Answering Dan’s Email
A few days ago there was a story that was very hot in the blogosphere. Reports from a Canadian newspaper said that Iran had passed a law requiring non-Muslims, including Jews, to wear distinctive badges. I posted about it here. I also posted updates as the day went by and the initial report seemed to be getting less credible.
On of my commenters here emailed and asked if I was going to post about the story and it's apparent unraveling. I told him I had updated but was waiting to see something firm about how the story got written and how it was sourced. Amir Taheri, who appears to have been the original source for the story the Canadian paper released, has issued a statement.
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 1908).
Now, with Taheri willing to go on record like this and given that he has been reliable in the past, I think there may be something here that bears watching. The one thing I did not like about his explanation is that he seemed to waffle a little by saying the piece was meant as an opinion piece, not as a news article.
So, the upshot is this is one that cannot be put to bed yet. Taheri's point that there has not been a formal denial from the Iranian government is a real pause for thought moment.
Other Links to this Post
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A Blog For All — Tuesday, 23 May , 2006 @ 8:44 am
By Black Jack, Tuesday, 23 May , 2006 @ 11:41 am
It does now sound suspect, but it’s also exactly the sort of overtly provocative act the Iranian oppressors seem incapable of resisting.