18 May 2013
Monday, 11 June 2012 12:38

How Does a Pervert Think (in Iran)

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An Iranian cleric reads the logo of Tehran Today An Iranian cleric reads the logo of Tehran Today Cartoon by Nima Nilian

A few days ago, I got one of those viral, forwarded emails from Iran about a scandal around a logo of an Iranian News Paper in 2010. Mohammad Ali Ramin, the associate minister of culture and Islamic guidance at the time had criticized the logo of Tehran-e-Emrooz or Tehran Today for looking like a dancing woman and had explained in details how each letter represents one part of a woman’s body. To make the long story, short, the newspaper ended up changing its logo and the issue was long forgotten till now that someone decided to bring it back (also, give me an excuse to write about it.)

While the subject of the viral email reads “How does a pervert think” and an image in the GIF format demonstrates the stages of the interpretation of the logo as a woman, I remembered my late grandmother who used to say when one has nothing better to do, he starts finding faults with absolutely fine things and people. This way, she would encourage me to stay active and seek knowledge. So, when I looked around the internet, I saw others had taken my grandmother’s saying even further and claimed only sick and perverted minds, sexually frustrated Iranian officials or the hypocrite religious figures who deny sexuality in public, but do all sorts of things in private would find fault with a perfect logo:

Finally, I searched old blog posts and found, once again, Iranian bloggers and artists have taken up humor to face this scandal and suggest an alternative:

A Muslim woman instead of a dancing woman:

The process the logo has to go through to become a proper logo:

Finally, Tehran Michael 

Honestly, what would make someone to say such a thing, having nothing better to do? Having a well-thought theory? How about being a pervert? 

By Parisa Saranj, Aslan Media Columnist

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+1 # Ardavon 2012-06-12 09:36
great piece. thank you parisa.
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+1 # Katie Ann Marie 2012-06-12 09:47
That is so funny! Love your writing, girlfriend! :D
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+1 # Maryam 2012-06-12 18:28
omg Tehran Michael is EVERYTHING
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+1 # HollyDagres_Columnist 2012-06-18 03:27
This is actually hilarious! I wouldn't have thought of it had they not brought it to our attention that it was a 'woman'.
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0 # parisa_IHeartIran 2012-07-24 13:14
Quoting Ardavon:
great piece. thank you parisa.

Thank you for your comment Ardavon jaan :-)
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0 # parisa_IHeartIran 2012-07-24 13:15
Quoting Maryam:
omg Tehran Michael is EVERYTHING

Also my favorite 8) Thanks for your comment my friend
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0 # parisa_IHeartIran 2012-07-24 13:16
Quoting HollyDagres_Columnist:
This is actually hilarious! I wouldn't have thought of it had they not brought it to our attention that it was a 'woman'.

Thank you for your comment 8)
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0 # parisa_IHeartIran 2012-07-24 13:16
Quoting Katie Ann Marie:
That is so funny! Love your writing, girlfriend! :D

THNAKS :P
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About the Columnist: Parisa Saranj

Parisa is a journalism graduate from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is currently a MFA Creative non-Fiction writing candidate at Goucher College. She began writing about her native country, Iran, at her personal blog IranStories.com to share everything she loves about Iran and Iranians, minus all the politics (if that's possible).

Tired of being asked the most basic questions about Iran, all based on stereotypes and lies, Parisa just wanted to provide a pure image of what life is like in Iran...what is it like to be an Iranian woman. Now, Parisa brings her I Heart Iran section from IranStories.com exclusively to Aslan Media.

Follow Parisa on Twitter @parissasaranj
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