Banning Laughter: What’s Going on in Iran?
My Iranian cousins—who now live in Sweden—are visiting my family and me this week and some of their reports about what’s happening in Iran are hard to believe.
Of course, all foreign media are banned in Iran, so news reports about what’s actually happening in the country are few and far between. But my cousins and I get information from our family that still lives there.
My family members in Iran tell me that as part of recent crackdowns, loud laughter has been banned on college campuses—as has nail polish and high heels. Earlier this month, the regime banned the teaching of music in private schools. And just last week, an Iranian cleric issued a fatwa against dogs. “Friendship with dogs is a blind imitation of the west,” he said. Need a friend—get an ayatollah!
How can a regime that hates all things joyous and beautiful last? It's sad that there needs to be a real-world experiment to find out.
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Comments :
May '10
Re: Banning Laughter: What’s Going on in Iran?
How can the country that gave us the diwan of Hafez, the beauty of Shiraz etc, be reduced to this level of misanthropy (and misogyny) is beyond me.
May '10
Re: Banning Laughter: What’s Going on in Iran?
This reminds me that Sarah Lawrence College wanted to ban "inappropriate laughter" back in the 90s.
May '10
Re: Banning Laughter: What’s Going on in Iran?
I hope there's still plenty of laughter and dancing and whatnot in people's homes; that fear isn't winning everywhere. I'd hate to think a lot of kids are growing up without laughter.