February 09, 2005

Iranian Blogger's Ordeal

"Do you accept the charges?" the interrogator asked.

"What charges?"

"That you have written things in your Web log that go against the Islamic system and that encourage people to topple the system," he said. "You are inviting corrupt American liberalism to rule Iran."

Read the whole thing. I especially like how that guard asks for suggestions on improving jail conditions after she had been held for 36 days. Via Kevin Drum who says: Would Stalin have been so droll?

Others commenting (via memeorandum):
Obsidian Wings:I can just imagine the totalitaritan prison guard saying "have a nice day" after her five-week stay in the Iranian reeducation center.

Ezra Klein: publishing this critique in a major American newspaper (which the American-obsessed Iranians surely keep tabs on) seems like a bad idea, but no one can doubt its courage

Presto Pundit: AND THE CRIME IS BLOGGING

Spare White Guy: The next time that I hear some jackoff saying something about Bush taking away our freedoms, I'm just gonna lean over and knock their f**king teeth out.
Jenniebee: The whole thing is written in a style that heightens the drama of every moment, but it simultaneously stresses the politeness and civility of almost everyone involved--WTF??

Posted by: Rusty at 12:48 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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1 wow, that was something to read... made me apreciate being in the west. definately the strangest most cognatively dissonent ending to this little drama played out by the islamofascists was the questionare on how to improve things during a prisoners horrible terrifiying ordeal, im thinking a mint chocolate on the pillow after interogations might be nice.....

Posted by: rumcrook at February 09, 2005 01:35 PM (KqxgH)

2 Dude, are you back or checking in from Peru??

Posted by: Rusty at February 09, 2005 01:39 PM (JQjhA)

3 Shows how religion is used to enslave people. The Koran and Allah are being misused by these religious fanatics, who want to keep women in a subservient role. It will hold back progress in Iran and any other country that uses such tactics. Shame and dishonour on them. I salute this brave woman and wish her well. Publicize this and show how tyrannical these so-called religious people are.

Posted by: LML at February 09, 2005 06:31 PM (Hl5bb)

4 Yes religion is used to enslave people, then again it was religion that caused the downfall of slavery. So 'religion' actually is not to blame. Just as 'religion' was not to blame for the Thuggies but a PARTICULAR religion was. There is, however, a PARTICULAR religion to blame here. One that has a core doctrine of the non-seperation of Church and state and the establishment of religious law. Unlike another PARTICULAR religion in my mind which takes as a core doctrine the inherent seperation of church and state.....

Posted by: Rusty at February 09, 2005 06:57 PM (JQjhA)

5 Since I have an AP class at 7 AM, this item in the paper sure woke me up for the day. Question is: Is she still being watched, and how can she have her ordeal published in foreign papers while still in an oppressive country?

Posted by: Cecile at February 09, 2005 09:32 PM (JyBAZ)

6 "Yes religion is used to enslave people, then again it was religion that caused the downfall of slavery." Rusty nice arguement, but faltering on the fact that religion is the one single tool used for anyone who wants power ... from the time of shamans in cavemen days to the present Holy See. No difference just now there is money involved. Best to use George carlins 10 commandments then no one would argue. As too the whole issue of summary arrests and detainments with assistance from local authorities, this is nothing new to us ... we have been doing it for a long time. If you guys have some time you should read up about one US Ambassador Comer and the mis-adventure that resulted when he was posted to the embassy in Ankara, Turkey. The issue here with arrests of the general population for offences considered to be counter-administration, well if that person ever gets too out of control they have an excuse at a later time to say "Today a known counter revolutionary was arrested and punished once again for crimes against the people". As to voicing these issues, the United States does not voice sides so as not to intervene in internal policy. When you break the law, you know the punishment, its going to sound harsh but thats the fact. You dont go to China and stand in front of Chairman Mao's Tomb and burn a Little Red Book while renouncing the regime, that is unless you want to be re-educated and then turned into a government show piece after coming back in the fold. Sometimes the best thing is not to rock the boat, or if you must rock the boat you do it from outside the country until it is safe enough inside the country.

Posted by: Salamander at February 10, 2005 10:56 AM (W2YA6)

7 Oh, goody! I always wanted my own Fatwa! Cecile has a point: how did this article come to be in the LA Times?

Posted by: jenniebee at February 10, 2005 01:22 PM (Jr40s)

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