Letters to the Editor
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I'd read...
I'd read somewhere (and it may or may not be true) that the usual course of things tends to be that sort of stern pardon but this had been messed up by all the publicity.
Very King & I, don't you think?
Who KNOWS what will happen next time? Maybe they WILL just skip to the stern lecture at sentencing rather than piss off half the world again.
What a nightmare.
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Bad Suadi, bad...
Now can we have some more oil please
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Shades of gray again
Ms. Clark-Flory,
Is it really "Shockingly good news", or unexpected lessening of bad news? I swear western feminists have a whole new meaning for double standard when it comes to the middle east versus western politics. How about "Woman reprieved from unjust, oppressive patriarchal punishment by head patriarch, oppression still intact, mercy covers greater sins."
It's funny how "merciful" mistreatment of women in Saudi Arabia shows less justice than the mistreatment of Ellen Degenere's dog, yet western feminists are grateful for it.
"By all means, celebrate the pardon"
----What the hell happened to ass-kicking feminazis? Why won't you help break the chains that bind other women?
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Saudis
With cosy allies like this, who needs enemies?
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Remember the American Taliban
Don't think for a minute that there aren't significant numbers of creatures in the movement-conservatism ranks that would like to see the United States have the same code of justice. They might not be able to stomach the lashings, but they want the same level of control over women that the Saudis have.
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What about her male companion?
Her male companion was also raped. What ever happened to him?
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So lawbreakers can now just go free in SA?
What is the world coming to when even SA no longer follows laws?
Are only men guilty of crimes? The rapists already went to prison for their crimes.
But she broke the law too. Where is her punishment?
For that matter, let's begin to criminalize all the typical crimes women engage in but which are not considered crimes today. Let's start with women cheating husbands by pretending the child is his. This swindle ought to be punishable with years of prison.
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I blame Israel
Now where's my Hijab flavored cookie?
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What about her lawyer?
Isn’t he still under some sort of investigation for defending her?
I’m glad this young rape victim isn’t going to be punished by her legal system. But if we’re talking about the next rape victim and the one after it’s the entire legal system that needs an overhaul – and without decent lawyers willing to fight for their clients I don’t see that happening. Until her lawyer in this case is 100% off the hook I don’t consider this over.
Brightstar – get your head out of your ass, forget your own personal heartbreak and focus on the thing the rest of us are talking about. You really consider this girl ‘guilty’?
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She isnt being punsihed for provoking the rape
She was sentenced for being alone with a man not her husband, which is against the law in Saudi Arabia. Whether we like a country's laws or not at least be clear what she was convicted for.
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Hate to say this once again, but
I told you so.
Stern lecture by way of saving face, and you can bet some judges are going to get some behind-the-scene talkings to (and perhaps repostings to some shithole on the Yemeni border), but the case is wound up, everybody goes home happy. Wait a day or two and you'll see Bush taking credit too, I bet, and in this case it might actually be partly true.
Of course her life is still in danger from her family, or maybe not, the "attempt" to kill her by her brother may well have been pretty pro forma, just to save face, and designed to fail, wouldn't be at all surprised; similarly with the suicide attempt. She is likely to be regarded as damaged goods henceforward and unlikely to get married. Well, unless her family has money, then all bets are off naturally (though this will likely mean a bigger dowry will be required).
And of course Shi'ite Saudis are going to remain at high risk from the Saudi "justice" system, and women who can't draw international ire are going to continue to find themselves experiencing massive and perverse injustice. And the international press is going to find getting visas for the Kingdom just got a lot harder.
What everybody knows who is watching is that the Saudi regime is probably unsustainable, and when it goes down, as it almost certainly will, (might have already if the oil prices weren't so high) things are going to be a real mess. I mean a real mess.
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Anne
you break into a house to rob someone, they shoot you in the ass.
According to your world, the shhoter in the house is guilty, and the robber is not.
In my world, the robber is guilty.
The analogy is not perfect, because of course the rapists are guilty, but the shooter in the house is not.
A John breaks a law by associating with a prostitute and paying her for her services. Reverse the sexes, a woman pays a male prostitute.
In your world, her association with the male prostitute means she is innocent and he is guilty.
I understand feminism. Penis owner bad, vagina owner good. It gets no more complicated than that.
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As long as
you own your penis and not the other way around, I think it's just fine and same goes for women.
Just thought I'd add my two cents. :-)
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When Saudi PR fails miserably...
they have their king to come to the rescue. However, I am still not booking any personal flights or travels to Saudi Arabia, ever. And I am still carpooling as much as possible, riding my bike as much as possible, using the bus as much as possible, only owning one gas efficient, non-SUV, family car at a time (which we only use in emergencies), hanging the family laundry to dry, installing solar panels, and recycling as much hot water as I possibly can.
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@Canuckistan Bob
If I remember right, the Girl of Qatif wanted that picture back because she had recently been married. As far as I know, her husband has not divorced her and has been quoted that he would have, had she been unfaithful.
I've really appreciated your posts on the Dar al-Islam, and I hope you'll keep on writing them. I'm currently working my way through ibn Warraq's attempt to eviscerate Said's ORIENTALISM, so anything I can learn is help.
Am I grateful that the King stepped in? No, but I am relieved for that poor girl.