Women's virtue & Fanatics

Islamic Justice implemented A woman being buried alive upto her breast; so to be stoned to death, 16-May-2001 Islamic Republic of Iran.

cannot be compared to Protestantism in Britain.

2. The Bible is not the law of the land in Britain, while the Koran is in Iran.
3. it is not in the constitution and penal code nor enforced in the courts and by morality police in Britain, while it is in Iran. Nonetheless, according to Ballard, to condemn Islam is racist. Ballard conveniently ignores the distinction between anti-Islam sentiments and racism against Muslims.

International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR). P. O. Box 27236 London N11 27F p: +44 (0) 7730 107 337 [email protected] www.hambastegi.org

While racism is unacceptable, an attack on Islam and Islamic states and laws is not only permissible but a requisite given the indescribable violence and misogyny meted out by Islam in political power. Progressive norms and secularism are the results of enlightenment and just struggles against this very sort of reaction.

Ballard's rebuke only attempts to silence those who speak out for civil rights by labelling them as racists. In fact, however, it is her culturally relativist assertions that are racist. By justifying and excusing women's status as cultural, she denies women and people living in the Middle East and Iran universal rights and freedoms.

Maryam Namazie Executive Director International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR)