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November 13, 2005
Iran: Islamic Fatwa Condones Changing Sex
Iran is a harsh place for homosexual men and women. The strict enforcement of Islamic law from the time of Khomeini has seen an estimated 4,000 homosexual men executed for expressing their feelings, according to the Iranian rights group Homan.
As homosexuality appears to exist in most societies in some proportion of the population, life for those who are "different" would be almost impossible in an Islamic society. But today's Independent on Sunday describes a bizarre solution to those of a different persuasion to conventional heterosexuality - transgender surgery. And what is more, it has been approved by the late Ayatollah Khomeini in a fatwa.
The origins of the fatwa, which was issued in 1983, derive from the plight of a man called Fereydoon, who had been frustrated by his situation and had already started a course of female hormones. Fereydoon had tried to gain an audience with the Ayatollah on several occasions, but to no avail. Eventually he forced his way into Khomeini's private rooms and pleaded his case. He revealed his feminine breasts to the Ayatollah, and soon the fatwa was pronounced.
It was thenceforward considered possible for a man "trapped in a woman's body" to become a woman, and for a "her" to become a "him". Previously transgender and transsexual individuals had been considered "homosexual" and subject to the harsh laws against such behaviour. The fatwa has since that time ensured that Iran has one of the highest populations of transsexuals in the world.
The Independent describes two such individuals, such as 30 year old estate agent Milad Kajouhinejad, who sports a beard and has a hairy chest, which he is proud to display. Only three years before, "he" was a "she". Today, he enjoys freedoms previously never allowed to a woman in Iranian society. The road to becoming a man was not easy. As a child "she" had been forced into a marriage at age twelve by her father, who suspected her lesbian tendencies. She had worked as a taxi driver to gain the money for the procedure, which has involved 23 operations. She had to be interviewed by psychiatrists and gain clerical approval, and was given an interest-free loan of $1200, about a fifth of the full cost of the gender reassignment.
On the other side of the gender divide, the cost of male to female gender reassignment is a third that of Milad's procedure, as it involves less operations. Athena is 20, and before her operation her father would beat him/her until he /she tried to commit suicide. Only when he had it explained that his son was not a homosexual did he begin to accept her. Now he will only allow Athena to leave the house if she is veiled, like a respectable Iranian woman.
But as the Independent states:
legal recognition is not the same as social acceptance. Transexuals in Iran continue to suffer not just ostracism, but physical attacks. For every happily assimilated Milad and Athena, there are newly made men and women on the streets of Tehran who can never reveal the truth that lies behind their chador or business suit.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 13, 2005 7:36 AM
Comments
That was an interesting blog post !
Reading your post, and contemplating on the many issues there, I feel your readers should know the dark side of Indian Marriages, especially the misuse of laws by Indian wives these days
Do you know that 1000s of innocent Indian men are being victimized by the misuse of anti dowry law - a particular Section 498A of Indian Penal code ?.
Many newly wed wives unable to adjust with their husbands, some who are unable to live in a new environment and even greedy Indian wives are known to file FALSE dowry cases against their husbands and In - Laws. They falsely accuse their husbands' of treating them with cruelty AND demanding dowry during marriage.
Since dowry is legally prohibited and severely punishable in India, many of these newly married men stand the gruesome prospect of being arrested and thrown into and Indian prison ... for years !!
The intention of these Indian wives of course is to settle scores or extract money from their in laws.
Once a dowry case is filed the Indian police are forced to arrest the husband and in some cases, even their un suspecting parents & sisters are arrested and jailed. Unable to bear the insult some have committed suicide.
As most of the male victims would be innocent and would not have EVEN stepped into a police station, let alone be arrested, they are forced to NEGOTIATE AND PAY these women
Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code is badly lacking the "..due process of law .." i.e. Under any normal legal process, an accused is considered innocent unless proven guilty. However under Sec. 498A - I.P.C., the accused is immediately assumed to be guilty and has to loose liberty immediately....
There are 1000s of victims all over India
It is reported that ".......In Andhra Pradesh (one of the Indian States), for example, a third of all the pending cases related to �atrocities on women� as on June 30 2005 are those under sections 498 and 498(A). In the first six months this year, 3801 new cases under just these two sections were instituted..........."
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=79802
This is a smear on the image of India
If any reader here is about to get married or if you are facing a difficult relationship with your wife, please be aware. Take necessary precautions !!
Best regards
Vinayak
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Posted by: Vinayak at November 13, 2005 8:01 AM
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