Monday, February 13, 2012

Persian Letters

Hard-Line Iran Daily Calls French First Lady A Prostitute

Iran's state press accused French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (left) of using the case to cover up her cheating on husband Nicolas Sarkozy.
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August 28, 2010

France's first lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, has come under attack by Iran's state-controlled media over her support for an Iranian woman, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, who has been sentenced to death by stoning for adultery.

In a letter addressed to Ashtiani, Bruni wrote last week that her husband, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, was trying to secure her release.

"I just can't see what good could come out of this macabre ceremony, whatever the judicial reasons put forward to justify it," Bruni wrote. "Shed your blood and deprive children of their mother, why? Because you have lived, because you have loved, because you're a woman and because you're Iranian? Everything within me refuses to accept this."

The ultra-hard-line daily "Kayhan" condemned the letter and accused the French first lady of "immorality" and breaking up Sarkozy's previous marriage.

In a report titled "French Prostitutes Also Entered the Human Rights Cry" the daily, which often expresses the views of the Iranian establishment, wrote:

"Recently, Carla Bruni, the infamous wife of Nicolas Sarkozy, and Isabelle Adjani, the morally corrupted French actress, expressed support for S.M. Bruni managed to break up Sarkozy's marriage and become France's first lady, yet recently there's been news about her having an affair with a singer."

Iranian state television also criticized Bruni for her letter of support for Ashtiani. State television said in a report that Bruni was trying to justify her "extramarital relations" by expressing support for Ashtiani. The website "Mardomak" has posted a video clip of the state television report:



"Bruni has said in a letter that she and her husband defend the ideals of [Ashtiani]. She hasn't explained what are the ideals of this convicted person in a moral and homicide case, but since she was in the past a danseuse and a model and known for her extramarital relations -- it is probable that with this expression of solidarity she wanted to cover up her own extramarital relations."

Iran has been angered by the international outcry over Ashtiani's sentence.

-- Golnaz Esfandiari

Tags: Ashtiani stoning case

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by: John Baptist from: USA
August 28, 2010 17:15
Carla has seen many casting couches in the past but that is not a crime being a bigot and hiding under a humanitarian disguise is. Carla and her husband de jure are bigots. France’s Human Rights League has launched a petition against “xenophobia and the politics of the pillory”, accusing Sarkozy of endorsing the “old lies that immigration is costly and linked to crime”. It has called for a demonstration on 4 September. On the matter of an Iranian woman; she helped her lovers to kill her husband. That is a crime she should be punished for that but NOT by stoning that is wrong. What are the applicable laws in your books? She should be responsible for her actions maybe twenty years to life would do.
by: Hamik C Gregory from: Reno, NV USA
August 28, 2010 18:24
Scandalous commentary mostly based on malicious speculation. They have shamefully insulted the French First Lady, and by doing so; they have deeply wounded the French. Thank God, many brilliant Iranian students don’t buy into this kind of inaccurate cruel mud slinging. Thousands of them want to study in France. I don’t blame them.
The commentary in the above video was deeply personal and insulting. It was nauseating!
What was the commentator thinking when he was unleashing his resentful mouth full of vindictive rubbish?
In Response
by: Darius from: London
August 29, 2010 12:19
For many people, especially Muslims, a respectable " French First Lady" who used to take her clothes off for the camera is a contradiction in terms. Many broad-mined and super modern French see nothing wrong with her action and they are welcome to it !
From what I read and heard many French citizens of North African origin think otherwise. Would such a thing be acceptable for a US first lady or the wife of a British prime minister?
Certain aspects of the so-called modernity remains a taboo in the Muslim world. For your information, some outwardly modern Muslim girls who live in the West undergo hymenorrhaphy to cover their premarital sex - something which was a taboo in most Western countries at the beginning of 20th century. Call it backwardness or whatever you want because it does not correspond to your modern thinking, but it is a fact. In the light of this, I hope you can see that Carla Bruni asked for it ! She should have been advised not to say much about this particular case. After all, France is not whiter than white and has many skeletons in the cupboard when it comes to human rights issues.
Stoning a woman is definitely wrong. Iran has a dreadful record when it comes to human rights issues. Since you live in a modern society, what would be your punishment for murder? Perhaps electrocution or lethal injection , as they are practised in the United States !
In Response
by: Chris from: Boston, MA (USA)
September 01, 2010 11:55
Darius,

Your line of thinking represents precisely what is wrong with the Middle East. Luckily, you don't have to take my word for it. Just take a look at how awesome the Muslim world is these days. How they pioneer so much new technology and new perspectives. How happy they all are. How much all people in the Middle East want to stay and live in their home countries. Oh wait.

I'm glad to see the "she asked for it" line you trumpeted. Why don't you tell that to the 80% or so of women in Egypt who report getting sexually harassed by men "often." Is that a Muslim country? Last time I checked it was. You've made them wear the hijab and they STILL get harassed.

