Arabian Princess Elopes With a U.S. Marine!

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1

“I did the worst thing possible in my country, to fall in love with a non-Muslim.”
-Bahraini Princess Meriam Al-Khalifa.

It has all the trappings of a fairy tale - an 18-year-old princess falls in love with a commoner and then secretly elopes with him, abandoning her life of luxury for love.
But this love story is now wrapped in a legal fight and has the potential to cause an international row.

The Princess says she fears retribution if she returns home but the State Department has said it wants her deported. Bahrain’s head of state Emir Hamad is a cousin of the princess’s father. The US considers Bahrain a valuable strategic ally.

“She embarrassed the royal family. To keep their reputation clean, they would have to take vengeance,” Mr Johnson(her husband) told the paper.

Bahraini officials said the princess had no reason to fear returning.

To read full story, pls click: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_828000/828923.stm

QUESTIONS:
1)Should she be sent back to Bahrain?
2)Do you believe that she won’t be harmed?
3)Similar event occurred with a Saudia Princess Misha’al who was caught attempting to elope and later executed along with her lover!

Americans should learn from History!

2

She should be sent back to Behrain if its the legal requirement, its her husbands responsibility to save her. When she ran away from (her parents) home she was 18, obviously she was not a child but an adult to she should know the consequences .... and she should be ready for it. Its a common saying,

Okhalee main sir diya to mooslooN ka kia darr?

3

I couldn't read the full story as I'm having problems with my server but on the info given by ad-bul,

1)Should she be sent back to Bahrain?

If that's US law then I guess so.

2)Do you believe that she won't be harmed?

Probably not. It would be a major world incident.

3)Similar event occurred with a Saudia Princess Misha'al who was caught attempting to elope and later executed along with her lover!

Yes. Very romantic isn't it?

4

1- No, in worst case they can move to
another country, Canada?, Sweden? ..??

2- They are going to kill her. It's
no longer a family matter and if her
family loves her so much, y don’t they
come to US to visit her?

I am sure American authorities will do
every thing to send her back. A good
solution is to move from America to a
third country or to hide.

5

I have to agree with Imran! They made the same assurances to Princess Mishail but later 'stoned' her and shot to death her lover! I had posted the story about her on Gupshup over a year ago; those interested can do a search under her name.

Nothing may hapen to her right away, but once the public spotlight is over, she'll never be heard from.

6

Respect the laws of the land

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smile.gif

no matter how much you disagree with them, or give asylum to the person in question.

The chica knew the possible consequences, so she hasta decide to either go back and face the music or get asylum somewhere.

There was major outcry when that punk american teenager was caught vandalizing in some asian country and was gonna be whipped..
hey thats the damn law there, ignorance is not an excuse..
I surely dont expect to get out of speding tickets just cuz in Pakistan I could drive at whatever speed I wanted (or the traffic would allow me)

So what will be the US priority now…cordial ties, or upholding the principles of the red, white and blue etc etc etc..that ya hear all the time.

Personally, I doubt that pleasing Bahrain is a big concern for US..

Hmm do they use regulae stones or do they use marble slabs to stone royalty

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/wink.gif

Apologies if I seem to be taking this lightly..

But..would this be an issue if a regular desi guy/girl ran away with an american and wanted to move to US…

You know the answer.

[This message has been edited by Fraudz (edited July 12, 2000).]

7

As Stevie Wonder says...
Shes got desert fever, shes got desert fever...

Well..Remember Elian Gonzalez?
She should be dealt with according to the law as well, not according to what USA's humanitarian concerns are. What happens with her back in Bahrain is their own decision. She knew fully well what she was getting herself into when she started off this akh mataka with a marine.

However, speaking of it from a personal viewpoint, i think noone would want to see her stoned or killed. Its unfortunate, but countries in the mideast at times are quick to apply shariah in such matters, but ignore it when they are sipping vodkas in their 20 trillion dollar palaces and watching belly dancers shake their thangs. Hypocrisy galore. Islamic laws were not just made for women. Allahu Alim

8

damn is that guy ugly..not that she is a major looker..but that dewd....UGH

anyways my personal views are..let them be and just be fair and just.

9

I agree with Imran here.

1- They should move to a different country until she gets her papers from INS based on her marriage with a US citizen. If this is not an option then they should definitely apply for asylum. I think it also depends on what's her present status in US.

If she is out of status or has an illegal status then moving to another country may not be feasible as INS laws in such case require the person to return to his/her home country (I think; don't take my word on it though as there may be some other loopholes involved).

2- My guess is she probably will be harmed. But on the other hand, I don't know if Beharinis are as much strict as Saudis on such matters.

3- Again, I won't know if we are comparing apples to oranges or not. But why take the risk?

[This message has been edited by Roman (edited July 12, 2000).]

10

It is indeed a complexed matter. However, as someone has already mentioned above, that when she eloped she was 18, an adult, and therefore quite aware with her actions and the consequences that were to come about later on.. If she DOES decide to go back, there is a very strong chance she will be executed, as the Bahraini royalty would like to set an example for others who might want to follow in the girl's footsteps. She can obtain asylum in some other country. However, I do think that as muslims, one should be aware of what one should do and what one should not do. There is an appropriate time, and appropriate way for doing everything in islam. And religion can not be sacrificed for anything. Not even love. For one should hold Allah and His Prophet SAW dearest above anybody else.

