Amir Taheri, the distinguished commentator who broke the 'Iranian dress codes' story in the National Post, stands by it in face of official Iranian outrage and denial:
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).
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.
Read article in full
Update: The National Post has now apologised. Here is their statement in full
He is a vile lier . and a zionist too.
ReplyDeleteMaurice motamed A jewish Member of Parliament said he was a lier too. shame on him. and he calls himself a journalist who fabricate stories hoping this would cause a worldwide outrage and target Iran with bombs the same week . Amir taheri should have the guts to say Sorry I lied .