10/03/2008 / IRAN
Cut your hair or we'll do it for you
This video was sent to us on Sunday by our Iranian Observer, blogger Arash Kamangir, who says that the young man in the clip has been arrested for having long hair. The video has provoked strong reactions on the Iranian blogosphere and floods of comments on YouTube. We don't know where or when it was filmed yet, but the men's uniforms seem to be those of the Iranian police force. We'll try to provide further information during the course of the day. Warning, you might find the images upsetting.
UPDATE 1 (10.03.08 - 4pm): The link to the video was first posted on Balatarin, a Farsi site where web-users vote on the quality of publications. And so the polemic began. The video has already been watched 34,000 times on YouTube, resulting in many strong reactions. Some say the video is fake, others say that it's not rare for young Iranians to have their heads' shaved because long hair is seen as too western. We still don't know who the man is or why he was being grilled.
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Video posted on YouTube 3 March 08
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Fake video
Soumis par Afghan LORD (non vérifié) le ven, 14/03/2008 - 20:33.it seems fake not real. This video is made by these people, this seems more joke rather than a real video.
Utilisateur non inscrit
Well, couple of days has
Soumis par Arash Kamangir le ven, 14/03/2008 - 20:38.Well, couple of days has passed since the video was posted here, and there hasn't been a proof that it is fake yet.
Arash Kamangir
repetitive comments
Soumis par Team Observers le mar, 11/03/2008 - 23:20.It seems we have plenty of comments repeating exactly the same thing. Reading the introduction of this piece and our various comments below, you will see that we made it very clear what we know, and what we don't know, about this video. Some comments assert that it has been staged, others that it is genuine. But so far nobody has given any evidence that the video is fake. So please do not make repetitive comments. Try to enrich the discussion and do not make personal attacks. Thanks in advance.
Team Observers
Apology
Soumis par Bakhtiari (non vérifié) le mer, 12/03/2008 - 18:20.France 24 should apologise for publishing such a disgusting anti-Iranian propaganda.
Utilisateur non inscrit
Just becuase it is not
Soumis par Anonyme (non vérifié) le mar, 25/03/2008 - 02:02.Just becuase it is not sufficiently ass kissing to iran does not mean its propaganda.
Utilisateur non inscrit
To my understanding, there
Soumis par Arash Kamangir le mer, 12/03/2008 - 18:53.To my understanding, there needs to be proof that this is "propaganda".
Arash Kamangir
Fake vid
Soumis par Reza Inverse (non vérifié) le mar, 11/03/2008 - 21:49.This is a fake video for two reasons: 1- The uniform of the two actors does not match the real Iranian Polic uniform, 2- Even the head of Great Tehran Police is not that brave to do this in front of camera. He was arrested because of illegal action and replaced. How possible that these two actors do not show any fear from doing this in front of camera, when they are aware of it. See the camera man or the cellphone recorder approaches very close to film the hair burning zone clearly!!!
Utilisateur non inscrit
what we have here is the
Soumis par Anonyme (non vérifié) le mer, 12/03/2008 - 09:20.what we have here is the usual fight between pro and anti Republic of Iran. This video is no longer important, but each side is trying to make propaganda for its ideology. I don't know if the video it's genuine or not. But that's no longer the issue here.
Utilisateur non inscrit
For me, the issue is the
Soumis par Arash Kamangir le mer, 12/03/2008 - 14:30.For me, the issue is the video and the fate of the person in it.
Arash Kamangir
Repeated comment. Response
Soumis par Arash Kamangir le mar, 11/03/2008 - 21:54.Repeated comment. Response was given before.
http://observers.france24.com/en/content/20080310-Iran-police-brutality-...
Arash Kamangir
this is fake Arash Jan take
Soumis par FS (non vérifié) le mar, 11/03/2008 - 22:21.this is fake Arash Jan
take it easy , I am against the Iranian Government policies but it does not mean that I treated like stupids,
you yourself know that it is fake so, do not behave like ...
