Saudi Arabia: 75 Year Old Woman to Be Lashed for Consorting with Men
March 9, 2009
I’m not sure what to say about this, other than hoping that the story is a hoax or the product a misunderstanding.
Saudi Woman, 75, Sentenced to 40 Lashings
(Associated Press)
Entry Filed under: Saudi Arabia. .
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1.
Khadija | May 6, 2009 at 7:04 am
i agree. it could be a hoax at least to some degree. However, how can you punish a 74 years old woman?
the article didn’t actually say how exactly they “mingled”!!!
Thy way its been reported, it sounds terrible!
2.
K | July 6, 2009 at 3:30 am
I don’t understand why the eagerness to blindly throw oneself into wild and absurd conspiracy theories?
Considering the fact that the story was picked up by major media worldwide incl. CNN, and several human rights activists (named in full for reference) have condemened and offered to defend the woman negates the mere notion this could be a hoax.
There is nothing wrong in being sceptical but this is very misplaced in this case, seeing as this is not exactly helping women effected. The case of teh girl from Qatif was horrible too but very real. The rape was real, the threats and punishments too.
It never ceases to amaze me why people automatically jump to conspiracy theories. Be that 9/11 (4000 jews didn’t turn up for work that day GASP!) or the murder of Neda, the female iranian protester (The iranian militia didn’t kill her, no, it was actually either a hoax or just the CIA, Zionists and Israel).
Come on, people.
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/03/09/saudi.arabia.lashes/index.html
3.
proggiemuslima | July 8, 2009 at 6:43 pm
K, wondering if the story is true and whether or not all of the elements of the case have been accurately reported does not constitute “blindly throw[ing] oneself into wild and absurd conspiracy theories”. Trying to get the facts straight does not hurt the cases of the “women effected” [sic].
4.
K | July 14, 2009 at 1:19 am
proggiemuslima, actually it does in fact hurt the cases of the women or men effecred, when often the reaction from people seems to be that either it did not happen or it is propaganda from outside forces or such. conspiracy theories are too prevelant among us muslims and this is a problem as it often results in shifting the focus from the actual problem at hand. Wanting more facts or details should not lead to the doubt which is expressed as whether this happened or not.
Your exact words are: “the story is a hoax or the product a misunderstanding.” How can you be sure? And why would somebody report a hoax about Saudi Arabia?
This is up there in the catagory of conspiracy theories or else you could have sought more details by asking “does anybody know more about this case or can link to it?” or something along those lines.
When you automatically doubt something, then it is not far from thinking this is a conspiracy theory either by media, external forces or such in order to portray islam, muslimer or both in a bad light. The same is true for the case of Neda, where many doubt if it even happened or that it Israel who is behind it. Imagine if somebody doubted the abuse of Abu Ghraib or the tragedy of Palestinians.
So I think it is better to steer away from conspiracy theories and instead deal with the fact the it is happening and how we can make this better. Doubt without proof is also unislamic as you may or may not know. You have no legitimate proof to back up the hoax theory. So it becomes a conspiracy theory which shifts focus from the factual occurance of such cases. The next question could easily be why would somebody report “this hoax”?
Asking for details or all facts is one thing.
Doubting the mere existance of the event, is whole different thing.
5.
proggiemuslima | July 18, 2009 at 11:18 am
Actually, my exact words were “I’m not sure what to say about this, other than hoping that the story is a hoax or the product a misunderstanding.”
It’s basically another way of saying “Wow. This is so horrible and absurd I am speechless.” Is that “un-Islamic”? If so, then so be it.
6.
pathseeker | July 19, 2009 at 8:56 am
Hmm I think you are taking things out of context. The exact words of K was “Doubt without proof is also unislamic as you may or may not know”.
Surely you must agree that in islam without proof you can not doubt something/somebody. Or else media would go out of business and so would every human rights organization and the likes.
Personally I would be more in disbelief over the fact that anybody can reach such a verdict on this poor 75 y o woman.
Anyways would be cool to know what happened in this case.