Gay executions in Iran confirmed

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NoH8
NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
Gay executions in Iran confirmed

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  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited November 2007

    I really hoped this wasn't true, but in the back of my mind knew it was.

    Iranian Official Confirms Gay Executions
    by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

    Posted: November 13,  2007 - 11:00 am ET

    (London) In a meeting between Iranian and British parliamentarians a high ranking Iranian politician has for the first time acknowledged that the Islamic state upholds the death penalty for homosexuality according to minutes of the meeting obtained by The Times newspaper.

    The disclosure came during a peace conference - the Inter-Parliamentary Union - in May.

    The Times obtained the minutes of the meeting under Britain's freedom of information law.

    LGBT rights groups have reported for more than a year that gays were being executed but the government in Tehran has repeatedly denied the public hangings were for homosexuality.

    In 2005 two young men hanged in a public square in northern Iran after were alleged to have been found guilty of homosexuality. (story)  The government claimed they had been convicted of kidnapping and raping a male teen.

    In May a western LGBT organization for gay Iranians says it has learned police have arrested as many as 87 gays at a private house party. (story)

    Some international gay rights groups believe that more than 4,000 lesbians and gay men have been executed since the Ayatollahs seized power in 1979.

    During the May meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union British MPs questioned Mohsen Yahyavi a member of his parliament's energy committee about the reports.

    The minutes, The Times reports, show that Yahyavi responded that gays deserve to be executed or tortured and possibly both,

    "[He]explained that according to Islam gays and lesbianism were not permitted," the record states. 

    "He said that if homosexual activity is in private there is no problem, but those in overt activity should be executed [he initially said tortured but changed it to executed]. He argued that homosexuality is against human nature and that humans are here to reproduce. Homosexuals do not reproduce."

    British Members of Parliament said they were shocked by Yahyavi's attitude.

    "It is of great concern that these attitudes persist and we made it clear what we felt," Ann Clwyd, a Labor MP and head of Britain's delegation told The Times.

    In September President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad drew jeers and laughter during a speech at Columbia University when he declared there were no homosexuals in Iran.

    "In Iran we don't have homosexuals like you do in your country.  We do not have this phenomenon. I don't know who's told you that we have it," Ahmadinejad said.

    ©365Gay.com 2007

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2007

    Maybe I'm naive (not maybe, I am!), but that news is so extremely startling and horrifying to me!!!! Reminiscent of the Salem witch hunts and burnings....except THIS is the freakin' 21st century!

    I am so angry...one of those innocent victims could be my daughter!

    Thanks for sharing that, Amy.

    ~Marin

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2007

    Amy,

    I hope and pray that is not true. If it is that is the sickest thing. Injustice to one is injustice to all. Please keep us updated as to the validity and if there will be action taken . I hope you are doing well.

    Benita  

  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited November 2007

    I had heard about this on Gay USA, the weekly show I watch but hoped it wasn't true. Sometimes with all the discrimination we still face in the USA I forget how much worse it is in other places (not that I am not appalled by some US people and groups' behavior).

    Mar, I don't know if it's women or just men. Women still get stoned (and I don't mean high ) to death for lesser infractions in some countries. BTW, because you care about this kind of thing and other deep I was surprised you were ok with plastic surgery (from the other post).

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2007

    I agree it seems that in the climate we are in that people almost feel okay hating others because they are different. If they stone men they burn and stone women (of course) . Did you see the documentary on FOX news? That would explain some of the overt hate crimes in America . Ignorant, arrogant hateful people  explains it abroad and here too. If we do not all start to take a stand against hate everywhere it will  infiltrate every aspect of life.  Take care

    Benita  

  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited November 2007

    I agree Benita. I also think some of the covert hate crimes are just as bad as the overt ones because they're easier to ignore and harder to prosecute. When there is a bruise one can say, "look what they did" but when the bruise is to the heart or the soul there is no "proof" of the hate.

