Want The U.S. To Be Like Iran? Let The Radical Christian Right Take Control

Iran was liberal country prior to the Islamic Revolution. Photo credits: http://api.ning.com

The words ?Iran? and ?Afghanistan? are synonymous with suppression of human rights, extreme suppression of religious freedom and extreme (* infinity) suppression of women. However, few?know that both these countries were prosperous, secular and women-friendly prior to the Islamic revolution in Iran (1979) and Zahir Shah’s overthrow in 1973 in Afghanistan (later taken over by Taliban). That is exactly what ruined both of the countries.

Most sympathize with Reyhaneh Jabbari as a victim being criminalized in Iran. The issue may be a concern but the case is too usual in comparison to what the Iranian law has to offer to women there. As per the modified Sharia law that is being implemented in Iran, apostasy, pre-marital sex, drinking, etc. are heinous crimes punishable with 99 lashes or death. Women usually wear the Burka, Chador or at least the Hijab in public. Marital rape is not an offense. Thus in short, women live the worst possible suppressed life in the country.

This could be an invitation to death in Iran today. Photo Credits: http://flavorwire.files.wordpress.com

Let’s compare the situation to what if was prior to the Islamic revolution there. With a secular and liberal law, women lived as they do in Turkey or Europe today. The most interesting case was where the monarch Md. Reza Pahlavi’s first wife Fawzia Faud asked his to dissolve the marriage allegedly calling him impotent and weak and he had to abide to her wishes and drop her back home with due respect. Should such an incident occur today, the husband can make his wife’s life worse than hell since the Islam law neither allows women to ask for divorce in general (actually possible in the form of a ?khula? but practically very difficult) nor protects her from marital rape.

Considering such a situation with respect to Christianity, the Bible (Coritians:7:3-5) says:

“The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”.

?So just guess if radical Christian Republicans like ?Bobby Jindal? come to power??(food for thought).

A very good reason to relate Iran’s situation in 1977-70 with US 2014 is the way people are considering it. Like while discussing it with one of my conservative friends, she said I am ?not much into Christianity, like I am not concerned about what homosexuals do in their bedrooms but the reason I support Conservatives is the abortion issue.? So she was intending to say that she agrees to the Conservative philosophy on some grounds but not all. Thus, this lady was not actually a Christian radical but was supporting them. This reminded me how women supported the Iranian Revolution by wearing hijabs in public thinking they are ?slightly conservative? and the new Islamic government would be the same. The result is visible.

Something similar might happen in the US if Conservatives who believe they are slightly conservative vote for a conservative government which might turn out to be a kingdom of Christianity one day.

 

Karan is a humanist and a serious Bernie Sanders supporter who is really really scared that if (god forbid) the Republican wins, it's impact on his part of the world would be a disaster. The 2016 polls might be a debate of bread and butter for Americans. For him, it's a question of life and death.