Iran is claiming security and foreigners are stirring dissent. True, but Iran is not quite the model of political freedom either. All who have power fear loosing it, even the Jedi. (obligatory Sith Quote of the day).

NPRÂ’s Morning Edition: Some observers fear a new round of crackdowns on intellectuals is taking place in Iran. They point to a prominent Iranian scholar who has been held in a Tehran prison for more than three weeks. The government has not leveled specific charges against the man.

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Amir Taheri has posted a response to TehranÂ’s Denial of a new law there alleged to implement dress codes by religious affiliation. I will quote him here as well as add links to the prior posts below.

Amir Taheri via benadorassociates.com: PRESS RELEASE: AMIR TAHERI ADDRESSES QUERIES ABOUT DRESS CODE STORY

by Amir Taheri
Benador Associates
May 22, 2006

Regarding the dress code story it seems that my column was used as the basis for a number of reports that somehow jumped the gun. As far as my article is concerned I stand by it.

The law has been passed by the Islamic Majlis and will now be submitted to the Council of Guardians. A committee has been appointed to work out the modalities of implementation.

Many ideas are being discussed with regard to implementation,including special markers, known as zonnars, for followers of Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism, the only faiths other than Islam that are recognized as such. The zonnar was in use throughout the Muslim world until the early 20th century and marked out the dhimmis, or protected religious minorities. ( In Iran it was formally abolished in 190 .

I have been informed of the ideas under discussion thanks to my sources in Tehran, including three members of the Majlis who had tried to block the bill since it was first drafted in 2004. I do not know which of these ideas or any will be eventually adopted. We will know once the committee appointed to discuss them presents its report, perhaps in September.

Interestingly, the Islamic Republic authorities refuse to issue an
official statement categorically rejecting the concept of dhimmitude and the need for marking out religious minorities.

I raised the issue not as a news story, because news of the new law was already several days old, but as an opinion column to alert the outside world to this most disturbing development.

Iranian author and journalist Amir Taheri is a member of Benador Associates.

Related original post , Update , Related somewhat similar Taliban law.

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As promised more follow-up on yesterday's post about the Iranian religious clothing issue.

This is Amir Taheri of Canada’s National Post Article on the “Iranian Uniform Law” published yesterday. Despite the fact there is some confusion about exactly what the law’s results will be, it is none the less disturbing given even a best case scenario.(quoet move to extended entry)

Others following include Power Line, Little Green Footballs and Allah at Hot Air who points out that I missed this article, it was part of the original two published yesterday. Hey, I can't be everywhere. We're not all Blog Gods like he is.

Some "informed" bloggers think(cough) because some of the details were wrong, this excuses the fact the pending law is oppressive even without those provisions.
more...

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Caption needed!

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So you thought my comparison of the Nazis led by Adolph Hitler and IranÂ’s ruling government led by President Ahmadinejad was a bit far fetched? Think Again!

Free Republic : Human rights groups are raising alarms over a new law passed by the Iranian parliament that would require the country's Jews and Christians to wear coloured badges to identify them and other religious minorities as non-Muslims.

"This is reminiscent of the Holocaust," said Rabbi Marvin Hier, the dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles. "Iran is moving closer and closer to the ideology of the Nazis."

Iranian expatriates living in Canada yesterday confirmed reports that the Iranian parliament, called the Islamic Majlis, passed a law this week setting a dress code for all Iranians, requiring them to wear almost identical "standard Islamic garments."

The law, which must still be approved by Iran's "Supreme Guide" Ali Khamenehi before being put into effect, also establishes special insignia to be worn by non-Muslims.

Iran's roughly 25,000 Jews would have to sew a yellow strip of cloth on the front of their clothes, while Christians would wear red badges and Zoroastrians would be forced to wear blue cloth.

"There's no reason to believe they won't pass this," said Rabbi Hier. "It will certainly pass unless there's some sort of international outcry over this."

Hat Tip: Son of the Godfather.

Update : Some say this is not in the law. The Original story is here.

From the Jerusalem Post : The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations released a statement saying, "We have been seeking to clarify these reports but do not yet have confirmation. There are clear indications that various Iranian government agencies, including the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, are working on new uniforms to be introduced in the fall.

"While such legislation would be reminiscent of dark periods in the past, like the Nazi era when Jews and others had to wear identifying badges, it is also consistent with the racist and extremist ideology propagated by President Ahmadinejad.

We are monitoring the situation and seeking to ascertain the facts in order to determine the appropriate response."

Allahpundit is keeping us updated.

Debka Via Allahpundit at Hot Air : However, the law has not been finally enacted, and speakers in the majlis debate proposed that non-Muslim minorities be made to wear distinctive clothes, yellow being the preferred color for Jews.

The bill in question aims primarily at countering the revolt against black Muslim dress” as the hot summer approaches and Iranians – especially women - take to light clothing. At the end of the majlis debate, the final draft will be put to the vote; with or without the proposed discriminatory clauses remains to be seen.

Breaking : The latest report on this issue from The National Post here. more...

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