Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Sunday, July 16, 2006

As many of you know, Iran has embarked on a murderous campaign to execute its gay citizens. If you live in New York City, you have the unique privilege this week of letting your voice be heard by speaking out for those who have been silenced by this barbaric Isalmo-fascist government.

There will be a DEMONSTRATION, WEDNESDAY, JULY 19 AT 5 PM at the Iranian Mission, 622 Third Avenue at 40th St.

It will mark the one-year anniversary of the executions of two young gay men, Mahmoud Asgari, 18, and Ayaz Marhoni, 19, by the government of Iran

DEMANDS:

1. End all executions in Iran, especially the execution of minors.

2. Stop the arrest, torture and imprisonment of Iranian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and repeal the Iranian penal code's criminalization of same-sex relationships.

3. Halt the deportation to Iran of LGBT asylum seekers and other victims of Tehran's persecution.

4. Support Iranians struggling for democracy, social justice and human rights.

5. Oppose foreign military intervention in Iran; regime change must come from within--by and for the Iranian people themselves.

(Personally, I think intervention may be necessary after watching the havoc caused by Iran's Hezbollah this week in Lebanon. Nonetheless, this is a worthy casue and I urge my readers to attend, if possible.)

Bring Signs:
** IRAN: STOP EXECUTING GAY PEOPLE
** JUSTICE FOR GAY PEOPLE IN IRAN
** REMEMBER MAHMOUD AND AYAZ
** MAHMOUD AND AYAZ: KILLED FOR BEING GAY

26 Comments:

Uh uh. No way. God does not impose his will on us, nor do I impose my will on others. Especially in a country that is strict. This is their own battle. Just because these guys are gay and being killed for being such - does not mean this is a gay issue. All "sinners" in their eyes from their Holy Book, can be killed in such a way.
posted by Anonymous, at 7/16/2006 12:56 PM

It's a human rights issue, not a gay issue. Therefore it is the repsonsiblity of all people who are concerned with human rights to stand up and speak out. Especially in a country where the everyday person has no voice.
posted by jekelhyde, at 7/16/2006 2:24 PM

Focus on our own damn culture!
posted by Anonymous, at 7/16/2006 3:29 PM

Very clever response, I'll give you that. But I still disagree. Should we not try to assist the people of repressed nations when we have the capabilities to do so? It just seems so selfish to me.
posted by jekelhyde, at 7/16/2006 5:17 PM

There is no point in trying to civilize the Ayerabs. They are savages who beleive in Mohumed - the Ayerab Jesus.

Mohumed was a pedophile and hates women. Just look at the way them Eyatollas make women wear bathrobes in public and cover there faces with towels.

You people are crazy to expect the USofA to civilize these barbarians - the sons of the ones that broght down Rome. And - those people arent to fond of you queers either. Did you know that?

The answer is to bomb the mosks (Ayerab churches) and kill the Eyatollas? I don't think that would be wise.

JR
Tyler, TX
posted by Anonymous, at 7/16/2006 5:44 PM

not in this situation.
posted by Anonymous, at 7/16/2006 8:02 PM

Personally, I feel sorry for any citizen being raised in a society that limits women, children, religion, etc... Keep in mind, these gay men might have been our enemies as well. Just because they were gay does not mean I am to take to my streets on their behalf - they may also have been mysogenist, against the "infidels", etc.. The Arab culture is VERY different from Western cultures. Now if this happened in Alabama? I'd go down there right now! If this happened in say France - I'd protest. It did not. It happened in a culture that is so far removed from my own that I do not even know the truth behind the incident. I'll watch my own backyard on this.
posted by Anonymous, at 7/16/2006 8:35 PM

This is a Human Rights issue and when our Gay and Lesbian brothers and sisters are abused, tortured and murdered anywhere in the world simply for being homosexual ... we must denounce it!

Not only in Iran -- but in all countries.

