A few months ago a reader sent me a photo of a nearly naked Iranian actress and wondered if I would publish it on my blog. My first reaction was to decline doing so, I already posted a piece with hot and beautiful Iranian women, so why bother with another?

But then I read her story:

International Business Times, Golshifteh Farahani: Nude Photos Prompt Iranian Authorities to Prohibit Actress’ Return

Golshifteh Farahani, an Iranian actress known for her breakthrough role in Body of Lies, was told by authorities in Iran that she is prohibited from returning to her home country because of nude photos published in a magazine as part of a protest.

Farahani said she was warned by the Iranian government not to return to her country due to the photos published in Madame Le Figaro magazine.

...

An Iranian government official based in Cairo told independent news Web site Bikyamasr that Farahani should be punished for her actions.

I think it is disgusting and she should be put to jail or worse [emphasis mine - Bernie] for this crazy idea. Women here are treated with utmost respect, the official told Bikyamasr.

Ah, yes - that dreaded phrase 'or else,' from the punishment hinted at from those two little words one may distill the entire essence of Islam. While the Jews more than two millennia ago disavowed and nullified the draconian punishments prescribed in the Old Testament, Islam continues to modern and supposedly civilized times to flog to death, stone, behead, delimb, and otherwise execute those found guilty of what we in the West consider minor and trivial offenses and even non-offenses: changing one's religion, preaching a different faith, joking about Mohammed, having sex out of wedlock, being a rape victim, wearing western clothing, or having a good time.

For every 5,000 visitors that I get from such Muslim countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Turkey, etc. I receive only about a dozen from the Islamic Republic of Iran. Perhaps the Iranian authorities have better control over the Internet than the others. Perhaps it is only a few Mullahs who are allowed to see what the western world is doing; so for them I stick the above image of the nearly naked, shameless and un-Islamic body of Golshifteh Farahani in their eyes. Heh, heh.