posted February 05, 2007 05:14 PM              

The defendants were among 433 foreigners, including some 240 women, arrested by the kingdom's religious police for attending the party in Jiddah, the state-guided newspaper Okaz said. It did not identify the foreigners, give their nationalities or say when the party took place.

Judge Saud al-Boushi sentenced the 20 to prison terms of three to four months and ordered them to receive an unspecified number of lashes, the newspaper said. They have the right to appeal, it added.

The prosecutor general charged the 20 with "drinking, arranging for impudent party, mixed dancing and shooting a video for the party," Okaz said.

The paper said the rest of those arrested were awaiting trial.

Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which it bans alcohol and meetings between unrelated men and women.

The religious police, a force resented by many Saudis for interfering in personal lives, enjoys wide powers. Its officers roam malls, markets, universities and other public places looking for such infractions as unrelated men and women mingling, men skipping Islam's five daily prayers and women with strands of hair showing from under their veil.

In May, the Interior Ministry restricted the powers of the religious police to just arresting suspects, because the police sometimes had held people incommunicado and insisted on taking part in ensuing investigations.

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2007-02-05 07:48:02

Oh god what a stupid retarded rule.

I would have immediately spat in the judges face.

posted February 05, 2007 08:46 PM            

Yes the punishment for drinking is lashing and I personally prefer it that way. A strict rule like that really does command obedience for the law.

People need to consider that our foundation of justice lands upon the benifit of the kingdom rahter than the individual. So Order takes precidence over individual rights. Its just our way.

Cruel in many introspects but consider the crime rate in SA; Almost nothing... Nothing! Strict laws have their benifits. However, its the area of women's rights is where I start to question some of the old archaic laws.

posted February 05, 2007 09:08 PM            

STUPID RULE? STUPID RULE??? EXUUUUSEEE ME BUT THIS IS SOMEONE'S COUNTRY AND SOMEONE'S RELIGION FOR SOMEONE WHO WHINES ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF THE POOR IRAQI PEOPLE YOU NEED TO CONSIDER THAT SOME STUPID FOREIGNERS CAME INTO SOMEONE ELSE'S LAND AND DISRESPECTED IT!

Alcohol is VERY VERY VERY illegal in Saudi Arabia (because it is against Islam) and it is said so on EVERY traveling brochure. If one is dumb enough to ignore that rule and disrespect someone's country one deserves a THOROUGH beating! They are lucky they aren't getting executed. It annoys me BEYOND belief that the countries' of these people are going to whine about barbaric customs. GET THE HECK OVER YOURSELVES! It is the rule of the land you knew what you were getting into when you stepped foot on the soil...And this rule in my opinion applies ACROSS THE BOARD to everyone!!

I.E. Because I think this is right I also think France has every right to ban religious symbols in public schools. No reason not to. It is the cultural law of the land that religion and state be separated thus EVERYONE in that country HAS to respect the laws.

Now, Xodian (lol sorry i didnt read before waaayyy to passionate about this subject)

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you are really crossing over to the "Holier than Thou" territory.

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She crossed it a long time ago...like i said before some people dont know WHAT they are for they just know WHO they are against. She claims its bad for U.S. to enter Iraq and interfere with their way of life but some loosers who want to get wasted should be forgiven. Pshht i have NO tolerance for such. They want to drink which is OKAY as long as its in THEIR country.

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Yes the punishment for drinking is lashing and I personally prefer it that way. A strict rule like that really does command obedience for the law.

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I agree 150% not because I think drinking is bad but because its THEIR law...

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Cruel in many introspects but consider the crime rate in SA; Almost nothing... Nothing!

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posted February 05, 2007 09:11 PM            

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I would have immediately spat in the judges face.

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posted February 05, 2007 09:13 PM              

When you are in a foreign land you must obey the law of the land. And everyone knwos that Saudi has strict laws regarding drinking, prostitution, dress codes, and gambling for instance; but everything IS available there behind closed doors.

If the people had had discretgion they could have done anything they wanted behind closed doors.

I dont know if the laws really regulate the crimes but they do suppress them in a way---I do see a lot of that stuff surface behind closed doors u know Xodian.

