Candidates promise more social freedoms in Iran

[democratic]

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5858287&cKey=1118330450000

By Paul Hughes

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Leading candidates in Iran's presidential election race pledged greater social freedoms on Thursday after millions flouted the Islamic state's strict moral codes by celebrating a soccer victory through the night.

Some women took off their headscarves briefly in violation of the country's strict dress code. Security forces kept a low profile, allowing, for one night at least, people to get away with behavior that would not usually be tolerated.

Rafsanjani suggested censorship was not effective any more."We can no longer build a wall around ourselves, nor can we impose censorship to protect ourselves from the (enemy's) cultural onslaught," he said. "Global communication has become so widespread that nothing can be hidden from people."

But the candidates have to walk a fine line between appealing to the mass of disaffected Iranians who want more freedoms, while not alienating conservatives. "I am very surprised that all candidates favor re-establishing ties with the United States," said Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani.

[wookie294]

1. Iran is more secular than Bush's Iraq

Islamist militias patrolling Basra
Sunday, April 24, 2005

BASRA, Iraq -- Sheikh Assad al-Basri says there's no need to worry that he and his Islamist militiamen might recreate a repressive Iranian-style theocracy in Iraq. That's because the Islamic Republic of Iran is far too liberal, according to Basri, the leading local representative of rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

"Only 5 percent of Iranians abide by real Islamic laws," said Basri, who boasts that he and his cohorts already have blown up most of Basra's liquor stores, punished "decadent picnickers" and imposed Islamic dress codes on women. "The rest of Iranians are corrupt. Look, there are drugs and girls who don't wear hijab well in Iran."

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05114/493468.stm

[Mythsaje]

2. That's what the corporate media

isn't bothering to tell us. Iran is already pretty damn democratic, with its recent regressive election results more in reaction to the goddam "Axis of Evil" statement than anything else.

The worst thing this administration could do is launch a military attack against Iran. Freedom IS on the march there, without our "HELP."