Vaguely familiar

I hesitate to believe this is true until I see somebody else report it -- the story is just that suggestive.

The law, which must still be approved by Iran's "Supreme Guide" Ali Khamenehi before being put into effect, also establishes special insignia to be worn by non-Muslims.

Iran's roughly 25,000 Jews would have to sew a yellow strip of cloth on the front of their clothes, while Christians would wear red badges and Zoroastrians would be forced to wear blue cloth.

That's the story at Canada's National Post. (HT: Done with Mirrors)

Daniel Larison, however, says there's nothing new here, and the Third Reich is the wrong precedent to cite.

Update: Looks like my initial skepticism was justified.

"Such a plan has never been proposed or discussed in parliament," [Jewish legislator Morris] Motamed told the Associated Press.

"Such news, which appeared abroad, is an insult to religious minorities here."

Another Iranian legislator said the newspaper has distorted a bill that he presented to parliament, which calls for more conservative clothing for Muslims.

"It's a sheer lie. The rumours about this are worthless," Emad Afroogh said.

Afroogh's bill seeks to make women dress more traditionally and avoid Western fashions. Minority religious labels have nothing to do with it, he said.

"The bill is not related to minorities. It is only about clothing," he said.

| Posted by Wilson at 12:46 Central | TrackBack
| Report submitted to the Power Desk