Utilisateur non inscrit
No Sir, I do not "know" that
Soumis par Arash Kamangir le mar, 11/03/2008 - 22:43.No Sir, I do not "know" that this video is fake. I am not a hundred percent sure it is genuine either. According to the facts, and how people have reacted to this video, however, I think the argument that it is genuine is much stronger than that of the other way around. That's all.
Arash Kamangir
This is a fake video for two
Soumis par Reza Inverse (non vérifié) le mar, 11/03/2008 - 21:48.This is a fake video for two reasons: 1- The uniform of the two actors does not match the real Iranian Polic uniform, 2- Even the head of Great Tehran Police is not that brave to do this in front of camera. He was arrested because of illegal action and replaced. How possible that these two actors do not show any fear from doing this in front of camera, when they are aware of it. See the camera man or the cellphone recorder approaches very close to film the hair burning zone clearly!!!
Utilisateur non inscrit
Response
Soumis par Arash Kamangir le mar, 11/03/2008 - 21:53.1- This argument has been discussed thoroughly. People who have done their military service disagree with you.
2- It is suggested that they are taking the video because it is a part of the procedure. It is also suggested that they take the footage for archival purposes, as well as for showing portions on the national television.
Arash Kamangir
H.derakhshan idea about this video
Soumis par mehrdad (non vérifié) le mar, 11/03/2008 - 11:38.he say this on YouTube 2 days ago:
This is an obvious MKO-made fake video. No one can possibly film so easily such scenes in a Kalantari and get away with it.
Utilisateur non inscrit
We don't think this web site
Soumis par Team Observers le mar, 11/03/2008 - 18:13.We don't think that this web site is an appropriate place to discuss the credibility of Hossein Derakhsan. We understand it's a sensitive issue among Iranian bloggers, but we'd like the discussion to remain focused on the video document we published. Thanks in advance.
Team Observers
reply to Mr H.Derakhsahn
Soumis par Hamid (non vérifié) le mar, 11/03/2008 - 12:42.Mr H.Derakhsahn
do read your blog every now and then ! you're clearly supporting the fundamentalists , Islamic Government of Iran ! god knows what's your motivation ! some say you get paid , some say you're stupid etc. etc. least I can say about you is , you are after publicity even BAD publicity is GOOD for you ! you have shown that on your blog so many time ! so please at least have a decency and mercy on people who are still living in Iran . and don't forget that NOT every one are LINKED up with the Islamic governments as you are ! therefore you have to say it's FAKE ! have a look at you tube how many example do you need ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH07oS4aIL0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zYKlSeIbrw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jcz3TYqWpwc&NR=1
Utilisateur non inscrit
H.derakhshan is the number
Soumis par Anonyme (non vérifié) le mar, 11/03/2008 - 11:57.H.derakhshan is the number one specialist of media manipulaton, so guess we can trust him on that.
Utilisateur non inscrit
Mr. Derakhshan
Soumis par Arash Kamangir le mar, 11/03/2008 - 17:40.A look at the blogosphere, as well the recent statistics, show that he is not accepted anymore in the main body of the Persian blogosphere. I believe that is a clear indicator that there the Persian blogosphere does not trust him anymore.
Arash Kamangir
let me draw your attention
Soumis par Anonyme (non vérifié) le mar, 11/03/2008 - 18:55.let me draw your attention to few facts Arash
1. you can just express your opinions not blogospher's. don’t live in paranoia
2. it doesn’t matter WHO is talking about the credibility of this clip . the genuinity it self matters
Utilisateur non inscrit
Response
Soumis par Arash Kamangir le mar, 11/03/2008 - 19:14.1- I never claimed that I represent the blogosphere. I said "A look at the blogosphere, as well the recent statistics, show that he is not accepted anymore in the main body of the Persian blogosphere." I can provide you with solid evidence for this claim.
2- Great. Let's talk about this. My argument is that numerous people have given positive vote to this video. What is your argument?
Arash Kamangir
Hossein Derakhshan?! Number???!!!
