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Soraya's Warning to the Mullahs
Courtesy of MPower Pictures
The Stoning of Soraya M. is more than a movie about a wronged Iranian woman. The film’s timing, writes Steven Emerson, can help a nation rally against its iron-fisted Islamic rulers.
Director Cyrus Nowrasteh’s new release, The Stoning of Soraya M. written by Cyrus and his wife Elizabeth, is one of the most compelling, stirring, and riveting films I have ever seen. Inspired by French journalist Freidoune Sahebjam’s international bestseller of the same name, this compelling story sheds light on Islamist mob rule and the horrific honor killings associated with countries that follow Sharia law.
This film should be required viewing for every Obama administration official and member of Congress if they want to understand what is truly going on Iran and the need to firmly, unequivocally, and unambiguously confront Islamist thugs.
Most importantly, the timing of the film’s release—amid the largest popular Iranian uprising against the Islamo-fascist mullahs since they took over in 1979—makes it one of the most relevant and important of our time. It, quite simply, serves as a brilliant exposition on the fanatics who control Iran and their willingness to kill their own people to maintain religious political power.
This film should be required viewing not only for every American—nay, every citizen of the world—but for every Obama administration official and member of Congress, if they want to understand what is truly going on Iran and the need to firmly, unequivocally, and unambiguously confront the Islamist thugs, whether they be in Tehran, Gaza, or Lebanon.
Indeed, the unwillingness of the president to aggressively confront, let alone condemn, the existence of “radical Islam” or specifically condemn the anti-human-rights fascism of the Sharia (the system of laws based on the Koran)—and which underlies the evil dramatically exposed in this extraordinary film—may yet earn him recognition as the man who has most endangered the security of West.
The Stoning of Soraya M. is one of those rare films in American cinema history that truly has the potential of eliciting popular demands for changes in our foreign policy by the American public, even by the world public; its power is undeniable.
The film is a story of a courageous Islamic woman fighting a losing battle against a radical religious system rigged against women. The simple premise of the film will anger, enrage, and yet ultimately inspire and mobilize anyone who sees it.
Set in a small Iranian village in the mid-1980s, an innocent woman, Soraya, is caught in a scheme by her cruel husband who conspires against her with trumped-up charges of infidelity. He enlists the local mullah and fellow villagers to conduct an all-male tribunal that declares her guilty. Her sentence is death by public stoning, still employed in Iran and other radical Islamic countries.
This is not a singing-dancing-happy-ending stuff of a Hollywood blockbuster, yet it deserves every Academy Award possible. The tale is told with crisp cinematography and includes mesmerizing performances by Academy Award nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo (House of Sand and Fog) and Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ).
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bigjimtx
Controlled outrage with an intelligent response is always better unrestrained outrage. Timing is everything and a targeted response appropriate, seems Obama is on the right path despite the emotional response some would prefer.
tarryh
Tho less frequent men who commit adultery are stoned also. Two in 2009 so far and several who were able to escape and flee the country.
jaclynde
The author of this article is leaving out the fact that many young people in Iran who are fighting for their freedom don't want the west's help. Last time we helped them we installed someone people weren't happy with....let's not make this our problem by being aggressive....you're like the drunk guy at the party that just won't stop fighting.
All we can do is speak out against them for doing things like this. it is a fact that good ideas spread faster than bad ideas, and eventually, there will be justice for people in Iran.
finderj
We cannot stand by and do nothing.
An intelligent, measured, and appropriate response to the cry of the freedom-seeking in any country is in keeping with our beliefs.
The subjugation of women and children, the treatment of them as property, cannot be defended even on the basis of religious freedom. Too many countries have honor killings, sex slaves, child slaves, female mutilation and the ritualized murder of the inconvenient or different.
If my neighbor browbeats and verbally abuses his wife and children, I need to mind my own business. She may think he has the right to do this. She may not regard it as abuse.
If he beats her, and the children, I absolutely have to interfere.
In the world, there are no police to call on a bullying government.
No one but us.
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
jaclynde
finderj, I hate the mistreatment of women, too. I am appalled at the way women in Muslim country's are treated as well, but look what happend in Iraq, we have mad things WORSE for women there. Women have been oppressed in these societies for a terribly long time. If it was that easy to change things by force, wouldn't we have been in Afghanistan (where women are treated like dogs) long before 9/11? The number of troops that it would take to supervise the rights of women throughout the entire middle east does not exist....it is ridiculous to think that we could regulate that. These women need to earn their own freedom, just like American women did in the 20's.
Let's not have another disaster like Iraq, and let these people build up their own society, the way they want it. Take a breath...Iran's population is 70% young people, the mullahs are a dying breed, just give it some time.
MicCalifornia
If you only see one movie for the rest of your life watch this one?
The truth is that we are all more interested in Michael Jackson than Tehran.
America should stay blissfully ignorant if all they are going to see is cinematic propaganda. Either get off your but and seriously investigate the "cultural genocide" of Tibet by China, subjugation under "sharia" law, and the Czarist totalitarianism of Putin OR SHUT UP
All this can do is create a fury for military intervention.
If you have not seen any movie in the last 9 years, watch Sicko. Then do some homework and write some e-mails.
Take care of home first.
altlic
Emerson is a crusader of the worst kind. A dangerous zealot filled with spiritual arrogance. Ignorance, not religion, forms the basis of barbaric cultural norms.
Thank you.
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