Either this is happening or it's neocon propaganda meant to whip up domestic support for a Zionist war against Iran. But definitely one of the two:

Iran has sentenced four women's rights activists to six months in jail over articles written on feminist websites, a newspaper reported on Wednesday... Parvin Ardalan, Jelveh Javaheri, Maryam Hosseinkhah and Nahid Keshavarz were sentenced over articles in "Change For Equality" and "Zanestan" websites, their lawyer Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi was quoted as saying in the Korgozaran newspaper. The four are active members of an initiative that seeks to change Iran's Sharia-based laws for women by collecting one million signatures. Ardalan, who won Sweden's Olof Palme Prize in 2007, already faces another six-month jail term and suspended sentences of two and two and half years -- which are being appealed -- on charges of seeking to harm national security. The 41-year-old campaigner was detained along with 70 other people for a June 2006 demonstration in Tehran square demanding equal rights for women on divorce, inheritance and child custody.

The LAT writeup on the arrests naturally headlines the article as a victory for women's rights. That's because Iranian leaders have decided not to pass a bill making Iran's "temporary marriage" system - really the legalized slavery and rape of prepubescent girls - even easier. They didn't outlaw it. And they certainly didn't not arrest the women who were protesting against it. They just didn't make it easier. So naturally the spin that the LAT choose to put on the story was "feminist victory." Obviously.

Meanwhile, the ostensible feminists from Code Pink tried to rush the stage last night. Because the GOP delegates - who were enthusiastically cheering as their female VP pick single-handedly reinvigorated their party - are trying to use the patriarchal war machine to expand their colonialist Crusade against Islam. Or something.

Listen - maybe there are good reasons for accomodating rather than confronting the Islamic Republic. Maybe Biden had some of them in mind when he proposed trying to bribe Iran with $200 million. Maybe Obama had some others in mind when he insisted that we need to suck up to Iran as soon as possible.

But of all those reasons - feminism just isn't one of them. Maybe you can be a reasonable activist who embraces detente with political Islam. But you really can't do it in the name of women. Really.

References:
* AFP Iran sentences women rights activists to jail [AFP]
* In Iran, women's rights activists score victory on marriage legislation [LAT]
* Code Pink vs. Sarah Palin Isn't a Fair Fight [NRO Campaign Spot]
* Rhetorical Question [TNR]
* Obama: We Need To Start Sucking Up To Iran Right Now So We Can Get Out Of Iraq (Plus: Liberal American Jews Torn Between Old Anti-Israel Democrat And New Anti-Israel Democrat) [MR]

Previously:
* Hey Gals, Check This Out - Palestinian Control Of Gaza Not Going Well For Women
* Hey Gals, Check This Out - Literally Picturesque Underage Marriages In Afghanistan (Plus: The NYT's Take On Temporary Marriage Is As Awesome As It Is Predictable)
* Hey Gals, Check This Out - Iran Has Legal Slavery And Rape Of Prepubescent Girls. They Call It "Temporary Marriage".