Lies, and Press Freedom
Newspapers always seem to love enlivening the political process. There's something about reporters, editors, newspapers and the squirming of politicians when inconvenient details or circumstances are revealed to the public. There's a real love-hate relationship between a free press and politics in democratic countries.On the other hand, in countries whose firm control of the press includes shutting them down inconclusively when they dare print inconveniences, it's a rare wonder when that occurs. Embarrassing questioning of the political elite, that is. Iran has shut down masses of pro-reform publications, and journalists have been jailed in the process.
So here we have Iran in the news again. And its president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. That very estimable world leader who stood proudly at a lectern at the United Nations, addressing that august body and relating later that he felt a luminous light descent upon him. The congratulatory presence of the Hidden Imam, enveloping him and elevating him, as he pronounced his intent and promise of the future.
Of course he's often pronounced his intent and that of his country's Ayatollahs being that of joining the elite nuclear club. It's the triumph of Islam that Iran is now enriching uranium. While the world trembles in fearful anticipation. As for the promise of the future, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has announced time and again that his country and he personally, will oversee the annihilation of one of its neighbouring countries; Israel.
Not a peep of condemnation out of the Security Council. How unusual. Iran, after all, doesn't have the authority to control the United Nations, nor can Iran, its Ayatollahs and its president shut down the United Nations, summarily or in any other way. Yet he and they may say what they will, in the corridors of the institution whose formation is dedicated to world peace. How perfectly peculiar.
On the other hand, a reformist newspaper and its editor is being accused of "spreading lies" against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Now that's rather a problem in Iran. It would seem that no one in that country has the freedom to question their leader's hold on rationality and mental stability - citing his firm belief in the second coming of Shia Islam's 12th Imam.
The article itself was written by a moderate cleric, Rasoul Montajebnia. "The court has issued the summons and arrest order of Mr.(Mohammad Javad) Haghshenas (the newspaper's editor) for spreading lies in articles carried by the daily and the prosecutor has complained about Mr. Montajebnia's insulting article."
Now this is rather interesting. It is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's oft-stated and fervent belief that Abul-Qassem Mohammad - descended from the Prophet Mohammad - who disappeared in 941, but whose return is anticipated at the end of time - will lead to an era of Islamic justice. Elevating Islam to a position of dominance in the world.
A process that is imminent, according to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and which could be brought forward in time by some kind of cataclysmic upheaval. So if Iran detonates an nuclear explosive say, at Israel and Israel reciprocates, and the area is incinerated, it'll all come out all right in the end, because the 12th Imam will re-appear and set everything to rights.
And woe betide anyone who hasn't the faith to understand and believe in such an eventuality.
Labels: Middle East, Technology, Terrorism, Traditions
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, July 02, 2008
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