Six young Iranians were
arrested in Tehran and forced to repent on state television today for posting
their homemade video “Happy in Tehran” on YouTube last month. (The video is
posted here for your viewing.)
“Happy in Tehran” was
viewed more than 165,000 times on YouTube before it attracted the attention of
the police and was made private, The New Youk Times reported today.
On Sunday, Iranian President
Hassan Rouhani had denounced Internet censorship in his country as “cowardly.”
He said Iran should embrace Internet rather than view it as a threat.
“We must recognize our
citizens’ right to connect to the World Wide Web,” Rouhani said. “Why are we so
shaky? Why have we cowered in a corner, grabbing onto a shield and a wooden
sword, lest we take a bullet in this culture war?” he asked. (IRNA/NYTimes, 20
May)
“Even if there is an onslaught, which there is,” Rouhani added, “the way to face it is via modern means, not passive and cowardly methods.”
Unfortunately, due to the national security standing much of Iran's leadership views as required given the level of external threat directed at the country, this sort of thing isn't deemed acceptable in Iran.
ReplyDeleteAs with the recent U.S. design and utilization of social media specifically intended to target younger citizens of Cuba in the hopes they rise up against the political establishment, so too the Iranians have been saying for quite some time now they are the object of a soft war being waged against the country.
The cure for all this is conflict resolution, in the form of U.S. directed rapprochement efforts towards the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran's national security would stand down to the point where such demonstrations might not be interpreted as external threat. Such was the case with the People's Republic of China, which was far more militant and regimented prior to rapprochement with the U.S. Today's Iran is far less regimented and militarized than the example of pre-1972 PRC.
Mark,
DeleteNational security of a country is not threatened by a group of young kids making a happy song and dance video. It is the Islamic fundamentalists with power of gun who see their teachings being threatened, very much like what the Taliban did in Afghanistan, and ISIL is doing in Syria and Iraq.
President Rouhani, who is also the president of the country’s supreme national security council, is warning against the growing Internet censorship, and “cowardly” censors who are acting against the interests of the country.
@Mark,the cure for all this is for the regime and their thought police to disappear.
DeleteThis story is quite fishy, hundreds of much worse videos are posted online everyday without arrest. Why this video alone was targeted seems to me to be some hardline elements doing this simply as a publicity stunt to make Rouhani look bad. None of the videos on the "Harlem shake" in Iran or Iranian girls twerking online resulted in arrests. The negative international reaction I believe was the sole motive behind this in the first place.
DeleteWhile I condemn the arrests above, I wonder if kids getting arrested for the heinous crime of selling lemonade in Tehran would have resulted in the same viral video and international condemnation when it gets ignored in the US.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XmfviKr5HE
or arresting children for just being kids and playing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMcGF_8muHs
Ir the tehran version of the Harlem shake, with alcohol no less didnt result in any arrests either.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ikVDGXFjvY
And they offcially allow break dance contests
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ojNUuNsfso
Its obvious these kids were only arrested by a police chief just out of spite for what Rouhani said about the internet yesterday. If it was official policy to arrest people for showing happyiness there would be thousands of other arrests as well. Soon as the interview was done they let them go. Not even a fine for publicly not wearing scarves either.
Spreading virally , this story has become headline news all over the world - a true PR disaster for the government. Yet again, the ordinary Iranians have to pay a heavy price for the stupidity of a few self-righteous people in the position of power.
ReplyDeleteNobody cares about twitter gossip.the reality is these kids look like fools and many are glad to see them stop.
DeleteAnon 6:57 PM
DeleteLooks like the regime doesn't care for the happiness of Iranian citizens. The "reality" is the "fools" are the thugs who have shown to the world what a bunch of backward oppressors they really are.
"these kids look like fools and many are glad to see them stop."
DeleteMany as in many oppressors in authority? Yes I bet that many fools in high authority are glad to go back to the business of "death to America" and "death to life",right ?
Spoken as a true Talib (Taliban)
DeleteWhat a disgusting western culture where ever the west spreads its western and American culture it only destroys and damages everything its pure evil why do people anyway get attracted to western culture its all a piece of garbage and Rouhani has not treated this video any good he has released these people that has made this disgusting video if Iran does not make a firm stand against European culture then Iran will be destroyed Iran must fight against the European scum.
ReplyDeleteseek help for your problems and refrain from making insane comments
DeleteWhere are you posting from and in what language?
DeleteAnon 6:34 PM
DeleteDisgusting is a person that blabs disgusting thoughts.Iran's number one enemy is the occupying regime.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ6X8AD5Chc --- Young Iranians arrested for being too happy.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteREUTERS
DUBAI - Six Iranians arrested for appearing in a video singing along to an American pop song were released on Wednesday, one day after being detained for what police called their "obscene" behaviour, one of them said in an online posting.
Iran:"Death,Bondage and the pursuit of unhappiness."
ReplyDeleteDO you HAVE to dress in skinny jeans and dance like a lunatic to show people your happiness !!.Pharrel williams is not even happy himself, wont find true happiness anywhere in this temporary world !!.
ReplyDelete-.SEEK true happiness in the hereafter by being at peace with your CREATOR -the giver and guarantee of true happiness in this world and the next one !!.
B.M.A., I didn't know you were a dance and fashion critic. Also didn't realize you were an authority on defining and policing happiness. Interesting!
DeleteThe Taliban did this in Afghanistan, and the ISIL is doing it in Syria and Iraq. What happened in Tehran was a Shia fundamentalist version of Taliban/ISIL morality teachings and policing.
Al-Shabaab banned all music in Somalia and flogged people for listening.....they killed people for the crime of watching football on television.
Deleteare these the actions that a BMA wants for Iran?
BMA,
DeleteYou dress in your wide white Arabic style, have a long beard, wear a turban, pray to your almighty 5 times/day, fast during the Ramadan, go to Mecca, be at PEACE with your "creator" , so that you end up in your "Jannat" and leave the people who want to wear "skinny Jeans and dance like lunetics" alone and let them go straight to hell (which I am sure will be a much better place, compared with the "Jannat" full of people like you) !
I guess people like B.M.A would like us to sit down in some corner and throw dust on ourselves until Jannat.
DeleteBMA is a hardcore Islamist. His beliefs are not compatible with a progressive civilized world.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI didn't read the comment left by zeino71. But I have no doubt what Anon 1:57 PM wrote above must have something to do with it :o)
DeleteIs someone going to create Pussy Riot for the Islamic Republic, to enter mosques and ridicule the Establisment. ??
ReplyDelete+A
excellent idea
DeleteI agree,it is an excellent idea.The more we ridicule the islamic establishment the sooner they become meaningless and therefore disappear.
Delete