U.N. Investigation: No Evidence Of Religious Minority Dress Code In Ir

[gerryhatrick]

So then, why did the National Post ask them?

SWC News item (Simon Wiesenthal Center)

May 25, 2006

In Response To Wiesenthal Center’s Query: U.N. Investigation Finds No Evidence Of Religious Minority Dress Code In Iran

Last week, the Simon Wiesenthal Center asked the Secretary General of the United Nations to investigate a National Post op-ed piece written by Amir Tahiri stating that religious minorities would be required to wear color patches delineating their religions.

A letter received today by Wiesenthal Center Dean, Rabbi Marvin Hier, written by Alicia Barnena, Acting Chef de Cabinet, on behalf of the Secretary General, said: “The Secretary-General, who is currently traveling in Asia, was disturbed by this report and asked me to look into this matter immediately. I have now done so, and an analysis of the law by the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Tehran finds that there are no suggestions or clauses within the law that refer to religious minorities and their dress, or that would support the serious concerns raised in the National Post story.”

http://www.wiesenthal.com/site/apps/nl/con...B0D4%7D&notoc=1

Strange. The National Post cites the Simon Wiesenthal Center as a confirmation for the false story, yet this organization is asking the UN to confirm the story.

The National Post recently apologized for this story, calling it an "error". They identified the Simon Wiesenthal Center and two Iranian expatriates living in Canada as being the only confirmation they secured before going to print.

[KrustyKidd]

Strange. The National Post cites the Simon Wiesenthal Center as a confirmation for the false story, yet this organization is asking the UN to confirm the story.

That is certainly strange. I was ready to call this a simple case of overzealous reporting but now the source is citing the paper as it's source? The chicken before the egg before the chicken?

I'm sure there is a logical explanation but, can't figure out what it is.

[gerryhatrick]

Strange. The National Post cites the Simon Wiesenthal Center as a confirmation for the false story, yet this organization is asking the UN to confirm the story.

That is certainly strange. I was ready to call this a simple case of overzealous reporting but now the source is citing the paper as it's source? The chicken before the egg before the chicken?

I'm sure there is a logical explanation but, can't figure out what it is.

And the apology by the NP says it received confirmation from the dean AND the associate dean of the SWC.

The SWC says they never confirmed the badge story.

Agree with you, VERY strange stuff.

[KrustyKidd]

A lot of times a reporter will ask a question that is pegging a politician into a position like 'so will you be putting forth a bill banning gay marriage?' and then getting the obvious answer of 'no.'

Posibly this is one of those cases except in a more complicated way? Wiesenthal group gives story to NP so NP can run it. Independent witnesses go with Wiesenthal center and when story runs, Iranians catagoricly deny it even though they were thinking of doing it?

Wiesenthal center with contacts all over the place gets Iranians head off at the pass (for now) and in process (unintentionally but unavoidably) makes NP look like morons (which is of little or no consequence to them) then, to shunt blame plays games afterwards.

Sound good?

[Naci Sey]

To have made its apology as visually impactful as the original false report, the NP should have placed it on the front page and with the original photos crossed out by a large slash.

Instead, it appeared on page 2 and was full of 'buts' and 'howevers'.

[gerryhatrick]

Posibly this is one of those cases except in a more complicated way? Wiesenthal group gives story to NP so NP can run it. Independent witnesses go with Wiesenthal center and when story runs, Iranians catagoricly deny it even though they were thinking of doing it?

Actually no...it was that Amir Taheri (sp) reporter who gave the story to the NP. The Wiesenthal centre was who the NP ran to for confirmation.

They confirmed it.

What's interesting to see now is rightwing pundits (Michael Coren) making the accusation that the concept of tagging religious minorities was debated in the Iranian Parliament....so to him the story was partiailly correct.

Problem with that is I see the Jewish MP and news organizations telling me that the matter was never even discussed.

Coren even claims that the new law enforces a dress code. It does not.

So, the lie lives on in different forms.

I don't believe the Iranians were ever considering it. They've been demonized to the point that people are ready to believe anything. I agree with the Jewish MP, it's an insult to Irans religious minorities to have floated this story.

[KrustyKidd]

Instead, it appeared on page 2 and was full of 'buts' and 'howevers'.

Page 2 is a pretty big correction. Normally they are burried big time. A postage stamp sized one on the front page is a waste, better where it was.

So, the lie lives on in different forms.

Ya it seems.