Christopher Hitchens wonders aloud about the mental stability of the ruling mullahs in Iran:

It is a mistake to assume that the ayatollahs, cynical and corrupt as they may be, are acting rationally. They are frequently in the grip of archaic beliefs and fears that would make a stupefied medieval European peasant seem mentally sturdy and resourceful by comparison.

It’s beginning to look like he has a point. It seems nothing the Supreme Leader has done can stop the people from protesting–whether he uses threats, intimidation, or outright killing. In fact, his tactics have been backfiring on him, like in the case of Neda, the unarmed girl caught on camera being gunned down by the Basij, who has become an international rallying cry.

So it’s on that note that yesterday he  not only to continued his ruthless and tyrannical crackdown on his own people, but he apparently decided to be a giant asshole about it as well.

The Iranian authorities have ordered the family of a student shot dead in Tehran to take down mourning posters as they struggle to stop her becoming the rallying point for protests against the presidential election.

Neda Salehi Agha Soltan, 26, was killed as she watched a pro-democracy protest, and mobile phone footage of her last moments have become a worldwide symbol of Iran’s turmoil.

The authorities had already banned a public funeral or wake and have prevented gatherings in her name while the state-controlled media has not mentioned Miss Soltan’s death.

Along with removing any posters of Neda and banning a public wake or funeral for her, the government also told the people they were not allowed to pray for her whatsoever.

That’s right–the Grand Ayatollah of a religious theocracy told his countrymen yesterday they weren’t allowed to pray.

Neda Agha Soltan, 27, was dubbed the Angel of Freedom after a video which appeared to show her being shot by a government sniper was posted on the internet.

Graphic scenes show Neda – her name means “the call” – walking with her father among demonstrators, then separately when she was shot as well as attempts to save her life.

The Iranian authorities have now sent out a circular to mosques banning collective prayers for the woman.

Now, the Wall Street Journal is reporting government officials are charging a “bullet fee” for the return of dead bodies killed by….the government.

Upon learning of his son’s death, the elder Mr. Alipour was told the family had to pay an equivalent of $3,000 as a “bullet fee”—a fee for the bullet used by security forces—before taking the body back, relatives said.

One has to wonder after this Basij militiaman was done going on this rampage, did he follow up by giving the car a parking ticket?