Womens rights is the area I despite Saudi because of. And also because they act superior because of the Arabness. They are even nasty to 'semi arabs' like Egyptians. Personal experience...being semi Arab and a woman. Treated like kharas when I go there if you know what I mean. I can understand why Mohammad (peace be upon him) left Makkah. The people there are impossible LOL. At least Madina is a bit better.

But I will have to say that I wish everone wouldnt judge other judicial systems without a basic understand of their underlying logic and structure. People dont know what saudi law is based on and what its full structure is; they only bash it based on a few incidents they catch here and there.

Not every country has to pass the US approval of what kind of justice should be administered there. Every country and its people have the right to institute the law they wish. And the truth is most Saudis appreciate Saudi law. And a lot of them dont care (Bedouin populations in the desert who are illiterate and simply allege loyalty to the government for protection or freedom).

The one big beef I do have with Saudi si that I Dont think they use their assets wisely. When the oil is finished what are they going to do ? And what did they do with their riches to help other Muslims? Not much. I am a big pro-ummah girl here and it angers me to see the richest Muslim countries doing nothing for the poorer ones (Muslims do acknowledge Palestine as a country, afterall it is part of the Arab league). Kuwait is another example of that ethnocentric stinking rich country that doesnt care about the plight of other arabs. Really distressing to me.

posted February 05, 2007 09:27 PM            

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'm sure these people knew beforehand that Saudi Arabia had some very strict rules concerning these type of things.

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posted February 05, 2007 09:30 PM              

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Hi Xodian I think the Islamic Law Saudi practices would help Pakistan straighten up and prosper...the path we're on with Musharraf trying to please Bush and the US more than his own people is not good for the future of the country.

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FINALLY someone who understands why I hate him so much. That guy is a spineless jerk who has done not much to better the condition of our ummah and has sold out others to 'protect' Pakis. But has he really protected us? The US is allowing India any nuclear weapons they want but not allowing Paki the same freedoms; slowly the US is aligning with India again as it ALWAYS does after its done using Pak. And what abt what US planes flew over northern pak and fired at and killed twelve women and children and Musharraf sat by and said oh its ok they were looking for terrorists but unfortunately didnt find any; where are his balls? Im sorry I really hate that guy. For America to bomb Pak is different; for him to sit by and allow it makes me hate his guts more. He doesnt deserve to be President OR General ; and he shouldnt have even one of those titles let alone both (what a fame hogger).

Pakistan has always suffered at the power struggles between Leos and Capricorns (Leos want the fame and money, Cappies want the power and the money):

Jinnah--Capricorn
Zia ul Haq--Leo
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto--Capricorn
Nawaz Sharif--Leo
Benazir's husband Asif Zardari, and the brains behind her operations--Leo
Jamali--Capricorn
Musharraf--Leo

Their power struggles have explained why not a single leader has been able to complete his term till date in Pakistan in the past fifty years. LOL.

And Musharraf is just another out of control Lion trying to rob the country of its resources. YUCK.

posted February 05, 2007 09:31 PM            

No your question is rightfully asked. Yes... I agree; the old system really fails women and their rights. However, that doesn't mean change isn't comming.

As I said before, the Grand Mufti has alreay bannished the archaic rule of "Forced Marriages" calling the practice "Unislamic." Look... With a strong conservitive government, change comes slow... but it does comes.

posted February 05, 2007 09:35 PM              

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Heyyy SGA! Lol I'm a little top exchited here hehe. Yea anyways I think as far as women's rights go in Saudi Arabia, I will personally disagree with the methods but also admit that its none of my bussiness and if women in S.A. wish to fight for better rights, they should try and do so themselves.

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Hi BUD whats up , posting at the same time heh. Well I do know from personal experience that a lot of Saudi women are fine being fat lazy and happy (sorry for the derogatory comment LOL) but I have no sympathy for their lack of desire for education being such a pro-education crazed person that I am (I expect you'd understand that being a Gem sun in the 9th house type person). Once one of my uncles told me that the Gemini II symbol (Two, twins, etc) have also been seen as pillars to a university--the eternal students that Geminis are.