--
Paul in Houston
posted by Anonymous, at 7/16/2006 9:57 PM

WE must let some cultures work it out for themselves without our input. This means the Gay and Lesbian Persian, Arab groups MUST stand up for their Muslim brothers and sisters. As Americans our voice will mean nothing. I support the Gay and Lesbian Persian and ARab groups but THEY must act on this (with our support) but not our voices. Our voices mean nothing to the ARAB world.
posted by Anonymous, at 7/16/2006 10:03 PM

Paul, I applaud your good heart but it is unrealistic to think this is a gay or Human Rights issue. This is the cultural norm for thousands of years over there. A cultural shift from one steeped in hate will work best from the inside out. JMO.
posted by Anonymous, at 7/16/2006 10:15 PM

Anon:

While I disagree with your assessment that this is NOT a Human Rights issue. I do agree that real change must come from within the society itself.

Having said that, I do believe that it is our duty to stand up and denounce abuses against GLBT people whenever and wherever our brothers and sisters are being routinely mistreated and murdered.

I refrained from expounding upon what I perceive to be other Human Rights issues since they are not on topic here -- but do go to the heart of the discussion. These would include such topics as Female castration, Honor Killing, Female treatment in general - these all fall under the same banner of Human Rights -- but also under the topic of centuries old societal norms especially in Islamic cultures.

The West continues to fight its own battle for the expansion of Human Rights and as Human Beings we should never accept "Tradition" as an acceptable justification for continued abuse and mistreatment. I believe it is our duty to support change from within by encouraging and demanding the rights of individuals as a norm for civilized communities, wherever they may be.

--
Paul in Houston
posted by Anonymous, at 7/16/2006 11:18 PM

Paul, I don't accept tradition as an excuse. Female castration, foot bounding, sex slave trade are also issues on my mind. I just don't think (and it is only an opinion) that on the gay issue that any remark from the west will help the cause of GLBT in Islamic countries. The best thing we can do is offer support through donations, media coaching, etc.. but keep our moths shut and let the Islamic people get into this battle. I respect your position - I really do.
posted by Anonymous, at 7/16/2006 11:34 PM

This raises a very important issue: Death penalty is a barbaric practice, no matter how Westernized is.

Punishing ANYONE because of sexual orientation and creating a rule of law based on religious beliefs, no matter how westernized, is wrong.

What bother me is that many people who attack the practices of certain countries don't raise their voices against the racism and prejudice and homophobia and transphobia in their own culture. "It is a matter of human rights" some said, and I agree, but so is immigrants rights, women's rights at all levels, the right to marriage and the separation of state and church at all levels and in all places.

I don't think we -as GLBT individuals- can ignore the hanging of people based on sexual orientation in other countries, but at the same time, we need to be aware of many so called christians and jews in the west who gladly would apply the Deuteronomy laws to LGBT people.

It is a gay issue because they were killed based on sexual orientation, as well as it is a human rights issue, because globalization affect all espheres of society, but please, don't play the "I am right and you are wrong" card because that is silly... look at what happened in Abu garib, and tell me is not the same...
posted by Anonymous, at 7/17/2006 10:42 AM

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission has decided to cancel the previously-announced vigil in front of the Iranian Embassy on 7/19.

Thank you.
posted by Anonymous, at 7/17/2006 12:14 PM

When I think of one of my best friends in life, her family...and the neighbors and friends I have in Los Angeles who are Iranian.
I can hardly believe the people I know here, are from THERE.

Including the gay Iranians and Iranian Jews here who I love like family.
This situation has weirded me out for years.
I've heard hair raising stories of how some of my friends and their relatives got out of there.

It seems that but for these nutcase ayatollahs and religious fundamentalists, this world would be a much, much better place.

That goes for the American ayatollahs too.
posted by Regan, at 7/17/2006 2:12 PM

Um, JR?? Are you serious?
posted by jekelhyde, at 7/17/2006 2:20 PM

JR in TX is either a hoax letter or he has the intellect of an endive. Of course we should protest these executions! It may do no good, but silence=death!
B. Queer
posted by Anonymous, at 7/17/2006 3:30 PM

Actually, JR's letter is interesting. The misspellings and dialect are too stupid to not seem contrived. I think it's satire. I hope.
posted by jekelhyde, at 7/17/2006 6:19 PM

Did someone shoot JR?
posted by Anonymous, at 7/17/2006 10:59 PM

How can we demand that they end all executions, when we still permit execution in our own country?
posted by Anonymous, at 7/18/2006 11:31 AM

Good point.
posted by Anonymous, at 7/18/2006 12:05 PM

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