Iranian coder faces execution 'for building smut websites' A programmer faces imminent execution in Iran after the country's supreme court upheld his conviction for "developing and promoting pornographic websites". Saeed Malekpour, 36, was convicted on the basis of a televised confession he later retracted in a letter sent from prison. His family argue Malekpour made the supposed …
Iranian-Canadian reporter beaten to death in prison
Iranian-US soldier in prison for spying
Iranian-French actress banned from visiting Iran
and now this guy.
If I were an Iranian living and working in another country, I would make very sure that I never ever went home.
Hell, as a non-Iranian Iran is on my list of "Never, ever visit".
The missus has also added China to that list on my behalf as she feel's I'd be quite likely to open my mouth and get in some serious trouble.
The list now contains a huge number of countries, I'm just hoping it won't grow as I see it as more of a reflection on those countries (i.e. how they handle dissent) than on my unerring ability to put my foot in my mouth
If by amazing you mean, bunch of backwards arsed idiots with no spine to let this kind of "justice" prevail in the modern world, then yes I agree.
I'm going to hell when I die anyway... no need to visit the middle east, send me a postcard.
Hate to break it to you but no, this is not a distorted view, a place and its society is reflected by the rules and penalties that society lives under - their government. Any illusion of freedom is always mitigated by consequences like death.
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You are so clueless it isn't even funny. No spine? Coming from, in all probability, a cosseted little Westerner writing their dissenting little words of rebellion from the comfort of their home protected from the threat of torture and abduction by their Government that is pretty rich. Most nations ruled by dictators look backwards as it seems easier to keep control of a population by letting them have fuck all.
"Hate to break it to you but no, this is not a distorted view, a place and its society is reflected by the rules and penalties that society lives under - their government."
If so, are all Americans c*nts? No, of course not. Likewise, Iranians probably choose their moments to speak out knowing full well that such a society has unknown numbers of spies and whistleblowers living in their midst. I doubt I'd be too vocal if I knew one wrong word meant the torture of myself and/or my family, and I firmly suspect the same holds true for you.
The Syrians don't seem to like their Government much but it doesn't seem to be working out too well for them does it?
Did you actually RTFA?
"He knew the law and he made his choice"
AFAIK there's no law against writing software to allow you to upload pictures. That someone used his code without him knowing on porn sites is hardly something he can be held liable for.
Rat poison is often used in murder, should the manufacturers of that poision be up for life as well (which is still better than execution)?
I'd say he'd be very lucky if the MPAA kicked down the door and extradited him tomorrow. They may be a bunch of cunts, but at least they won't execute him.
The guy lived in Canada, he was only in Iran to visit his sick father. Even then: is writing a tool to upload pictures, which is subsequently used by others to upload porn really a good reason to imprison let alone execute someone? (IMHO there is never a good reason to execute someone).
Lets execute Vint Cerf for creating TCP/IP as it is used for transferring 'orrible things around the world (and not to forget: IP infringment), and lets not forget Tim Berners-Lee for creating that abomination called the World Wide Web! Put them to death for all atrocities other people committed with their inventions/products!
"The use of vaguely worded charges is not new in Iran, but the allegation that these were carried out on the internet is. It is an unwelcome addition to the catalogue of ways in which Iran finds it can execute its own citizens"
Substitute "USA" for "Iran" and "imprison" for "execute" and "other countries" for "its own"
Thank God the land of 'freee-daaam' and 'deee-maaa-cracy' would never behave thus!
"The use of vaguely worded charges is not new in USA, but the allegation that these where carried out on the internet is. It is an unwelcome addition to the catalog of ways in which USA finds it can imprison other countries citizens"
wow... by replacing a few words you can make a coherent statement about Iran's attempt to execute someone for writing software someone used to make a porn-site into an incoherent attempt at an anti American mess.
Not sure. In the book 'Midnight Express' there's an example of a guy* who was declared guilty in a traffic accident in Turkey. The other driver** was drunk and hit his car, which he had parked legally on the side of the road. Apparently it was decided on the basis that if his car had not been there in the first place, then the other driver, drunk or not, would not have had the accident. Must be some Sharia law thing. Go figure.
*foreign, French or such, and Unbeliever.
**local citizen of proper religious views.
"political pawn by hardliners ahead of March presidential elections in the country."
a politician is trying to hang someone (an innocent man at that) to boost his* campaign..... if it works then there is more to worry about in Iran then this case!
* I'll have to assume that it is not "her" campaign!
"....supposed admissions of wrongdoing under duress; they say he had spent a year in solitary confinement in Tehran's Evin prison, was beaten and was told of threats against his relatives."
Oh, WOW what an enlightened, tolerant and eductated scoiety they live in!
Their religious beliefs must be very pro life/human rights.
"...in a truly enlightened, tolerant and eductated scoiety like, say, the USA they wouldn't do things like that, would they?"
I knew someone would say something along those lines. God bless the Reg forums; they never disappoint.
No society is perfect. Every society without exception does grotesque things in the name of justice. I seem to recall it wasn't that long ago you guys on your side of the pond were apologizing for thanking Alan Turing for helping to win WWII by throwing him in prison for the crime of homosexuality, after which he was, if I recall correctly, hounded to death.
Every society has an imperfect system of justice, no question about it.
However, to score political points off the US or the UK or other countries by playing off a guy who's set to be *executed for writing file uploader software* strikes me as a bit crass. No society is perfect, but that doesn't mean all societies are therefore equal in the way they treat their citizens.
Yes, the Bradley Manning thing is a shameful and inexcusable debacle, no question about it. There's that, and then there's *executing a guy for writing file uploader software*. I know which one my money says is worse, and given a choice between living in, say, the US or the UK, and living in Iran, I know which one I'd pick in a heartbeat.
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