The Salem Witch Trials: Desert Sands Version
The primitive nutbags in Saudi Arabia just executed a man for "sorcery," reports Amnesty International:
"Abdul Hamid's execution is appalling as is Saudi Arabia's continuing use of this most cruel and extreme penalty," said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International's Director for the Middle East and North Africa."That he should have been executed without having committed anything that would appear to constitute a crime is yet another deeply upsetting example of why the Saudi Arabian government should immediately cease executions and take steps to abolish the death penalty."
The crime of "sorcery" is not defined in Saudi Arabian law but it has been used to punish people for the legitimate exercise of their human rights, including their right to freedom of expression.
Abdul Hamid bin Hussain bin Moustafa al-Fakki was arrested in 2005 after he was entrapped by a man working for the Mutawa'een (religious police) who asked him to produce a spell that would lead to the man's father leaving his second wife.
It was alleged that Abdul Hamid said he would do this in exchange for 6,000 Saudi Arabian riyals (approximately US$1,600).
Reportedly beaten after his arrest, Abdul Hamid is believed to have been coerced to confess to carrying out acts of sorcery.
Of course, such behavior has no part in a civilized society. Of course, Saudi Arabia isn't a civilized society, because it is under Sharia law. Recently, per CNN.com, "A Saudi Arabian court has sentenced a 75-year-old Syrian woman to 40 lashes, four months imprisonment and deportation from the kingdom for having two unrelated men in her house, according to local media reports."
They were bringing her bread! Both men were arrested.
The court also doled out punishment to the two men. Fahd was sentenced to four months in prison and 40 lashes; Hadian was sentenced to six months in prison and 60 lashes. In a phone call with Al Watan, the judge declined to comment and suggested the newspaper review the case with the Ministry of Justice. Sawadi told the newspaper that she will appeal, adding that Fahd is indeed her son through breastfeeding
I believe she's referring to this creepiness:
Muhammad permitted a rather shameful practice. Muhammad permitted women to nurse young adults who were not their children.
More:
Saudi Clerics Call For Adult Breast-FeedingIn a surprising development, two senior Saudi clerics today said that Saudi Arabia's women should give their breast milk to male colleagues and acquaintances in order to safeguard the Islamic law that forbids mixing between the sexes. The clerics, however, failed to reach an agreement among each other on how the milk should be conveyed.
On a brighter note, King Abdullah has just permitted second class citizens under Islam -- women -- to be allowed to vote and run in future municipal elections...which is kind of hilarious, since as Neil McFarquhar reports at The New York Times link above, women in Saudi Arabia are " legally subject to male chaperones for almost any public activity," and they are still not allowed to drive.
"to be allowed to vote and run in future municipal elections....."
Every time I here it phrased that way (vote and run in...) I have mental images of hijab'd and burqa'd women casting votes and then getting away as quickly as they can.
Elle at September 26, 2011 12:44 AM
Hmm. In the USA, we have the likes of Peter Popoff and Sylvia Brown and John Edwards fleecing people for millions.
Wonder if they can be coaxed into performing in Riyadh?
Radwaste at September 26, 2011 2:18 AM
This voting business should be interesting. All of the other Wahhabi sanctions against women are still firmly in place. Since Saudi women are forbidden from driving, and from leaving the house without male permission & escort, any woman with a pig for a father, husband, or brother will have no way to get to the polling station.
And any intrepid females who do make it there will find that it's strictly segregated by sex, like every other public space in the country. I have a vision of a big fancy white tent in the desert where the man will gather to vote, and next to it a little outhouse with a "Women Vote Here" sign. Of course, since the voters will be segregated, so will their ballots. That will make it easy to gather up all the women's ballots and toss them in a dumpster as soon as polling is over.
Martin at September 26, 2011 9:26 AM
They need to take Alabama's approach to criminals: worship or jail.
http://blog.al.com/live/2011/09/bay_minette_alternative_senten.html
Although they may just go to the Satanic potluck ...
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at September 27, 2011 10:37 AM
Of course, since the voters will be segregated, so will their ballots. That will make it easy to gather up all the women's ballots and toss them in a dumpster as soon as polling is over.
Posted by: Martin
And it will be soooo much easier to track them down
lujlp at September 27, 2011 7:03 PM
They need to take Alabama's approach to criminals: worship or jail.
Posted by: Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers
I vote the church of Ishtar
lujlp at September 27, 2011 7:05 PM
I could have sworn I'd heard that one about breastfeeding was specious, but I don't care enough about saving the reputation of the middle east to research it.
Vinnie Bartilucci at September 29, 2011 12:52 PM
Amy Alkon
https://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/09/the-salem-witch.html#comment-2522522">comment from Vinnie BartilucciIt's absolutely true. I've posted on it a number of times.
Amy Alkon
at September 29, 2011 1:06 PM
Happy Birthday to one of the top author of all time, Jackie Collins!
Adam Gantz at October 4, 2011 10:51 AM
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