    I always think of Edmund Burke's quote, "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

  • Riverwoman
    Riverwoman Member Posts: 25
    edited November 2007

    Our small town is being targeted by the afa (I do not dignify people like that with capital letters) http://www.afajournal.org/11-1207Eureka.asp , because we are very open in our support of the LGBT 'community'.. actually, they are simply a part of the whole communtity.

    Our city council recently created legislation for a DPR (domestic partner registry). The town hosts 4 diversity weekends.

    When that happened, a pastor at a local church started a big hullabaloo about it, and thanks to him.. the "Jericho Riders" (members 6) http://jerichoriders.org/index.html (scroll down for Eureka Springs boycott)  have "stormed the gates of hell".. meaning they showed up here..

    actually laughed and had a good time the first time around..

    sparky

    Last time, the screaming was so loud, our former mayor made a quick sign..

    sign

    they brought a professional aggitatior.. who stood over our ex mayor and her son, screaming at them.. would not let them get up.

    jerichoriders

     She and her son are behind these men. It was a horrible scene.. one I am glad I did not witness.

    My son is gay. I cannot imagine what might have happened had I been there!

    It is unthinkable that people are still being executed because of their sexual orientation..

    God don't make no junk!! And my son was born gay. I know that. He knows that. Why is this still happening?

    We have a war at home to fight. It is sad. 

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2007

    Hate is just plain UGLY - no matter who it is directed at. Still, it is hard to believe that in this day and age, people are actually being KILLED over who they love. Sad...

  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited November 2007

    Wow Riverwoman. What part of "family" are those protestors and what values are they teaching their childrenYell? If I was there I would probably have cried. I don't think I would have yelled back, but try to out"smart" them-- maybe just asked them to explain the part of the bible that advocated these type protests.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2007

    Hey Riverwoman,

    It sickens me when these people (not Christians) do this type of hate crime (it is a crime) . God tells us to tarry one for another, Love your neighbor, Love,Love,Love and Judge ye not. I am so blessed to be born in a family where if you dare judge some one(based on race creed color gender or preference)  you would be in a great deal   of trouble. That is how I raise my children , we are all Gods children , He made us all and he loves us all . He is the judge we are sisters and brothers and should treat each other as such. If I was there I would have started to pray for those who were really committing the sin...The sin of Hatred, Judgment,Disobeidience to God's word ..the alleged "Christians". I am so sorry this happened in your peaceful home. I can only hope you know that this is not they way of those of us who truly follow the word of God. Bless you my sister and your dear son. Peace be with you. Benita    

  • Riverwoman
    Riverwoman Member Posts: 25
    edited November 2007

    Thanks for your responses and concern.

    Tho this country does not tolerate the killing of it's citizens, based on race, religion or sexual preferences.. there are those that would like to.. these men being among them.

    They get by with their pronouncements by claiming to be Christian. They are not! I know that.. but it still is so overwhelming to be targeted by such groups.

    I really don't know what I might have done. But.. as a mama bear.. don't mess with my children.. or any children... I can't help but feel that my son is in danger from men like this. Everyone that is different in any way are in danger from men like this.

    I feel certain that they would rejoice, if our government said to execute gays.. absolutely disgusting.

    It makes me feel very un-Christian.. because I would like to see these people hang by their genitals!

    Not really... but, I have very unsettling thoughts about them!!

  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited November 2007

    I think they give christians a bad name. Some of these "churches" claim tax exempt status which IMHO is government sanctioned prejudice.

    In Philly the boy scouts are being kicked out of a free rent gov't building because they don't allow gays. Even though the philly chapter doesn't discriminate, because the national organization does this decision was made. The price for rent was in the $200,000 range so they have to move.

  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited December 2007
    This guy is going to be on gay usa this week. http://www.gaycitynews.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=19047997&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=568864&rfi=8 . He spent a month in Iraq investigating gay life . It should be really interesting.

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