Protest to mark the anniversary of the state killing of two gay teenagers in Iran

by pat c Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:29

I know that you are totally opposed to religious fundamentalism and homophobia and are only trying to get to the truth.

I can only say that at the demo last night David Norris stated that he is fully convinced that they were killed because they were gay. He has confronted the Iranian Ambassador about this and the Ambassador was unable to produce any evidence to rebutt it.

Colm O'Gorman also spoke at the meeting; he too is convinced that they were murdered because they wer Gay. But he pointed out that even if they had been rapists (which he does not believe) to hang teenagers is appalling. One thing is for sure they did not get a fair trial.

by R. Isible Thu Jul 20, 2006 01:46

As for the accuracy of the story itself, the Outrage! press release that incited this storm claims that neither the original ISNA story nor the first NCRI report on the incident mentions sexual assault. But it appears that Outrage! was working from a faulty translation. According to Hadi Ghaemi, Human Rights Watch's Iran researcher and a native Farsi speaker, the ISNA article was titled "Lavat beh Onf." Ghaemi translates the statement as "homosexual act by coercion," and Iranian lawyers he spoke to confirm that the expression amounts to a charge of homosexual rape.

[...]

Both Long and Ettelbrick expressed concern that interest in the case from some organizations and media outlets seems predicated on an identification of the teenagers as gay, and they worried that gay rights had in some cases been co-opted--intentionally or not--for other ideological purposes. "If you look at the pictures of these kids and see the terror in their eyes, does it become any less if they are gay or not gay, innocent or guilty? These kids were tortured. One was executed for crimes committed when he was a minor. Juvenile execution is wrong," said Long. In an e-mail addressed to members of the gay community, Ettelbrick wrote, "It's interesting that this case has suddenly drawn such a rapid and strong response when these abuses have been going on for years without a peep from US-based LGBT groups. Why now? Why just Iran?"

by R. Isible Thu Jul 20, 2006 01:35

"Ultimately," said HRW's Long, "one has to ask what is the basis for believing that the boys were tried for consensual sodomy. It boils down to an English-language article on the Iran Focus Web site having made no mention of the rape charge. There is no other substantial evidence."

by R. Isible Thu Jul 20, 2006 01:26

So far I can't see a lot of clear evidence as to what went on. It is pretty obvious that Sharia law is homophobic law and ought to be protested and also that the execution of any human being ought to be protested, and so the demos are good. But I can't help feeling that the whole thing is being milked for advantage to the coalition of the willing. The analysis of the spin below is pretty good and suggests one possible origin of some of the "information":
At the beginning of August, an article by US journalist and activist Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg pointed to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an organisation based in Paris, as the probable source of the false information. This organisation, according to its own website, advocates opposition to the regime of the ayatollahs by any means necessary – including military intervention – in order to impose in Iran a Western-inspired system of elections and a free-market economic model, backing capitalism and "foreign investment by those industrialised countries which wish to collaborate in the reconstruction of Iran"

by pat c Wed Jul 19, 2006 18:04

Heres some more links regarding the case. Its worth noting that the Persian Gay and Lesbian Organisation are supporting the demos.

http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2006/07/07/2

http://www.petertatchell.net/

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/london/2006/06/3....html

by pat c Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:44

The Iranian Propaganda Ministry are good at spreading misinformation as good as Goebells. I wouldnt be suprised to find that they have a few old nazis working for them. I will try and find some more links to refute the latest Iranian propaganda.

by R. Isible Wed Jul 19, 2006 03:59

It opposes US militarism and also Islamic theocracy. I couldn't help wondering how supported the "4000" figure is. It seems to originate with an organisation called "Homan" about which I know nothing. Does anyone else have any info on it.

On a related topic the Wikipedia entry below seems to be claiming that the furore over the two young men (who were supposedly hung for being gay) is now seemingly based on a case of rape as the Iranian government originally claimed.

Maybe a protest to demand that Iranian homosexuals are allowed to claim asylum on that basis in the UK (something the Wikipedia article says is not currently possible) and other Western countries would be more fruitful.

by pat c Tue Jul 18, 2006 20:13

This is a perfect opportunity for those who are opposed to US aggression against Iran to demonstrate that they are also opposed to the Iranian Junta and that they support human rights for Iranians. As Tank Girl has shown thousands of Gays have been murdered by the Iranian State since the mullahs seized power in 1979. This murderous Theocratic regime must be overthrown by internal action. Support the Iranian Resistance!

by Tank Girl Tue Jul 18, 2006 18:54

Come along and support this protest. Send a message to the Iranian Homophobic Islamist murderers that we know the truth about them. 4,000 Gays have been judicially murdered since the Islamofacists took control in 1979. There is now an opportunity to cast out the rotten Junta.

I attach an intro to the Manifesto of the Third Camp against US Militarism and Islamic Terrorism

The present conflict between the Western governments and the Islamic Republic of Iran can have disastrous human, political and social consequences. The terrible experience of Iraq has shown to all the catastrophes that can result from economic sanctions and a military attack. Deterioration of living conditions, economic plight, death, destruction and displacement of people, and increased repression by the Islamic regime, would be some of the immediate consequences of economic sanctions or a military attack on Iran. This policy would unleash Islamic terrorism on a regional scale and escalate it internationally.

We must stand up with all our power to the US government’s and its allies’ bullying. We must put an end to the crimes of the opposite pole, i.e. Islamic terrorism. We must help the people of Islam-stricken countries to get rid of the menace of Islamic terrorist states and forces. American militarism and Islamic terrorism have brutalised the world. Neither of them has a solution to the present crisis and its resulting problems. Rather, they are themselves the cause of this crisis and its aggravation. Civilised humanity must rise up against both these poles and the suffering that they have imposed on the world. The human and genuine solution to the problem of nuclear weapons, to Islamic terrorism and its horrific crimes against the people of the world, and to the militaristic bullying of the US and Western governments lies in the hands of us people.

The full text is at the link here:
http://maryamnamazie.blogspot.com/2006/05/manifesto-of-....html