Some Saudi women are just fine sitting at home, eating up their husbands pays, doing senseless and unimportant things that have nothing to do with bettering society, getting fatter and happier and having their little social parties, and being whizzed around by chauffeurs whenever they want. Some women all over the world like that kind of lifestyle, like model golddigger women in Hollywood too who marry men their grandfather's age to get a comfortable life and be able to use their vagina instead of their brain to make money.

Because Im not one of those women I dont understand them and have no empathy for them.

posted February 05, 2007 09:49 PM            

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ell I do know from personal experience that a lot of Saudi women are fine being fat lazy and happy (sorry for the derogatory comment LOL) but I have no sympathy for their lack of desire for education being such a pro-education crazed person that I am (I expect you'd understand that being a Gem sun in the 9th house type person)

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I thoroughly agree with you but I also think that like all good change it should come from the inside and no one has any bussiness going there and trying to "reform" it. Thats my opinion of ALL nations. (excluding genocide of course)

The change is actually coming mostly from the Middle class because (according to my book) polygamy is much rarer there and therefore men are more careful with their wives and give them more space.

SGA have u ever read the book Princess by Jean Sasson. Its veryyyyyyyy good. Consider it i think ull like

posted February 05, 2007 10:38 PM              

Might as well go back to the time of Stalin and Hitler. It reminds me of big brother.

f*** the government.

And Xodian. Shut up. You're corny.

Stop exagerrating. I'm not declaring war over here so calm down idiot.

I think it's a stupid rule...then I will say it's a stupid rule.

Freedom of speech or should I follow what the government says also and stay quiet?

posted February 05, 2007 10:59 PM            

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And Xodian. Shut up. You're corny.

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Get over yourself, just cuz someone is more intelligent than you and you dont get what they are saying doesnt make them corny.

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I think it's a stupid rule...then I will say it's a stupid rule.

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Too bad you dont have the cajones to say it is a stupid rule IN Saudi Arabia...your all talk where you are safe in your home but over there you'd grovel real nicely...

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Freedom of speech or should I follow what the government says also and stay quiet?

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posted February 05, 2007 11:09 PM              

what is so difficult about this concept

that everyOne just continues to insult one another...

SweetStars..can you please stop...

now Bud, I see you following her around to insult her back

what's up???

posted February 05, 2007 11:26 PM              

A Saudi Arabian judge sentenced 20 foreigners to receive lashes

Are you people that retarded to agree with this lashing crap? Do you still allow your parents to spank you? Get real people. How the hell do you feel this is normal?

This is a stupid a$$ punishment and yes I will say it again and again and again.

posted February 05, 2007 11:29 PM              

You're either one or the other. make up your mind...before I spank you!!!

Yes you would definitely like that won't you? You have to respect my law so that is the punishment you will receive.

I'm sure Xodian will agree the punishment is appropriate.

posted February 05, 2007 11:29 PM              

so why do you even bother, you cannot change the law there???

and stop swearing!

posted February 05, 2007 11:31 PM              

I obviously have no control but I will not hesitate to say it's retarded and I will not hesitate to say these people are retarded for thinking it's actually normal.

posted February 05, 2007 11:31 PM              

if you can't respect anyOne...

posted February 05, 2007 11:34 PM              

negative negative negative

how do we stop all this bad stuff?

EACH PERSON MUST UNDERTAKSE TO DO ALL WITH LOVE AND RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING
LIFTING EARTH'S VIBRATION

IF ANY OF YOU REALLY CARE...

YOU WILL RESPECT EACH OTHER

GGOD NIGHT!

posted February 05, 2007 11:43 PM            

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You're either one or the other. make up your mind...before I spank you!!!

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As kinky as that sounds, I dont know where you've been...But once you put is as a law on the books, have it passed as legislation and declare it applicable to a certain rule, feel free to spank me if i break it...till then shove it...

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I obviously have no control but I will not hesitate to say it's retarded and I will not hesitate to say these people are retarded for thinking it's actually normal.

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THESE people are retarded? HOw ethnocentric are you? What happened to the good days when they weeded out all the Darwin rejects?