[This message has been edited by Rarediamonds & Gold (edited July 12, 2000).]

11

Do you think that if she eloped with a Muslim that her punishment on being sent home would be any different?
Zara

12

smart girl to leave that bullshit country. there's more islam in America than in that little slave country.

13

As she left Bahrain unlawfully so she should be returned.

14

[quote]
Originally posted by Rarediamonds & Gold:
........she was 18, an adult, and therefore quite aware with her actions and the consequences that were to come about later.
[/quote]

[quote]
Originally posted by mansoor:
As she left Bahrain unlawfully so she should be returned.
[/quote]

Do you really think she deserves execution because she loves
a non-Muslim, and left her country because of this love?

Could she leave Bahrain legally?
Was there any other way for her?

15

Adbulmalick...good morning,where is our moderator or the controller of gupshup...what is going on dear....

ay nayey dosth maiN samjhoonga tujhe bhee apna

16

wonder if Bahraini’s are as sly as the brits and ensure that this princess would have the same fate as Lady Di

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smile.gif

Or maybe they are not as bad…who knows.

17

i am way confused
so the gal decides she wants to pursue her love
no bad there

thousands abandon their countries daily and take refuge in other place for various reasons

I think the lady has guts .....rather then being a stupid supressed female who basically fall in luv with one guy and marry someone she actually had the courage to elope with her love

on a serious note asylum here is not the issue
do you think that if granted an asylum her family would give up on seeking revenge ?

its time ppl get educated and stop being so damn idiots

There is this book about another Princess ...the author is Soheir K and the name of the book is Mirage
its a true story bout how the princess escapes from her tyrant husband with her son and seeks refugee in usa
very touching

18

Imran Bukhari..perhaps you are not aware...when a muslim girl marries a non muslim she automatically becomes a murtid. A muslim guy is allowed to marry an ahle Kitaab girl meaning other girls..besides muslim girls (christians, jews etc..) but a muslim girl is not allowed to marry..a non muslim (not even other ahl e kitaab men). Why? Because a generation is raised by the father's name..not the mothers. So if a muslim men decides to marry a non muslim (other ahl e kitaab) girl than it's okay. Because his kids will go by his name. Do u know the punishment for a murtid. If she was so devastatingly in love with this guy, she could have converted him to Islam! For God's sake what has happened to you muslim men and women!

19

Rare,

The muslim women are always at the forefront to accept their second-class standards. You are not 'rare' in your opinions. A muslim man may marry a ahle kitabi but a muslim woman may not - if this is not a double standard then what is?

Next thing you'll ne telling us is that Allah encourages these double standards and encourages the punishments for 'murtads' as you allude to. Are you sure this is Allah you are talking about and not some mean despot!

Anchal:
I can see where your confusion is coming from. A female is 'half of a male' so by choosing her own destiny, the Bahrani princess flaunted that mentality and thereby the so-called 'honour' of the honour-less society. To restore that so-called honour requires shedding of blood even if it takes a life-time of waiting.

Haramzada: It's a nick, ya'ar; maybe an abusive nick!

20

Originally posted by Abdulmalick:

Rare,
The muslim women are always at the forefront to accept their second-class standards. You are not 'rare' in your opinions. A muslim man may marry a ahle kitabi but a muslim woman may not - if this is not a double standard then what is?

I am not accepting any second class standard. This is Allah's order and I am trying to follow it to the best of my ability. If you have any complains against it, then you can simply take your complains up to Allah. When He has given an order He expects His creations to follow it simple as that.

Next thing you'll ne telling us is that Allah encourages these double standards and encourages the punishments for 'murtads' as you allude to. Are you sure this is Allah you are talking about and not some mean despot!

First of all I have never thought of Allah's commands as "double standards." Islam offers protection to it's followers and true guidance. If you think these are man made laws, perhaps you should read Soora e Baqra and Soora e Nissa, that will tell you exactly where these "double standards" as you call them are coming from.

Secondly, there is punishment for murtid in Islam. Haath pair kaat kar ankhoon main salakhain phairna, was what Prophet Muhammad SAW did to a murtid.

What exactly are you trying to accomplish here, that if a muslim woman marries a non muslim it's okay? If she marries a non muslim she is not a muslim anymore to start with! The least she could have done was make him a muslim too, if she wanted to marry him so bad. Secondly, wether her family decides to execute or not is their personal matter, but her running away with a non muslim and marrying him is not anywhere even near the boundaries of Islam. Insan ko koi bhee harkat karnay say pehlay apnay baap, bhaiyoon, khandan ki izzat aur mazhab ka lihaaz zuroor karna chahiyay. Warna insan aur jaanwaar main koi farq naheen rehta.

** And since when did Allah's orders become "double standards?" If there is a part of Islam which knowing the difference between wrong and right you still want to reject, than that's YOUR problem. But that doesn't give it the title of "double standard." Are you trying to impose that Allah treats men and women different?"**

[This message has been edited by Rarediamonds & Gold (edited July 14, 2000).]