Iran Suspends Programmer's Death Sentence 193
jamaicaplain writes "Reuters reports that 'Iran has suspended the death sentence for a computer programmer convicted on charges of running a pornographic website after he "repented for his actions," his lawyer was quoted as saying on Sunday. Saeed Malekpour, an Iranian citizen and Canadian resident, was arrested in 2008 while visiting relatives in Iran, according to Amnesty International. Although Iranian authorities accused him of running a pornography site, Amnesty has said the charges appear to stem from a software program created by Malekpour that was used without his knowledge to post pornographic images.'"
It's not clear if he'll ever be released, however.
Fundamental lack of intelligence (Score:4, Insightful)
This is like sentencing a truck designer to death because trucks are used to transport alcohol.
But in fundamentalist societies like Iran and some of the southern US states, intelligence is not a factor in getting into power. So these people don't see the logical discontinuity between the person writing software (or designing trucks) and the actual other person using the software (or the truck) to do something illegal under their laws. /anonymous because of troll baiting glib southern US state comment
Re:Fundamental lack of intelligence (Score:4, Insightful)
Intelligence doesn't really seem to be a factor for getting into power anywhere, so I'm not quite sure why you singled out any one area of the world in particular.
It seems to me that charisma is much more important for getting ahead in politics and business.
Re:Fundamental lack of intelligence (Score:5, Insightful)
It seems to me that charisma is much more important for getting ahead in politics and business.
Technically, it's sexual attractiveness. Charisma is just a generic term for someone that is sexually attractive as well as knowing how to use it to their advantage. And intelligence is a factor for getting into power... just not by itself. Intelligence alone has no proven evolutionary advantage (that is, the chance of passing your genes on to the next generation). I know many people who have intelligence but lack attractive features, and they are amongst the most miserable people I know. It allows them to be aware of exactly how the world works, in every detail, and to also be forced to be constantly aware of how small they are within it. The Total Perspective Vortex isn't just a plot device for intelligent people: for them, they've already sat in the chair.
Re:Islamic porn (Score:5, Insightful)
Not a programmer (Score:3, Insightful)
Let's look at what he calims Malekpour has written: A Perl/PHP program called: Movable Type [wikipedia.org] . As far as I know an American company with the name of Six Apart [movabletype.org] is the developer, and not a stupid porn distributor called Malekpour. See this screenshot [uploadkon.ir] from his website.
Islamic extremist values (Score:5, Insightful)
I once watched a video clip of an Iranian girl getting stoned to death by a crowd of people. At one point during the ordeal her dress started to ride up her legs. One of the attackers was very quick to cover up her legs again.
Extremely horrific violence: Ok.
Semi-nudity: Not ok.
Re:Fundamental lack of intelligence (Score:5, Insightful)
Technically, it's sexual attractiveness. Charisma is just a generic term for someone that is sexually attractive as well as knowing how to use it to their advantage.
I think that's a bit short sighted. I think most people would agree that e.g. the Dalei Lama or Queen Elizabeth II are charismatic leaders, but would not rate them anywhere near "attractive"
But it's not completly unrelated.
Facts, not movies (Score:3, Insightful)
So, let's talk about facts, not movies.
Re:Islamic extremist values (Score:5, Insightful)
You know what's funny? I notice the same attitude in US (I'm from Europe).
The American public is OK with movies showing all and any kind of violence - from "simple" headshots to horrific torture and mutilation. But when the same movie is showing some skin, they have to mention how disgusted they are. I just don't get it.
Developer? Are you serious?! (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:Fundamental lack of intelligence (Score:5, Insightful)
But in fundamentalist societies like Iran and some of the southern US states
Merely having fundamentalists (who aren't at all equivalent) in your society isn't the same as having a fundamentalist society. Having someone in the neighborhood who occasionally advocates prayer in school or creationism isn't the same as official organs of the state executing people for sponsoring pornography and rigidly holding to blatantly religious law.
Simple lesson (Score:5, Insightful)
Don't visit any Muslim country, EVER! For that matter, never ever visit any country where the local laws and your history and lifestyle conflict. Don't drink in an alcohol free country. Not even if it is offered.
Don't smuggle or use Drugs in the US of A not even if some states now allow it. As a foreigner, no local senator is going to burn his fingers on you to get you free from the federal government.
