Sajjad, the son of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, was arrested three days ago in the office of her attorney, Houtan Khian, who was detained as well -- and scarcely anyone is talking about it.
That day, the young ticket-taker on the buses of Tabriz who courageously defended his mother, incessantly pleading her cause before global public opinion, was in the middle of what may well prove his last interview, with a German magazine, when he was brutally reduced to silence -- and hardly anyone seems to care.
A State led by fanatics that, tomorrow, may well be equipped with an atomic weapon is behaving like a gang, a mafia, by committing on its soil and without a shadow of scruple, a kidnapping, a hostage-taking and, perhaps tomorrow, while they're at it, an extra-legal execution -- and everyone, or nearly everyone, is acting as though this were normal.
No one knows, of course, how to react when faced with an act that makes a mockery of all the principles of law, simply defying comprehension and leaving one stunned.
But we would like to hear, at least, the reaction of those who -- starting with Nicolas Sarkozy -- stated that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani was France's "responsibility".
We would at least expect a strong diplomatic reaction from a government -- that of Germany -- which is directly implicated in this affair, since it is with two of its nationals, journalists at Bild, who were also arrested, that Sajjad was in the midst of conversation when the paramilitaries broke in.
And as for the human rights organisations that have campaigned for Sakineh for months, as for the feminist associations that have spared neither time nor effort to make her face and her cause familiar to the public, as for the hundreds of thousands of individuals who, the world over, have spoken, marched, signed petitions in her favour, they must find the means to demonstrate again and express the horror they feel at the relentless persecution of this family and its martyrdom.
We can write to presidents, prime ministers, and foreign affairs ministers of our respective countries (as well as the commissioners in charge of European diplomacy or to the Secretary General of the United Nations) to implore them to intervene.
As Mina Ahadi and the International Committee Against Stoning in London and Berlin suggest, we can address letters of protest to the Iranian judicial authorities (Head of the Judiciary, Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qaaiyeh, Pasteurt Sont., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran, 131 681 47 37, Iran).
We can and we should find all means, even the most humble, to refuse that the wall of silence and oblivion descend upon a woman who, with the arrest of her son and her attorney, has just seen herself cut off from the last thread that linked her to the world and prevented her from being assassinated, like so many others, in silence and indifference.
One single thing would be unthinkable: to remain inactive, voiceless, in the face of this insane escalation.
A world in which we resign ourselves to the idea of justice governed by this ancient, scarcely updated form of collective guilt, filial guilt, would be one devoid of hope.
Golly Gee..could it be because America is doing the Exact Same Thing on literally..a Daily Basis?
D'ya think it might have something to do with the fact that "Americans"..for the most part..have been literally.."Marketed" into accepting Torture and Political Silencing By Force?
Garsh..I guess when you condemn a nation for a "Kidnapping..a Hostage Taking.."..you..kinda.."Missed" the "Removals" of totally peaceful protesters off the Streets of Pittsburgh..by Men Literally..in Military Fatigues and Unmarked Vehicles..who Simply "Grabbed' people off the streets..shoved them into cars and sped away into a cloud of Tear Gas..guess you missed that?
I am so..sick..and tired..of this literally..Psychotic..Hypocrisy!
How one Develops the "Ability" to ignore..again..Daily..Atrocites..Murders..Torture..Assassination Of American Citizens for their Speech..(Yeah..thats right..its Citizens Plural..and thus far..the only "Crime" we've been told about..was a man saying what Obama said of him..guess thats grounds for Death?)
How are these inexplicable Rationales created in the minds of those who can actually..somehow..Point Fingers at Others for literally..One Instance..or hey..why not..lets say how about..oh..10,000 such incidents?
That would still be in fact..1/100th of the Known.."Deaths" caused by American Corporate Government..as in..y'know..a Million Dead and Counting?
Torture?
Kidnapping?
Hostage Taking?
Are you Kidding?
Wow!
Its actually..an Amazing Phenomena!
the author is French, and looks to this issue with European eyes, I'm sure.
I feel sad for her but there are thousands like her except without the publicity.
I hope they forbear from stoning the woman to death. Other countries have cleaved off from past practices of brutality and barbarism, Iran can do it, too. That is, if the public pushes strongly enough for it.
In many countries, if you commit a crime, you still have fundamental rights. And, you can't just be permanently incarcerated on a whim. If you're accused of a crime, you have to be found guilty of it in a court of law, and given a sentence that fits the crime, or is deemed sufficient to show penitence, and then off you go, to the penitentiary. But, that's a lot different from assembling angry mobs to carry out the sentencing, and having a 'witch trial' in kangaroo court, where the outcome is a foregone conclusion.
Cat got your tongue?
Where are the articles about Ahmadinejad's visit to Lebanon and the warm reception he got?
waiting to see how we can spin that one?
Where are the articles about the death of the man, the only one who has so far lost his life?
the question remains, where are the endless articles about the man this woman has killed?
Where are the articles about the husband who was killed. Anyone cares about his life?
Stoning barbaric. But the higher courts said they would not allow more of them, in 2008.
The drumbeat of war needs psychological preparation of the masses.
Last time, when everyone minded their own business until their own interests got in danger, Hitler managed to exterminate 6 million people. Today, will the international community trade and interact with Iran until they threaten to reduce the whole world into slavery or worse? Or is it simply the fact that no one cares about women's rights? I am noticing more and more (in France especially) that even women aren't solidary against each other and see one another as competition. This is a shame.
Thank you, Sir, for speaking loudly and bringing attention to this issue.
Then let Nicolas offer the services of the best lawyer France can provide. In fact, if there are other such eminent individuals from other nations, who can spare the time. Let them offer to serve as her defense team. If the Iranian authorities are simply seeking political gain, they will instantly dismiss any such proposal. Just as they did with the offer of exile to Brazil. An influx of professionals could expose their system as primitive in the extreme. But if they seek truth and justice, they would accept the opportunity presented. As a chance to conclusively confirm their system’s superior capabilities.
'Fifteen comments when I wrote this--truly, nearly no one seems to care.'
Today there are 72 comments.
Although the number remains low, I would tend to disagree with Kenny's assessment that no one seems to care.
It is also highly likely that the low tally reflects the utter frustration people feel. The situation is dire and shocking. Who can fail to be affected by this story? No one is turning away as if they don't care. It's not possible.
A meter telling us how many times each blog is viewed might be more telling as to the actual public interest in the story.
Given that there are so many pressing crises right now in the world and that the attention and time of the readership is limited, let's not jump to conclusions about interest. There are many responses to stories that are out there.
Like it or not, right or wrong, one such response might be an attentive but sorrowful silence that supplants or even inhibits a comment.
I applaud BHL's effort to keep this story before us. He is to be commended for all he is doing as well as encouraged to keep up his campaign. Above all, he can not allow comment levels to affect him adversely.
One can only hope that in time his work will make a difference for Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and all others who have been thrust into this horrific circumstance.
Sometimes the weariness and sadness (about this and a dozen other horrid things) makes one incapable of responding.
Sometimes all one can give is silence and heartfelt prayer.
fanned