left simply can not admit that everything they value (including cultural diversity, gay rights, women's empowerment, the freedom to express their own ideas) is literally intolerable to radical Islam When push comes to shove on the Left, radical Islam trumps gay rights.

Anonymous said...

Iain - can you imagine being gay?

Anonymous said...

Iain - can you imagine being gay?

Anonymous said...

I had a gay housemate as a student whose boyfriend was Indonesian. At the time, I had a foriegn Girlfriend (now my wife).

It struck me as really unfair that I could marry my girlfriend and keep her in the country, whilst he did not have the same option (if he was as serious). Moreover, his boyfriend was going to return to a country where his very existence is illegal.

Unless you think that being gay is a choice, how can anyone who believes in God, call for punishment for homosexuality? After all, a person is how God made them.

Anonymous said...

I was having my first cup of tea and saw this and my stomach lurched. I couldn't read it.

What is so strange is that, as others have mentioned - most notably Paddy Briggs - by all accounts the Iranians are charming and worldly. Certainly, the ones one meets outside Iran are reliably good company with a broad frame of reference and a clever sense of humour.

I have a friend who lived there for several years just before their "Revolution", and he has nothing but praise for the Iranians, even now.

If you read V S Naipaul's "Among The Believers", there is a chapter on Iran, and he refers to the women's absolute devotion to make-up, big hair and high heels.

They were worldly and sophisticated people - tolerant. Not bothered. And even today, I believe it's the only islamic country where you can pick up paintings and drawings of mohammad in shops and market stalls. They're not bothered.

What on earth happened? Will it ever come back,I wonder.

Anonymous said...

Iran's treatment of gays should condemned in the strongest terms. But at the same time, we should not conveniently forget that until 1967 in England, and 1980 in Scotland, gay men were given a choice between imprisonment or electric shock treatment. Alan Turing, the inventor of the machine you are now using, was presented with a choice of prison or oestrogen injections. He chose the injections, spent a year watching himself grow breasts, and then committed suicide. We in Britain may be more humane than the Iranians in our treatment of our fellow citizens, but this is, I am ashamed to say, a very recent development.

Manfarang said...

Imagine you are a Bahai...and live in Iran

http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran

Rachel Joyce said...

I'm proud to have signed this.

paulocanning said...

Iain

the last news on Pegah was that her last appeal had been turned down. She's under real threat as is Mehdi Kazemi who looks to have exhausted his legal options.

The government refers to 'careful consideration' and 'right to appeal' but this is meaningless because their policy is that being gay in Iran is a choice and she's perfectly safe if she stops being a lesbian. That's why these cases keep losing: government policy.

Thank you for your support on this issue.