Iran is an example of what?

• Author: Darabi, Parvin
• Position: Letter to the editor

As an Iranian American, I take issue with the editorial "The Iranian Example," by Amitabh Pal, in your August issue. He argues that since the Iranian demonstrations against Ahmadinejad's election were peaceful, therefore Islam is not a violent religion.

Did I miss something?

Didn't many people die due to the violence perpetrated by the government of Iran?

Wasn't Neda, the woman who became the symbol of Iranian plight for freedom and democracy, killed by a bullet fired by a Muslim?

Aren't Khamenei, Ahmadinejad, and the other leaders of the Iranian government who did not even allow the parents of Neda and others to have a decent funeral for their children Muslims?

In Iran, women are beaten, flogged, and humiliated in public for wearing lipstick or nail polish.

Aren't these morality police Muslims?

Young men are paraded around by the morality police with an aftabeh (the water pitcher Muslims...