Soumis par Anonyme (non vérifié) le mar, 11/03/2008 - 14:11.most people know that DERAKHSHAN is a perosn, who is paid by the Islamic government, to write for them.
Utilisateur non inscrit
condemn brutality under name of Islam !
Soumis par peter (non vérifié) le mar, 11/03/2008 - 10:24.we all heard and seen images , clips like that happened in Iran , am very surprise that some guys come here and try to defend Iranian Government ! where have you been for the past 30 years guys ?
many thanks for the post , my personal believes is that , whole world should know what's happening in Iran or any other undemocratic country
Utilisateur non inscrit
Extremely disturbing. I
Soumis par Anonyme (non vérifié) le lun, 10/03/2008 - 22:56.Extremely disturbing. I can't believe I'm witnessing something brutal as this act of barbarism
Utilisateur non inscrit
Hey, I hate to say it is
Soumis par Anonyme (non vérifié) le mar, 11/03/2008 - 03:59.Hey, I hate to say it is fake and I really believe that these kind of incidents happen regularly in Iran but I really think this particular video is fake,
First, the police uniform is available to purchase for public. (If you don't believe me just head down to south) So anybody can buy a full set of uniform for about 20 bucks
Second, No one is stupid enough to allow anybody to film them doing these sort of things
and last, Listen to the audio, how come there conversations isn't recorded, and the music, just listen to it for Gods sake, I mean I'm not expecting to hear Arash or Mansour playing but the music is just too much
Utilisateur non inscrit
Why Footage
Soumis par Arash Kamangir le mar, 11/03/2008 - 17:27.As of why this is being filmed, it is suggested that the Police does take such incident on video, in order to show them on the national television, as they have done in numerous instances.
Arash Kamangir
yes but with MASKS
Soumis par Anonyme (non vérifié) le mer, 12/03/2008 - 08:35.IN ALL THOSE EXAMPLES OF POLICE VIDEO YOU MENTION, THE PEOPLE IN WRONGDOING ACTION ARE MASKED FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.
are you blind to that or just trying to find a way of making this sound real?
Utilisateur non inscrit
The Police in these pictures
Soumis par Arash Kamangir le mer, 12/03/2008 - 09:11.The Police in these pictures are not wearing a mask. These pictures have been published by the state-run media sources,
http://pic.kamangir.net/thumbnails.php?album=101
Arash Kamangir
Clarifications
Soumis par Team Observers le mar, 11/03/2008 - 09:39.Hello all,
We explain clearly in the post what we do and don't know. We have not identified the man in the clip and we know that some web-users say that the video has been staged, although they have no evidence to support this. We have said that the uniforms are those of the Iranian police. We showed the video to several people in Iran in order to be able to confirm this. We can say that the event is credible because of other accounts of young people being arrested and having their hair cut because it is deemed inappropriate. We are quite clear that we do not know where the video came from. As they're credible, we think that the images are interesting to our readers.
Finally we must remind you that we are a website based on user generated content, with many of our sources coming from countries with strong censorship laws. These conditions require a particular editorial style, which means being very transparent in our posts and keeping in touch with our readers. If it's the first time you've visited the Observers then your doubts are understandable. We don't wish to convince you, but just to take our time to explain the mechanics of the system, which relies on both journalists and non-journalists.
Team Observers
there are evidences to suppor is is fake
Soumis par Anonyme (non vérifié) le mer, 12/03/2008 - 08:33.many have said before.
1-Iranian police uniform has changed since MKO has fled the country!
2-It is obvious that the policemen are cooperating with the camera man. You don't see this anywhere in the world!
3-They guy is not so distressed and sometimes even laughs at which point suddenly the video is cut. Given the brutality of the action if it was real anything could have happened to the guy and he should way more anxious.
SO TO SAY THAT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT IS JUST AN IGNORANT WAY OF HANDLING THE ISSUE. THIS IS NOT HONEST JOURNALISM.
Utilisateur non inscrit