Tag Archives: Khatami

22Jan/09

Baluchistan and Islamic Republic of Iran’s brotherly love

By Nir Boms and Shayan Arya

Executive Summary

  • Despite propaganda, the Islamic Republic of Iran has not been the promised utopia of religious and social harmony.  Instead, religious buildings are routinely demolished and dissidents executed.
  • Iran is remarkably diverse.  10-15m people are Sunni muslims; there are also Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, and Baluchis as well in the country.  This means Iran is a real patchwork society.
  • – Attempts at moderation have largely been a failure and in Baluchistan, there is much unrest.  Violence is common.
  • – Indeed, the Islamic Republic of Iran is a religiously repressive regime and Muhammad Khatami’s statements about peaceful coexistence cannot be believed.

For the full article  click here

11Nov/08

On Annan, Robinson, Religion and Hypocrisy

Nov. 10, 2008
NIR BOMS and SHAYAN ARYA , THE JERUSALEM POST

Following the passage in Teheran of a new Islamic Penal Code, which codifies the death penalty for males who abandon Islam, the Iranian government called for a conference on “Religion in the Modern World.” With former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, former high commissioner on human rights Mary Robinson, past prime ministers of Italy and Norway, and former president of Portugal in attendance, Muhammad Khatami, the former Iranian president, called upon the “religious leaders of the world to try new ways to create a peaceful co-existence and invite the world to establish peace and security.”

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