A couple of years ago I’d come across the video and suspected it as a hoax. So looked it up again and came across this excellent debunk. So, yes, it’s the same hoax.

It doesn’t surprise me that people forward it uncritically, with the extreme prejudice against Iran these days. And the pics are convincing (good street magic).

What is surprising is a few of the comments posted above. People seem to be saying – OK, it’s a hoax, but because the photos are nasty, that is another reason to hate Iran. If Penn and Teller arrange for a truck to be driven over someone, that’s OK – but if Iranians do it, that’s different.

Therresa says her intuition tells her this can’t be a hoax – well, in this case that’s intuition as an excuse for not using your critical faculties.

Patricia says she doesn’t find the hoax the least bit funny. I don’t either, but we should think about who is actually spreading this hoax uncritically – mainly people in the West – people like us.

And then Melodie says her heart aches for the little boy, etc. I agree that even if this is a hoax, this kid is being exploited. But this is a minor evil in the scheme of things. Much worse is happening, for example in Darfur, or in the sweatshops of the poorer countries of the world.

Let’s agonise about the real problems. Let’s not try to persuade orselves these photographs are real when all the evidence points to them being a hoax.

And before we get so worked up about how awful those people in Iran are, let’s remember what happened in Vietnam – the West fought to “keep Vietnam free” and wound up ruining the lives of many of the people in that country; then abandoned the war; and now we go there as tourists. Let’s not do the same to Iran. (And ourselves).

Looking at these pictures and relooking at them, makes me want to hold him tight and never let him go. If necessary, I’d adopt him on the spot. I look over and over not because I want to, but like an accident, you’re compelled to look even though it’s horrific, too terrifying for words, but you want to grasp the horror and escape from the insulation you wrap yourself in so that you can feel the pain of others, in the mistaken belief that you can actually stop it.

This photo has shaken me to the core and I will not soon recover from it.

And incidentally, over 60% of Iran’s university students are FEMALE, and Iran has FEMALE vice presidents and mayors.

Please reply/