Don't take "teen" porn into a nation that has higher age limits for porn. Don't take manga/anime into such countries either, the laws might not be enforced always but you don't want to be the exception to the rule.
Yes it sucks but a foreign nation doesn't owe you anything. Right now in Saudi Arabia, a young foreign girl is in jail for life NOT because the COURT wants her to be in jail but because under Sharia law, until the parents of the baby she supervised when it died (at no fault of her) forgive her, she remains in jail. The police, medical examiners and court have said she is not to blame but Sharia law rules otherwise and if you go to such a backward place, you agree to be bound by it. So. DON'T.
And it ain't even hard stuff, do you know that on the whole it is not a good idea to "argue" with an American cop. In Holland it is perfectly normal. In the US? NO! And you might get away with it in a tourist trap but in a southern state?
99% of the time, nothing will happen and then it does and you get caned for dropping chewing gum on the sidewalk.
It is one of the things you got to consider really carefully when considering a job in another country, does that country legal system and culture conflict with yours? Both the US and Holland for instance got stoners but Dutch stoners don't risk jail with every joint. You might be going to work in an industry where drug use is considered normal but will that cop searching your car feel the same? Hell, even ordinary smokers better consider the smoking laws in a foreign country.
If you are one of those people who needs a beer at the end of the day, is a Muslim controlled country really worth it? If you want to wash your car on sundays better stay out of bible belt areas.
See this video: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xh4tqg_top-gear-take-on-the-us-pt-2-close-call-crossing-alabama_auto [dailymotion.com]
Are you gay, a liberal or have a brain? Stay out of the South, you are not welcome. Don't think New York, Philidelpia and LA are all of the US, some parts are as dangerous as the most backwards Muslim nations and worse. Because at least most Muslim nations are ruled by dictators who usually don't want trouble (Arab Spring so far has only made the Arab nations less liberal and less secular) and whose police (Turkey's military used to heavy handedly enforce its secular system as set up by Ata Turk, the democractic system so far is shifting the country to be a pure Muslim state instead) might not like your liberal arse but have strict orders not to allow stuff to happen unless someone in power needs an incident. No such protection exists in the deep South.
For that matter, any southern republican thinking about leaving for Australia because a black man is in the white house and you just hate that socialist Obamacare? Ooops, Australia is far more to the left then any part of the USA. For that matter, all western countries are. A redneck won't be at home anywhere else. Better realize that Philadelphia is redneck heaven before taking a job in Europe. Or you won't last long.
Be wary when travelling, you are entering an other countries legal system and culture and you don't want to be an example to other travellers.
Re:Islamic porn (Score:3, Insightful)
In the defense of Britain, that was the subset of the British who were such theocratic wackjobs that they sailed across the Atlantic in a glorified tub and set up shop in a ghastly wilderness hellhole just so that they could enjoy the pleasure of being on the enjoyable side of religious persecution...
Re:Not a programmer (Score:5, Insightful)
I see that this post hos been modded "interesting". It might be interesting, and it might be true, but at the moment, it is completely baseless.
IOW, [citation needed]
Re:This is typical Muzzy reaction (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Islamic extremist values (Score:4, Insightful)
Extremely horrific violence: Ok. Semi-nudity: Not ok.
Please, explain why I can buy the "Saw" series of movies in the local supermarket next to Spongebob boxed sets, but in order to see a boob I would have to go to an 'adult shop'.
Re:Fundamental lack of intelligence (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Islamic extremist values (Score:4, Insightful)
This is +4 Insightful? I could buy plenty of movies with boobs showing at the supermarket. "R" rating includes pretty much everything except prolonged full frontal nudity and/or hardcore sex. In some cases, enough people get off that here in the United States wenominate it for an Oscar [imdb.com].
Heck, if boobage is all you're looking for, just turn on some cable TV [imdb.com]. Don't act like you have to travel to the naughty side of town for that.
Re:Islamic porn (Score:4, Insightful)
It's even funnier than that. They first sailed to Holland, where religious tolerance was already implemented - and so they weren't persecuted there. But they found it to be such a horrible "den of vices" full of "temptations" for their children, that they decided to move to the Colonies where they could actually enforce their morality without interference.