Iran Sentences Game Developer To Death

[NinjaDeathSlap]

The Iranian regime is crazy and increasingly paranoid. Of course they are, they're hated by a large segment of their own population.

Why on earth hasn't there been a revolution there then?

The Iranian government being how it is, I'm sure the international community will jump to the peoples defence.

Although I can see the Iranian government reacting -just- like the Gadaffi regime, if not worse.

There have been several attempts at a revolution in Iran. I think there's been at least three in the last five years or so. But they never get anywhere because the regime's response to them makes what Gadaffi did in Libya look tame, and then the President will just abuse Israel in one of his speeches and everyone forgets what they were even revolting about.

 

[Sovereignty]

Our drone goes down in their yard spying on them... And suddenly this happens?

Seriously connect the dots a bit. They know we have them on our shit list. I'm surprised it took them this long to have something to put on the global stage like this. They want to be sure everyone's eyes are fixed on them. Because so long as that happens we're not gonna do our typical act of, "We just want peace" while we send bombers to destroy their homes.


It's pretty smart, and the fact this ass hat didn't have the common sense to know better... Well I can't fault Iran for anything other than over-reacting.

Seriously, I have a hard time believing this guy wasn't commissioned by the CIA. What other reason would a person have to make video games in Iran?

 

[Dango]

Like hell they could get away with doing that.

And I mean that seriously, he'll probably be pardoned soon.

 

[Seraj]

There have been several attempts at a revolution in Iran. I think there's been at least three in the last five years or so. But they never get anywhere because the regime's response to them makes what Gadaffi did in Libya look tame, and then the President will just abuse Israel in one of his speeches and everyone forgets what they were even revolting about.

Well, that'll teach me for not reading into the subject before posting



Btw, love the Avatar avatar, must get round to watching those again.

 

[vansau]

I'm just throwing this out there and I'm sure I'll take a lot of heat for it but... just because our government is denying that he's a spy doesn't mean he isn't/wasn't one. He is a marine, after all.

I'm not saying is he for sure a spy. I'm just saying... none of us are properly equipped to make that assessment, and the US government denying it is about as convincing as the Iranian government affirming it.

Dual US and Iranian citizen here by the way, for those that might accuse me of some sort of prejudice.

 

[vansau]

The Iranian regime is crazy and increasingly paranoid. Of course they are, they're hated by a large segment of their own population.

Why on earth hasn't there been a revolution there then?

The Iranian government being how it is, I'm sure the international community will jump to the peoples defence.

Although I can see the Iranian government reacting -just- like the Gadaffi regime, if not worse.

The quality of life for the average citizen is pretty good in Iran actually. My family mostly just sleeps and eats, and they all had/have regular sorts of jobs. That might have a lot to do with it.

 

[Burs]

Hekmati is a former U.S. Marine who became a game developer and was employed with Kuma Reality Games, working on a variety of titles for the studio. However, according to the Tehran Times, Hekmati allegedly confessed that "[Kuma] was receiving money from the CIA to (produce) and design and distribute for free special movies and games with the aim of manipulating public opinion in the Middle East. The goal of the company in question was to convince the people of Iran and the people of the entire world that whatever the U.S. does in other countries is a good measure."

Hard for me to have so much sympathy for the guy, tbh. I know what we're doing is probably for a good cause, and just so I can get this out of the way, I DON'T support this guy getting the ax for doing the thing he was commissioned (and most likely loves) to do.

At the same time, though, he was intentionally misleading the public with propaganda to support a message that is basically going against the government. Just so I can also get this out of the way, I'm ALL FOR getting the message out and enlightening these people, but I'm not exactly inclined to support intentionally misleading propaganda, even if it does have good intentions.

Still, that doesn't mean I DON'T feel sorry for the guy. Sure, he may be attempting to disrupt the government, but the most I'm getting out of it is "The US is not as bad as you guys think the government is saying they are." This is something that would justify an immediate deportation, but execution? That's just sickening, and I still do support everyone here on the Escapist when I say that Iran is just being mean-spirited and cruel in this.

PROPORTIONATE retribution here, Iran. You're not winning any friends here.

