Newsweek Reporter Gets Jail Time In Iran For Gay-Looking Ahmadinejad Picture

video

by Frances Martel | 12:54 pm, May 31st, 2010

» 18 comments

A picture of two men in profile with insufficient depth can cost you jail time in Iran. Newsweek reporter Maziar Bahari just received a 13.5-year, 74-lash sentence for his coverage of Iranian protesters being attacked by military officials, and CNN’s Fareed Zakaria was curious about unusual .5 addition to the sentence. He found that it had to do with a photo of Ahmadinejad that appeared on Facebook, in which the president vaguely appears to be kissing another man.

Bahari had just wrapped up a 180-day sentence related to his coverage of last year’s Iranian elections, after which protesters took to the streets in droves crying fraud. His latest work covering continued protests and military abuses cost him 13 years and 74 lashes– still acceptable punishment in Iran– but it was a photo that a friend of his put on his Facebook wall that got him the six years. Yes, a picture that someone else posted on his wall, of a man walking by Ahmandinejad, cost him six months, because it was deemed offensive to the manliness of the Iranian leader. Bahari is, fortunately, in the United States, so his in-absentia sentence will probably not be carried out (unless, of course, he chooses to go back to Iran).

Zakaria explained Bahari’s– who he calls a friend– ordeal on his program yesterday. Video below:

[h/t Towleroad]

CNN, fareed zakaria, Fareed Zakaria GPS, Gays, Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Maziar Bahari, Newsweek

BowenIsland

“in which the president vaguely appears to be kissing another man.”

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
m

Won’t see many conservatives condemning this because they actually agree with Ahmadinejad.
felixw

Today Facebook agreed to censor pages which Muslims dislike, and was thus able to get back online in Pakistan. But don’t expect to read much coverage of that event, or of this news story either. In a very strange alliance, the liberal media seems to do everything possible to avoid giving any offense to Islamic extremists. It’s an odd partnership, but perhaps their shared dislike of George Bush, American values, Christianity, etc. explains their willingness to cooperate in slanting and censoring the news.
Moderate

It really makes one appreciate living in a free country.

It was only a joke, everyone knows there are no Gays in Iran.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Bob-Amsel/1450316715 Bob Amsel

Yeah, the great “liberal media.” Is that something like a unicorn?

As conservative William Kristol put it: “I admit it — the liberal media were never that powerful, and the whole thing was often used as an excuse by conservatives for conservative failures.”
William Kristol, as reported by the New Yorker, 5/22/95
notsofast

Bob Amsel says:
May 31, 2010 at 3:34 pm

As conservative William Kristol put it: “I admit it — the liberal media were never that powerful, and the whole thing was often used as an excuse by conservatives for conservative failures.”
William Kristol, as reported by the New Yorker, 5/22/95″

1995? Ask him today, Bill!
notsofast

The question is did Ahmadinejad give him tongue?
baffledman

The other question is…what is conservative media Fox? Glenn, Billo, Sean and Sarah….Lies. Fraud, deceit and delusion…keep coming. And Bill Kristol rules…lol.
notsofast

Bob Amsel says:
May 31, 2010 at 3:34 pm

Yeah, the great “liberal media.” Is that something like a unicorn? ”

With so many media outlets admitting they are liberalit is so funny to watch libs dissociate themselves from the lib label.

lib media:

NY Times, LA Times, Washington Post, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, Salon, Slate, Time, Newsweek, Nation, Mother Jones, Rolling Stone, The View, The Daily Show, HP, Vanity Fair, Village Voice,The Nation, The Atlantic,the Boston Globe,Chicago Sun-Times,The New Republic,The Seattle Times, Daily Kos, Huffington Post, Media Matters, The New Yorker, et al.

Conservative media: FOX, Rush, Hannity radio show, Beck, radio show, WSJ, NY Post, The National Review, and Red State.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kam-Fet/572005492 Kam Fet

This is just one downright offensive. Its a sick joke plain and simple. I wouldn’t be happy if someone makes a gay joke on me, grow up not funny. What if someone does that to your beloved Presidents: George Walker Bush and Barrack Hussein Obama. I don’ think either one of you lefties or rightist would be happy about that. By the Way Mr Ahmadenajad is not my President, I just find it an attempt to debase and humiliate a fellow human being.
writer

Besides, look at that other guy. Ahmadinejad is way out of his league.
disgusted

the “guy” wanders around in a night-shirt – and is “pictured” with – ??
They TOLD- now why did they ask..??..
Integr8d

“Won’t see many conservatives condemning this because they actually agree with Ahmadinejad.”

It’s amazing, the immediacy with which partisan/philosophical douchebaggery takes hold of any discussion.
Integr8d

Kristol’s dad, Irving, the father of neo-conservativism, who splintered from the DNC and was instrumental in removing classical conservatives from the GOP, is one of the main reasons there is very little difference between the DNC and GOP today… It’s bewildering to listen to people go back and forth about ‘my party’ or ‘their party’. None of them see the facade that’s only bested by the WWF.

Wakey, wakey, kids!!!
sarainitaly

he doesn’t vaguely appear to be kissing another man, he is kissing him. it’s how they greet each other. if he doesn’t want to be photographed kissing men, he shouldn’t keep doing it.

http://tinyurl.com/35uzaz4

The press pool should be warned though. When Obama has Ahmadinejad over for tea, they might not want to snap any pics of them kissing hello.
sarainitaly

Frances – you say he got 6 years, and then you say 6 months. The CNN report said 6 months.
Sunnyr

eeuuuu…Anyone kissing that SLUG on the lips presents a disgusting picture.
http://thedailybarb.com Burnnotice

WTF is his problem. These guys started the whole Kissing men greeting…