Spring Break
Saudi Arabia Must Be Chastised, Not Ignored
Aaron Igdalsky
Issue date: 11/27/07 Section: Commentary
Other than Israel, the Middle East is totally devoid of legitimate democracies. Since Saudi Arabia is regarded as being the most reasonable of the theocracies in the region, the Saudis have, by default, become America's ally. Recently, however, serious questions about Saudi Arabia's human rights situation, specifically women's rights, have been raised. Is Saudi Arabia the kind of country that we really want ourselves aligned with?
International media has widely reported in recent weeks about the case of a Saudi woman, whose name has not yet been released. She was meeting her ex-boyfriend at a mall to exchange some photos. She was then kidnapped and raped 14 times by a total of seven men. The rapists were apprehended and tried, receiving moderate jail sentences. However, the young lady who was raped was also tried and convicted. She was "guilty" of associating with a man in private - the ex-boyfriend - who was not related to her, which is a crime in Saudi Arabia. She has now been sentenced to six months in prison and 200 lashes. In fact, the 200 lashes was increased from the original sentence because the young lady appealed the original ruling and went to the media. Heaven forbid a woman in Saudi Arabia question the judgment of a powerful male judge.
As much as this sounds like some barbaric story from the Middle Ages, it is happening in 2007, in Saudi Arabia. America's dear friend, our favorite oil vendor, treats women like they are worse than trash. Americans became familiar with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, and how they beat women if their ankles were exposed. But since the Taliban was forcibly taken out of power by American liberators, there has not been much attention paid to the plight of women in extreme Islamic societies.
Also recently, Muhammad Al-'Arifi, a Saudi television host akin to Dr. Phil, did a segment on his television show wherein he taught men how to properly beat their wives. He taught the young men in the segment to not beat women in places where they will leave a mark, saying "Even if you want your camel or donkey to start walking, you are not allowed to beat it in the face. If this is true for animals, it is all the more true when it comes to humans. So beatings should be light and not in the face." Does this sound like the rhetoric of a place you would be proud to describe as your friend?
International media has widely reported in recent weeks about the case of a Saudi woman, whose name has not yet been released. She was meeting her ex-boyfriend at a mall to exchange some photos. She was then kidnapped and raped 14 times by a total of seven men. The rapists were apprehended and tried, receiving moderate jail sentences. However, the young lady who was raped was also tried and convicted. She was "guilty" of associating with a man in private - the ex-boyfriend - who was not related to her, which is a crime in Saudi Arabia. She has now been sentenced to six months in prison and 200 lashes. In fact, the 200 lashes was increased from the original sentence because the young lady appealed the original ruling and went to the media. Heaven forbid a woman in Saudi Arabia question the judgment of a powerful male judge.
As much as this sounds like some barbaric story from the Middle Ages, it is happening in 2007, in Saudi Arabia. America's dear friend, our favorite oil vendor, treats women like they are worse than trash. Americans became familiar with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, and how they beat women if their ankles were exposed. But since the Taliban was forcibly taken out of power by American liberators, there has not been much attention paid to the plight of women in extreme Islamic societies.
Also recently, Muhammad Al-'Arifi, a Saudi television host akin to Dr. Phil, did a segment on his television show wherein he taught men how to properly beat their wives. He taught the young men in the segment to not beat women in places where they will leave a mark, saying "Even if you want your camel or donkey to start walking, you are not allowed to beat it in the face. If this is true for animals, it is all the more true when it comes to humans. So beatings should be light and not in the face." Does this sound like the rhetoric of a place you would be proud to describe as your friend?
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Larry Cohen
posted 11/27/07 @ 9:33 AM EST
Yours was a thoughtful and reasonable look at mind boggling practices carried out by a so called modern government, whose rules of conduct are based, sadly, on a medieval interpretation of its religious code. (Continued…)
Hypocrites
posted 11/27/07 @ 1:46 PM EST
The Middle East is not democratic because the US continues to support dictators as long as their interests are aligned. They will never take action against the Saudis unless the Saudis stop supplying them with oil at an affordable price. (Continued…)
Saleh
posted 11/27/07 @ 2:48 PM EST
According to Islamic law, the rapist if convicted is put to death. According to Shari'a, meeting any man in public is NOT a crime at all. The 100 lashes punishment is for the crime of fornication, i. (Continued…)
Eleanor Imondi-Clarkin
posted 11/27/07 @ 4:59 PM EST
I fail to understand how the Saudi's think? Anyone who takes away the rights of an individual is questionable. The Saudi woman who met a man that she was not married to is not a crime against anyone. (Continued…)
BBmad
posted 12/02/07 @ 10:05 PM EST
You are stupid Saudi Arabia and others believeing in Shari'a law. May Allah be with you sorry losers. Oh.... By the way. I named the bottom of my shoes "Mohammed" and the carpet my shoes walk on "Dirty Feces". (Continued…)
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