Iran Dancer Detained After Performance

Yahoo ^ | 12/25/03 | Yahoo

[freedom44]

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's best-known female dancer and 24 of her students have been detained on charges of dancing in public — for an all-female audience, her husband said Thursday.

AP Photo

Although there are no written laws against dancing, Iran's hard-line clerics have banned the activity, which they consider a promotion of moral corruption.

Farzaneh Kaboli and 24 of her students were detained Wednesday night as they were performing folk dances on the second night of a two-week program at Tehran's prestigious Vahdat Hall, Hadi Marzban said.

Marzban said the students were freed Thursday after signing statements pledging not to perform again but Kaboli was taken to Evin Prison, north of Tehran.

"It was a program of rhythmical movements displaying folk dance of various provinces of Iran to an all-female audience. The program had been authorized by the Culture Ministry," a distressed Marzban told The Associated Press.

Marzban said efforts by pro-reform government authorities failed to prevent police from taking Kaboli to prison. She has not yet been charged.

Judicial officials were not available for comment, as Thursday is the first day of the weekend in Iran.

Marzban, an actor, insisted that his wife did not teach dancing.

"She was not teaching dance. She was just displaying various rhythmical programs existing in different parts of Iran," he said.

Although Kaboli has acted in some films shown on hard-line-controlled state-run television, she was banned from working for several years in the 1990s after the circulation of a video that showed her dancing before a male audience in a private party.

Kaboli's dance programs, available on bootlegged video, are widely watched by Iranian women.

Last year, a hard-line court in Tehran barred Mohammad Khordadian, Iran's top male dancer, from giving dance classes for life and banned him from leaving Iran for 10 years.

Khordadian, based in Los Angeles, returned to the United States after an appeals court lifted the travel ban. The appeals court also cut in half a 10-year suspended jail term against Khordadian.

Khordadian, whose dance programs are widely watched by Iranian expatriates and many inside Iran via satellite, has reportedly resumed dance classes in Los Angeles — meaning he would likely be jailed if he returns to Iran.

Sweeping social restrictions imposed after the 1979 Islamic revolution have gradually been eased since the 1997 election of reformist President Mohammad Khatami (news - web sites). However, the judiciary, controlled by unelected hard-liners, does punish women who break the longtime taboos.

Under Iranian law, women must wear head scarves in public and the mingling of unrelated men and women is frowned upon by hard-liners.

[freedom44]

"a regime so out of touch with it's people will suffer the consequences..."

[Ronin]

This is good news in a way. It keeps the pot simmering. The Mullahs and their ilk are now hated much worse than the Shah ever was.

They have managed to keep the lid on it so far by being far more brutal than the shah ever was, but no tyranny so corrupt and so paranoid can last long.

[razorback-bert]

video that showed her dancing before a male audience in a private party

What do you know, they gentlemen's club in Iran.

[Arpege92]

Send them some of Madonna's music video's....that should really put them over the edge!

[Lady Jag]

Iran must be pretty whacked out about now. They've been accused of helping Iraq and Pakistan, Libya, et al. Civilians hate the government. Nuclear threat ability is on their horizon. A country with all that going on can't hold together much longer. What do you think, any ideas?

[freedumb2003]

Send them some of Madonna's music video's....that should really put them over the edge!

Ya can't really put "music" and "Madonna" in the same sentence. Or even in the same pph. Or article. Or book.

[Arpege92]

"Ya can't really put 'music' and 'Madonna' in the same sentence."

Well whatever.....I'd just love the see the look on their Iranian faces when one of Madonna's video's is displayed for all of Iran to see. Better yet, have Madonna go over to Iran and do a personal performance....LOL

[freedumb2003]

I'd just love the see the look on their Iranian faces when one of Madonna's video's is displayed for all of Iran to see. Better yet, have Madonna go over to Iran and do a personal performance....LOL

And Bittany and Christina and the rest of the slutty bunch! How funny would it be to see the Mullahs freak out!

[NutCrackerBoy]

I'd just love the see the look on their Iranian faces when one of Madonna's video's is displayed for all of Iran to see.

I support freedom in Iran. I support the end of the reign of the mullahs, the end of theocracy. I know it was meant in fun, but I hardly think much is gained from exposing all Iranians to Western idiocy and permissiveness.

[LizardQueen]

These clerics make the original New England Puritans look like the guys from "Animal House".

Well, more fuel for the overthrow fire is what I'm thinking....
LQ

[EGPWS]

Iran's best-known female dancer and 24 of her students have been detained on charges of dancing in public — for an all-female audience, her husband said Thursday.

Talent promotion apparently is forbidden.

Talent agent's in Iran? Leave now!

[Mr. Mojo]

Nation #2 of the Axis of Evil about bite the dust, and the Mullahs know it. Last gasps of a dying animal.

[stripes1776]

Under Iranian law, women must wear head scarves in public and the mingling of unrelated men and women is frowned upon by hard-liners.

Oh, the wonders of the Islamic revolution! Let's all pretend we live in the 7th century.

[sgtbono2002]

Madonna's feet would hardly hit the ground before she was having sex with a Camel.

[McGavin999]

Good grief! Folk dancing, they are outlawing FOLK DANCING!

[Chi-townChief]

Kind of reminiscent of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

[Arpege92]

"Madonna's feet would hardly git the ground before she was having sex with a Camel."

Yea....poor camel!

[sticker]

No self respecting camel would have sex with Madonna, Cher maybe but not Madonna

[Arpege92]

"Folk dancing, they are outlawing FOLK DANCING!"

LOL It's a kick in the head isn't it!

[LA Conservative]

"Senior Cleric Ali Allah Sherzad was quoted as saying, "I saw her ankle and something just came over me, first it was a drunk-like lust, then I realized satan was tempting me, so I cut her head off".