Those are the crimes he allegedly confessed to, remember Iran has had a history of making people confess by use of fear and torture (see the 2007 capture of Royal Navy personel).

I personally think that Iran is behaving like a child on the international stage; throwing its teddies out the pram in order to gain attention. and I personally think that Iran should be stripped of any and all trade going into the country, If the government feels like being a douche it can go and sit on the international "naughty step"

 

[Tsaba]

And why hasn't the rest of the world bombed Iran backed into the stone age where this legal system is yet?

 

[Seraj]

What's a nice, quiet country to hang out in?

The U.K isn't as bad as the US in that respect.

Spent 2 months in Canada living with a friend, did not see or hear anyone stressing out over the news.


EDIT: I hope that wasn't a rhetorical question *facepalm*

 

[Erttheking]

God, I feel like Iran is an IRL troll, first the drone and now this? Why doesn't their leader just moon America on national television and slap his ass? It's like they're TRYING to piss people off.

 

[lunam-kardas]

Alright. To sum up my thoughts in a neat a tidy package I will illustrate my thought process.

"Oh hey I need to catch up on No Right Answer"
*Waits for vid to load*
*glances and see's the thread title*
"What?!"

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

Planting the seeds of sedition in your nation, if true, is a valid reason to be put to death for.
To all those who protest otherwise, what does the USA do to spies? Or don't you know?

Empirically speaking, if you're calculating what sort of effect this would have on the future of the human species, I'd say most likely next to nothing.

SOPA is many orders of magnitude worse than this.

If an iranian person came here and developed a game in which americans are the bad guys and you kill them (MW2 for example) he would not be put to death. And no sedition isnt a valid reason to be put to death, freedom of speech much? Im allowed to say america sucks and try and convince others likewise without being murdered. Illegally gathering intelligence is spying. Making counter government statements is not a legitimate reason to be killed and i have yet to hear of one american who has been executed for this. Occupy wallstreet should have been killed. It might ignite a war. Thats empircally small yes, and to you it IS smaller than SOPA since it wont affect you. It wont be good though. Not at all.

 

[AnarchistFish]

This is horrible, but to be honest, the US doesn't help itself when it comes to not-pissing-off-or-scaring-Iran.

I think this is relevant:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150520544160802&set=a.10150140832250802.332879.207770190801&type=1

 

[lostlevel]

Does Amnesty International know? this is kind of their territory

 

[ResonanceGames]

we can hold Iran to a nuclear double standard from which Israel is exempt

There is no double standard. That is an intellectually dishonest and lazy straw man. Israel can have nuclear weapons for the same reason Pakistan, India and China can. It's not signatory to the NPT. Iran not only signed the treaty, but claims to be in complete support of non-proliferation. By saying there's a double standard, you're implying that Iran wants nuclear weapons, but everyone else is saying 'no.' That is not what's happening, and not even Iran themselves would argue that it is.

 

[Battleaxx90]

Pretty sure somebody's done this already, but it still has to be said:

 

[Aeshi]

Ideally this is how we would punish all bad game designers.

 

[Rainboq]

Spoiler: My reaction, neatly summed up

[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-06-23]

OT: Honestly, I hope the revolution that seems to be brewing there starts soon, because their leaders are just asking for trouble, and given the apparent state of their nuclear weapons program, foreign military action probably isn't too far off. >.<

 

[Iwana Humpalot]

funny how that place is shrouded in news propaganda, and we're so easily swayed and influenced by our own news and media.

"Iran fucking sucks and is killing people"

"DEATH TO IRAN RAAAVGGHHHH"

makes you wonder if it isn't just one side that is doing the manipulating. hmmmmmmmm...

I love you for ur opinion. Americas goverment isn't full of saints either.

I don't mean to sound evil or anything but the guy had it coming.

 

[SyphonX]

The U.K isn't as bad as the US in that respect.

Spent 2 months in Canada living with a friend, did not see or hear anyone stressing out over the news.


EDIT: I hope that wasn't a rhetorical question *facepalm*

Canada is easy and possible, but I don't like Stephen Harper's latest comments to Iran. He's jumping on the bandwagon with the "Iran is dangerous" talking points. I don't know anymore....