Miss Kelly

Iran Proposes Death Penalty for Apostates

Iran's Parliament is discussing a proposal calling for the death penalty for Muslims who leave Islam:

"Tehran, 19 March (AKI) - In its first session since last week's general elections, the new Iranian parliament is expected to discuss a law that will condemn to death anyone who decides to leave the Muslim faith and convert to other religions."

"The parliament, also known as the Majlis, will debate the new law which has been presented by the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad."

"Under the proposed law, anyone who is born to Muslim parents and decides to convert to another faith, will face the death penalty."

"Currently converts, particularly those who have decided to leave the Muslim faith for Evangelical churches, are arrested and then released after some years of detention."

Why the call for the death penalty (instead of just imprisonment) now?  Apparently, people are leaving the Islamic faith in droves in Iran.

"There has also been concern over fact that many young people in Iran have abandoned Islam because they're tired of the many restrictions imposed by the faith."

"According to unofficial sources, in the past five years, one million Iranians, particularly young people and women, have abandoned Islam and joined Evangelical churches."

And killing them is a solution?

I suppose if one follows this hadith, it is called for.

More specifics on the draft penal code and definitions of an apostate here.

New Iranian Blog - Rotten Gods

Well, Rotten Gods is new to me, anyway, and it's only been around since July 2007.  Blogger Fariborz Shamshiri writes about religion, human rights and politics in Iran.  Although I don't share Shamshiri's  disdain for any and all religions ("religion is bullshit"), he gives us a unique look at Iran, apparently from an Iranian ex-patriate's perspective.  Which is to say, there's heaps of scathing criticism of the ignoramus mullahs and politicians.  My favorite postings: "How to Train Teens to Kill for Islam," cartoons from Iran demonstrating proper and improper hijab, and this video of Islamic superstition.  Check it out!

Iranian (?) Belly Dancer in a Flannel Shirt

I can't read much at this Iranian website (it's mostly in Farsi), but there's a pretty cool video of a young Iranian (?) woman belly-dancing.  Her attire is unusual: white turtleneck, flannel shirt tied above her waist, and bleached jeans.  Talk about isolation of body movement - yikes stripes!  I wonder what the event was, and where it was held. Amazing muscular control and graceful, alluring movement.

Gay Man Hung in Public in Iran, Eye for an Eye

Different "gay rights" issues in Iran than in the West.....from Iran Focus:

"A gay Iranian man was hanged in public on Tuesday in the western city of Kermanshah on the charge of sodomy. Shahab Darvishi was charged with organising a “corruption ring”, deliberate assault, and “lavat”, which means homosexual relationship between two men or sodomy, the official news agency IRNA reported. Darvishi was hanged in the evening in Kermanshah’s “Freedom Square” in front of hundreds of people, the report said."

"Under Iran’s Islamic Penal Code, homosexuality between consenting adults is a capital crime and official Iranian sources express hostility to homosexual practices. A state radio commentary on March 7, 2005 criticised gay marriages in Western countries. Ayatollah Ebrahim Amini, an influential cleric, said in his Friday-prayer sermon in Qom that gay and lesbian marriages reflect a weakness of Western culture, state television reported on July 13, 2002. Ayatollah Ali Meshkini in his Friday-prayer sermon in Qom criticised the German Green Party for being pro-homosexual, state television reported on April 29, 2000."

Lots of hanging going on in Iran, just this month alone.  And a little "eye for an eye" justice is meted out. Where are the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International Folks when you need them?