I hope London doesn't let in too many more people with your ideas. For their own sake. And that you never make it over the USA. We don't have time for backwards people like you.

Chris
In Response
by: Cecilie from: Hong Kong
September 07, 2010 01:14
Murder is a crime, that's true. But where is the proof that she had any part in the murder of her husband?
The court wanting to stone her to death is the same one that routinely sentences young girls to flogging or worse for being victims of rape.
by: Maryam
August 29, 2010 13:05
What has Carla Bruni's personal life have to do with this? Why is it the business of the Iranian propaganda state TV?!!! The French First Lady should be praised for standing up for human rights and speaking up against stoning.
In Response
by: Javad from: Germany
August 29, 2010 15:23
One's personal life has a lot do with this, if that person is a public figure and her standing on certain morale issues does not stand to acid test. " Don't do what I do, do what I tell you" does not hold water if you are in the public eye. Yes, she is free to express her opinion and defend human rights, and I am sure some people praise her for that, but the Islamic regime does not see it that way. The regime is telling Carla Bruni: "It is a bit rich coming from you". However, none of these blunt the dreadful act of stoning for whatever crime the Iranian woman has committed. The Iranian regime should be condemned for using such punishment.
In Response
by: Seidkazi
August 30, 2010 07:47
If you're a public person it does matter - especially if you think you have enough moral high ground to lecture others. The bimbo should better stick to singing and cocktail parties.

Speaking of Sarkozy's administration, there was this other case of Rachida Dati. As Sorko's Minister of Justice, she was to serve as a poster girl for 'assimilation of Muslims'. Yet all she did was horny parading in stilettos in jetset glossies and grotesque ego-tripping to the extent that it became embarassing even for Paris standards. Eventually she was demoted to the assembly of policital has-heens (a.k.a. the Euro-parliament).
by: Holly from: US
August 29, 2010 16:47
For Muslim men to talk about Muslim Women honor is so funny and sad at the same time. In Islam a women worth the same as a Muslim man’s left ball. Stoning a woman by Muslim men is an act that arise a man’s sexual sense thus he can go home and claim his harem. However if any woman consider herself a Muslim then she should shut up and honor it’s barbaric laws including getting stone for the men amusement.
In Response
by: Farah from: Wales
August 29, 2010 18:53
There is a lot wrong with Muslim countries in terms of human rights, but I have never heard such codswalop in all my life . "In Islam a woman is worth the same as a Muslim man's left ball" - where did you read/hear such nonsense ?
In Response
by: Andrew from: Auckland
August 30, 2010 13:21
It depends on which Moslems you are talking about.

To the Taliban women are nothing but dirt, as shown by their execution of girls who dare to read, or leave abusive husbands, or listen to music.
In Response
by: Seidkazi
September 01, 2010 12:15
Andrew, and others: if you are interested...

An introduction to the Islamic Social System
http://www.khilafah.com/index.php/the-khilafah/social-system/387-an-introduction-to-the-social-system

Документальный фильм «Женщина под сенью религии Аллаха»
http://www.halifat.org/content/view/36/43/
by: rob from: carson city
August 30, 2010 19:27
The Iranian judiciary clearly falls below even the standards set out in the Iranian constitution. Ms. Bruni-Sarkozy's letter was in solidarity with a woman who had been cleared once only to find herself found guilty illegally. The Iranian reaction is just to deflect attention from the real issue, as is often the case.
by: Senjo
August 31, 2010 03:13
Just the fact that Ms. Bruni made these statements has brought to light the barbarous treatment of this woman in Iran. Regardless of Ms. Bruni's own choices in life, because of her comments more people now know about Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, which is a very good thing. The worst thing the West can do in such circumstances is remain silent.
by: Bill Webb from: Phoenix, AZ, U.S.A.
September 01, 2010 16:09
I know for a fact that most Europeans don't have the hangups about sex and relationships that the rest of the world seems to have. Is it just the Iranians, or do all Muslims have this obsession with death and pain? The ASPCA advocates humane treatment and abolishing pain and suffering for all animals. Why would these fiends practice public stoning of people for any crime? Is it a psychological illness?
In Response
by: Yashar from: Turkey
September 01, 2010 21:38
No, it is not just the Iranians. Have you heard of recent stoning in Afghanistan? Have you heard of beheading by sword in Saudi Arabia ? I suggest you ask your politicians whether US invasion of Iraq had anything to do with thousands of death and tremendous pain and suffering of Iraqis. If it is a psychological illness, then it is not limited to Iran and the Middle East. You have it in your so-called civilized world as well. You hear a lot about Iran because it is the enemy and the focus is the Islamic regime now, as it was on Saddam before his fall. I am sure with some thinking you can find the answers to you questions.

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Persian Letters is a blog that offers a window into Iranian politics and society. Written primarily by Golnaz Esfandiari, Persian Letters brings you under-reported stories, insight and analysis, as well as guest Iranian bloggers -- from clerics, anarchists, feminists, Basij members, to bus drivers.

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