That was an amazing video. Pakistan needs more people like her. Hate to say this but I fear for her safety.
How is it that in Pakistan which is a more extremist country overall can produce freer woman than in Iran.
Have you ever been to Pakistan? The NWFP is one thing, Karachi and Lahore are another, at least where the elite and middle class reside. Even the city-villages of Bhawalpur have many moderate people in the streets. And I've extensively traveled throughout Iran so I can tell you now that many parts of Pakistan, despite the developments in the last 25 years, are non-extremist.
I don't think this is true. Iranian women in Iran are much freer than Pakistani women in Pakistan I think. Any particular reason why you think this?
Iran has a government that can suppress dissent and enforce religious laws. They'll clamp down on people like her. Pakistan barely has a functioning government. Consequently there is no money for a "religious police" or anything of the sort. The enforcement of religious laws is simply done through threats of intimidation and violence by extremists. The only arm of the government that is really involved in any of this is the ISI and even they arent as concerned with local stuff like this. They'd rather spend money on creating trouble with India.
It depends on what economic class you are part of in Pakistan. The middle and upper class almost live separate lives from the rest of Pakistan. There are tons of western things that you wont find in Iran. In Karachi they have regular fashion shows which would have no chance in Iran. There are no rules on clothing in Pakistan. If you have money you can do what you want and you can protect yourself from extremists. In terms of the cities, Lahore is getting affected more and more by violence by Karachi is still relatively open and liberal. In fact there are still a decent amount of Hindus in Sindh. Sindh was always the most tolerant state in Pakistan and still is. (hence Karachi becoming the last somewhat liberal city in Pakistan) The thing about Iran is that the state has a grip on society. That works both ways. The state metes out the rights of women and women aren't subject to the types of threats and intimidation by religious extremists like in Pakistan. Not living in a state of anarchy like some parts of Pakistan can easily be considered better despite the existence of stringent laws for women. But like I said, in pakistan money can get you anything.
I know that, but my point is that Pakistanis are more religious than Iranians and it is a shame that the governing body in Iran will not admit this. I don't care if the women of hamedan or qom want to wear chador, just don't make the people elsewhere follow suite.
IMO, the difference wasn't that great to me. Iranians living in Iran seemed only to be a notch or two 'less religious' than their Pakistani counterparts. I got this impression by visiting the smaller cities like Elam and Yazd. In Tehran, not so much. Also, the Iranians that live in the US and Europe, those that supported the Shah or are now sympathetic to his era in hindsight, are incredibly anti-religious or anti-Islamic, and it shows in their children too. Your point is more visible in cosmopolitan centers or Iranians living abroad.
I'm assuming you travel to Iran using your Pakistani passport? I've been thinking of applying for a Pakistani passport just to visit Iran - curious to see what it's like.
During all of my travels around the Middle East (Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt), I'm convinced that Pakistanis, as a whole, are bizarrely more religious than their Arab counterparts.
I think some are perhaps fooled by the whole dress code thing due to its visibility. While there is no dress code in Pakistan (vs Iran), I think Iranian women are freer in every other possible way. Most importantly, they don't face much discrimination, sexual/physical abuse must be far lower for them, they have little to no barriers (legally or societally) when it comes to commerce/education/politics, etc.. dmc has been to Iran and I think Azadre has as well.. I think they will both tell you that, although the dress code thing is a very visible and real barrier, there is little difference in the treatment and behavior of women (vs men) in the streets of Iran. I've seen women b****slapping cops, picking up guys, dressing as skankily as they please (with the exception of needing to have a tiny piece of cloth on their heads). At universities, the women are not treated like they are out of place or like they are 'up for anything' just for being there. What I can agree with is that the Iranian population is the least religious population in the Middle East, while Pakistan and Yemen are the most religious populations in the world. This is especially true since the Mullahs arrived, making Iranians even less religious.
I've never been to Iran, but my vote for least religious population in the Middle East would have to go to Lebanon. Although I did see a whole lot of Hassan Nasrallah and Hezbollah paraphernalia around the Bekaa Valley, it seemed to be more politically motivated, rather than religiously motivated.
