Reason.com
Is Porn in Iraq a Sign of Progress?
Porn, in an odd way, has told the story of Iraq's security and political situation since Saddam Hussein's ouster in 2003. It emerged in the anything-goes atmosphere that erupted in the vacuum immediately following the U.S. invasion - then went back into hiding amid the anarchy when armed militias roamed the capital through 2008, targeting those they saw as immoral. Its reemergence since then reflects how security has improved but also how the fragile government is busy with more pressing issues than spicy videos.
With politicians deadlocked the past five month trying to form a new government, whether [street vendor] Hanoun stays in business depends less on customer demand than on who takes the reins of power and if security is maintained.
The openness with which porn is sold in some of Baghdad's streets is almost unheard of in the Arab world.
In every country in the region except Lebanon, Israel and Turkey, pornography is illegal, in a nod to conservative Muslim sentiment. That's not to say it doesn't exist - international satellite channels and the Internet pipe it straight into people's homes, though many governments try to block obscene websites. Police, not having to grapple with daily bombings like in Baghdad, have more time to keep it off the streets.
USA Today's account of the thriving porn market in post-Saddam (if not post-U.S.) suggests that the current government in Iraq successfully cracked down on the militias who were extra-legally policing the street markets of Baghdad. However, the story notes that problems continue in the skin-flick trade:
In a nod to the politically elusive dream of Arab unity, Hanoun carries a collection entitled "Cheap Meat.""It's got Syrian, Egyptian, Lebanese girls," he says. "All the Arabs."But, in an ironic symbol of the difficulty with which Arabs have had coming together, the DVD gets stuck in a loop in the first five minutes.
In 2002, Charles Paul Freund wrote about how "vulgarity" was liberating Islam - and the West.
And in 2003, he looked at the revolutionary implications of Arab music videos.
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Abdul|8.23.10 @ 9:49AM|#
It's got Syrian, Egyptian, Lebanese girls," he says. "All the Arabs."
Nothing stops Rule 34.
|8.23.10 @ 10:11AM|#
As an anonymous Iraqi famously put it a few years ago, "Democracy! Whiskey! Sexy!"
|8.23.10 @ 10:21AM|#
Is Daniel Baldwin getting ready to shoot that chick from Avatar?
Fist of Etiquette|8.23.10 @ 10:39AM|#
You mean Ass-atar?
(Note: Link is not porn.)
Fist of Etiquette|8.23.10 @ 10:23AM|#
But, in an ironic symbol of the difficulty with which Arabs have had coming together...
I don't really insist on synchronized orgasms in my porn, but if that's the Arab ideal, more power to them.
|8.23.10 @ 10:23AM|#
Angie Everhart, last seen doing weight loss commercials with Chris Berman.
He
Could
Go
All
The
Way!
|8.23.10 @ 10:26AM|#
Jezebel on Iraqi Porn
They also review a few Muslim pornsites.
|8.23.10 @ 10:45AM|#
So...does she get 72 virgin men?
affenkopf|8.23.10 @ 10:55AM|#
The muslimpornstars site is awesome, never knew there were burqua pron videos.
Wind Rider|8.23.10 @ 11:25AM|#
Rule 34
Wind Rider|8.23.10 @ 10:26AM|#
it gets stuck in a loop after five minutes
And this is different from most porn, how, exactly?
|8.23.10 @ 10:46AM|#
You need to update your flash player.
Wind Rider|8.23.10 @ 11:27AM|#
Steve Jobs won't let me!
|8.23.10 @ 12:44PM|#
Why does Steve Jobs hate Burqa Porn?
|8.23.10 @ 10:26AM|#
Some hot titles:
"Kiss My Fatwa"
Burqa Babes
The Martyr and the Seventy-Two Virgins
Rich|8.23.10 @ 10:36AM|#
How about The Devil In Fidel?
BakedPenguin|8.23.10 @ 11:24AM|#
Daila Does Damascus.
Wind Rider|8.23.10 @ 11:28AM|#
Debbie does the Haj
Wind Rider|8.23.10 @ 11:29AM|#
Around the Ka'aba in 72 positions
|8.23.10 @ 11:30AM|#
Anal Arabesque
Ragin Cajun|8.23.10 @ 11:36AM|#
Deep Goat
Jihard Johnny|8.23.10 @ 1:09PM|#
Baghdad Boobs
Squirt and Awe
Hijab Hunnies
Rocco Invades Mecca
The Ass-Insurgency
Ragin Cajun|8.23.10 @ 10:40AM|#
Aisha, Aisha: A young girl's strange, erotic journey from Medina to Mecca
The Angry Optimist|8.23.10 @ 10:53AM|#
Jihard.
Iraqi Girls In: The Adventures of Moqtata Al-Sodom.
Fatwa Issuer|8.23.10 @ 10:55AM|#
Jihard.
Blasphemy!
|8.23.10 @ 11:16AM|#
Is Porn in Iraq a Sign of Progress?
Of course it is. When free speech that tweaks the noses of religious busybodies increases, it is progress.
The preceding is not to construed as any sort of belief that a secular representative government will exist in Mesopotamia in 2013. The coming authoritarian one party government (religious or secular) will come down on these entrepreneurs like a cartoon safe on Teddy Valiant.
|8.23.10 @ 11:52AM|#
If only they could immigrate to the US where they could operate without fear of government harassment.
PersonalJustice|8.23.10 @ 12:09PM|#
It was a piano not a safe.
|8.23.10 @ 12:28PM|#
I bow to your superior knowledge of Roger Rabbit trivia.
Jeffersonian|8.23.10 @ 11:22AM|#
Gives a whole new meaning to "jizya," no?
Barely Suppressed Rage|8.23.10 @ 12:59PM|#
jizmillah?
|8.23.10 @ 11:32AM|#
Progress based on the availability of porn? Put that in the GOP time machine and set it to 1985.
|8.23.10 @ 11:44AM|#
Our neocon posters must be so proud.
|8.23.10 @ 11:52AM|#
I am. I am not some porn hating jezebel poster. And frankly, Arab women are gorgeous.
|8.23.10 @ 12:55PM|#
Dahlia does Dhimmis
When Dahlia said she didn't date infidels, it was only taqqiya! Her version of jizya is a tax you'll be glad to pay!
alan|8.23.10 @ 1:37PM|#
Several years ago, I was in an upscale hotel bar in DC when a gorgeous escort sauntered by for a few drinks. I talked to her for a while, it turned out she was originally from Bahrain and her 'date' had skipped out before meeting her so she was on some downtime that evening. A handsome gent came by on the other side of her, and since I wasn't in the market, I politely ignored her so she could ply her trade. Turned out he was Israeli and within several minutes they were headed upstairs.
Ah, capitalism! Paving over irrational tribalist sentiments. It is sort of like the story of the pencil but with a happier ending.
|8.23.10 @ 1:49PM|#
I had the political advisory to the UN high commissioner on Kosovo tell me that the one true multi ethnic success story that repeats itself all over the world is organized crime. Don't think for a moment that Israeli and Palestinian mafias don't do business when doing so makes sense.
Some dude|8.23.10 @ 3:18PM|#
No
Open Mike Night Ahmed|8.23.10 @ 4:01PM|#
So, who knew? The answer to our problem would be more camel toes? Didn't see that comin', did you? Who knew, right?
Is this thing even on?
Anonymous|8.23.10 @ 6:07PM|#
+72