Iran - Things continue to get worse

Iran continues its cultural march backwards to the stone age, while pursuing nuclear weapons in an attempt to make us do the same.

After enjoying so much more freedom than before, are ordinary Iranians going to tolerate this?

TEHRAN, Aug 11, 2006 (AFP) - Iran's conservative Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad-Hossein Saffar-Harandi vowed Friday to rein in the media as part of a new clampdown on "wicked manifestations in society".

Iran has already arrested over 50 bloggers.

Saffar-Harandi said the move would be part of a wider campaign to revive the values of the Islamic revolution in cultural life.

"Unfortunately, we witness inappropriate and wicked manifestations in society today ... But now, you have my word that we will purify the cultural atmosphere," he said in a speech carried live by state radio.

"In the near future, we will not witness an unhealthy cultural product among books, movies, shows, music, etc."

Sound familiar? It's precisely what Muslims are trying to do here in Britain. In fact, 40% of British Muslims want Islamic law in Britain.

And Iran is trying to cut off the information flow into the country.

In a bid to combat the "cultural invasion of the West", Iran has long imposed a widely flouted ban on satellite dishes.

That sound familiar too? All of this is what the Taleban did in Afghanistan. You remember them? If not, just ask Yevonne Riddley, former British jounalist, Muslim convert and MP candidate for the Islamist/Communist party - Respect.