 "Photo: Emily Kinsolving/The Daily Texan")
Iran is second only to Thailand in the number of sex-change operations performed each year, though the fact might not be common knowledge in the U.S.
Faegheh Shirazi, an associate professor in the department of Middle Eastern studies, delivered a lecture called “Transexuality: Sex Change Operations and its Legalization by the Islamic Republic of Iran” on Friday in Garrison Hall. The lecture detailed the history of a procedure rarely associated with Iran.
The Iranian government views the operation as a cure for people “trapped” in the body of the wrong sex. In 1980, Ayatollah Khomeini, then-ruler of Iran, issued a fatwa, or religious opinion, allowing sex-change operations in the country.
In the absence of any mention of the sex-change operations in the Quran, the ruling established government policy from a religious perspective.
“During the time of the Prophet, we didn’t have this operation,” Shirazi said.
Many details about the procedure’s status within Iranian society remain vague because of restrictions on academic studies by the Iranian government, Shirazi said.
Before carrying out a study, researchers must obtain official permission by submitting plans detailing their intended area of inquiry along with the questions they will ask.
“We need anthropological studies that really go deeper than the medical information they provide,” Shirazi said.
Such studies are needed to find out if citizens seeking to avoid punishment for being
homosexual are contributing to Iran’s high number of sex-change
operations. Sodomy is punishable by death in Iran, and repeat offenders of lesbian sex are subject to 70 lashes, Shirazi said.
“Approval of sex change is not approval of homosexuality, and you have to make that very clear,” Shirazi said.
There are three steps to getting approval for a sex change in Iran. First, applicants must provide medical proof that they require an operation. Next, psychologists and psychiatrists evaluate the application, and a facility authorized to perform the operation will issue a medical document stating their assessment.
The government often pays for operations partially or in full, a policy Shirazi said is attributable to the government’s religious perspective on the issue.
“Confused gender is too much to handle,” Shirazi said. “You’ve got to fix the gender of a person to his or her preference.”
Students in attendance said the talk shed light on a complicated issue.
“It’s an interesting subject, especially how it operates under religious sanctions,” said Julienne Bautista, an architecture graduate student.
Mahyar Entezari, a Middle Eastern studies graduate student, said the lecture highlighted an issue rarely discussed.
“They can see that these issues are deeper and more complex than what they perceive,” Enezari said.
BTW, God makes mistakes all the time...how many people are born sick, blind, mutilated? etc.?
God obviously created this people like that, wh6y can't he create transsexuals?
2. You are contemplating suicide! (life time of hell for that.)
3. you are a transsexual
4. your obviously not thankful for what you have what Allah has given you.
the four points you clearly state in only one paragraph. All four points disclosed by you are going against Allah's commandments. Goes against ever religious commandment. Yet you still want to go to Allah's house? Seriously you have some major issues! I do not think we should dirty the house of Allah with people like you. Clean yourself up first... Plus what area would you go into the woman ??? The Women certainly wouldn't want to have a man there and you are a man.
2. You are contemplating suicide! (life time of hell for that.)
3. you are a transsexual
4. your obviously not thankful for what you have what Allah has given you.
the four points you clearly state in only one paragraph. All four points disclosed by you are going against Allah's commandments. Goes against ever religious commandment. Yet you still want to go to Allah's house? Seriously you have some major issues! I do not think we should dirty the house of Allah with people like you. Clean yourself up first... Plus what area would you go into the woman ??? The Women certainly wouldn't want to have a man there and you are a man.
FYI: Its not genetic: God does not make mistakes. There is a special place for people like you in hell if you continue your ways. You should quickly ask for forgiveness and cleanse yourself from the filth. I think that all religions should stand up together and stop this abomination of Gay, lesbian, transsexuals and so forth. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED near the House of the Lord weather it be the Church, masjid, Temple or a synagogue.