Iran's Anti-Gay Purge Grows--Reports of new gay executions

[PageOneQ]

FULL STORY:
http://direland.typepad.com/direland/2005/08/unconfirmed_rep.html

By Doug Ireland


There have been reports of a new execution of a gay man in the city of Arak, Iran, on August 16, and of other executions of four men, ages 17 to 24, for unspecified "sexual offenses." But it is difficult to confirm these reports with total accuracy, because of the climate of fear which prevails in the Islamic Republic of Iran today. The newly-elected, reactionary regime of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (lower right) has heightened its campaign of repression of gay people since the worldwide protests against the hanging of two gay teens in Mashad on July 19, and Iranians -- both gay and straight --are afraid to communicate with the outside world on these matters.


FULL STORY:
http://direland.typepad.com/direland/2005/08/unconfirmed_rep.html

[BayCityProgressive]

1. What can be done to Iran

to punish them for this?

[Ian David]

4. We could make Halliburton stop selling them nuclear technology

I think we're already blocking their export of Iranian caviar (which is a shame, really. They've got great stuff).

We could ask to have Iranian students expelled from the country (again).

Other than that, I have no ideas of what we can do without government support. Short of storming the Iranian Embassy during the Gay Pride Parade. I'm sure it's well guarded.

Anyway, maybe a sit-in on the steps of their embassies? Or in front of their gates, as the case may be.

[Ian David]

2. who's up for A War to Free The Gays?

"We went into Iraq to spread freedom and gay pride," pResident Bush said on Monday.

As we have already seen, invading someplace does not spread Democracy.

I think what Richard Clarke said Bush's official "plan" is to bomb the government into the stone age (will set them back weeks) and The People of Iran will rise-up on their own to over-throw the Mullahs.

Freedom and Democracy will blossom, and we will be showered with roses and halluvah.

[BayCityProgressive]

3. I don't want a war

But why is the US silent on human rights issues so much? We could use our powerful economy to punish these governments.

[newswolf56]

5. Because Bush like all Christofascists hates gays and doesn't...

care about human rights, whether at home or abroad -- he only cares about corporate rights.

[Meldread]

6. We should listen to Pat Robertson.

...and raise money to pay assassins. We can then kill some of their most vocal anti-gay people. Tit for tat. An eye for an eye. Anytime one of their leaders religious, political, it doesn't matter, opens his mouth he is found the next day dead. It'll certainly send a message. If they want to kill us we can kill them.

[mitchtv]

7. Best idea so far

An open ended contract on Iranian Politicians, and clergy. Can the Mosad be hired out?

[Brian_Expat]

8. We need to crank up the asylum process

The administration (surprisingly enough) has ruled several times for asylum for gay Iranians. We need to crank up and solidify that support, and put pressure on Europe to start letting gay Iranians in as refugees too (most of Europe has been VERY hypocritical on this issue).