Dignity of Women

In my post in October 14, 2013 I wrote, "What if every Western country would assign a female ambassador to Iran who would introduce her credentials to the Iranian government, in Tehran, in her own traditional attire, dressed professionally as a female without any head cover or hijab, as a practical working woman." 

It seems that the french public is way ahead of the Western politicians. This is what the politicians in the West should push as part of lifting the economic restrictions on Iran. To read the whole story click on this link.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/02/air-france-stewardesses-mutiny-over-order-to-wear-headscarves/

Syrian Refugees and the Banners (I)

Many look at the Syrian crisis through the picture of the little boy who was laying face down on the beach, dead. They pay attention to the turmoil in Afghanistan when a bomb kills few or many in a wedding ceremony there. The sectarian killings in Iraq, Syria and Libya catch their attention when a gruesome beheading is put on the Web. These events prompt them to action – mostly a FaceBook post. "Open up the border and let the refugees in! How can you stand by and let a little boy die!" "Haven't the Western countries made enough mess in Afghanistan and Iraq. Get out of there!" Or "Where is the civilized world to stop these savageries!" Sometimes it is hard to decipher the rightist and the leftist positions from each other. These protestations are off the cuff outpouring of emotions, not much different than someone's FaceBook picture of his food. Both are off the cuff emotions, the latter demands repetition and the former is begging to go away. I do not have anything against impromptu emotions. I have my own moments but they tell us little to nothing about the reality of the events.

Masih Alinejad -- A Voice Much Louder Than Mine

I have had a few posts promoting how the Western influential women could help the Iranian women movement in their plight for equal rights, particularly the right to determine their appearance. Their right to not wear head cover, hijab, on a daily basis is being trampled on by the religious oligarchy called Islamic Republic in Iran.  Ms. Alinejad, an Iranian journalist, recently made a call on Julie Bishop not to wear hijab when visiting Iran.  It is such a pleasure to see she is taking up this call. Alinejad's voice has more weight and reach than my little known blog. Maybe this idea will get some traction at last

I have been promoting this idea of Ms. Alinejad on a broader basis.  Please see these two previous posts http://www.siamakz.com/2013/12/bomb-iran-or.html and an earlier one http://www.siamakz.com/2013/10/ms-ambassador.html

We need to turn this call into a broad political campaign or even lobby the centers of power in the Western democracies.