05 December 2006

Ahmadinejad in a spot of bother?

In one of those schadenfreude moments President Ahmadinejad of Iran has been accused of undermining Iran's Islamic revolution after television footage appeared to show him watching a female song and dance show according to today’s Guardian

Ahmadinejad has been criticised by his own allies after attending the lavish opening ceremony of the Asian games in Qatar. The ceremony featured Indian and Egyptian dancers and female vocalists. Many were not wearing veils (Oh the horror!). Women are forbidden to sing and dance before a male audience under Iran's Islamic legal code. Officials are expected to excuse themselves from such engagements when abroad but TV pictures showed Mr Ahmadinejad sitting with President Bashar Assad of Syria and Ismail Haniya, the Palestinian prime minister, during last Friday's ceremony in Doha.

Religious fundamentalists are asking why he attended a ceremony that violated his own government's strict interpretation of Shia Islam. Baztab, a website, which is apparently linked to powerful sections of Iran's political hierarchy, said Ahmadinejad's presence had offended Shias. "The failure of Ahmadinejad to object and his constant presence has damaged the image of Iran's Islamic revolution and its commitment to Islamic rules in contrast with the Arab countries in the Gulf," it said.

Although the president's aides insist he was not present during the singing and dancing. Baztab posted footage which purported to show Mr Ahmadinejad in his seat after the show. Jalal Yahyazadeh, a rightwing MP, said: "We have heard from some sources that Ahmadinejad was in the stadium at the time. Those who created the conditions for his presence should be investigated as quickly as possible."

Meanwhile the Iranian press appears to be curiously silent over the matter: A check of Iran’s English language news sites report that Ahmadinejad visited the Iranian sports camp in Doha where he told the participants that they were "the ambassadors of morals and culture of Iran.” There is also an report about Iran’s influence for peace, brotherhood, development of nations but nothing about unveiled dancers…

I know this story is probably an awful lot of very little but given the crap he heaps, it is nice to think that he will be getting crapped on himself.


9 comments:

Agnes said...

he denies it. Not his fault ythe TV ws on.

jams o donnell said...

I wonder how he will explain that bulge in his trousers?

Agnes said...

Now, now, we won;t invade Iran just because the president has that tiny little bulge somewhere.

jams o donnell said...

Of course not but his apparent flouting of Islamic orthodoxy iranian style is to be condemned utterly by all western cultural relativists wherever they be!

MC Fanon said...

Wow! When you brought this up on my blog I didn't realize how big of a deal it was. I don't think this will undermine his terror efforts or help better Iran but it seems now we have the Iranian Muslims in opposition tot heir leader, albeit for different reasons. I don't usually live by this saying but "The enemy of my enemy is my friend".

jams o donnell said...

I wouldnt preten it will bring Ahmadinejad down but I do enjoy the idea he is going to get a bit of crap. I wouldn't get into bed with his critics though

Agnes said...

Jams, let us silently pray. I hope Allah will send more nekkid dancers into his TV....more devilish conspiracies, more bulges.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Yep. Cannot wait for the hammer to fall...

jams o donnell said...

Here's hoping Red and here's hoping Snoopy!