Telling the Truth, Facing the Whip

Society Religion & Philosophy
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Was sort of appalled to hear this one. Perhaps it will help to keep the freedoms that many Guppies enjoy in a little perspective…

Telling the Truth, Facing the Whip
By MANSOUR AL-NOGAIDAN

Yesterday I was supposed to appear at the Sahafa police station to receive 75 lashes on my back. I had been sentenced by a religious court because of articles I had written calling for freedom of speech and criticizing Wahhabism, Saudi Arabia’s official religious doctrine. At the last minute, I decided not to go to the police station and undergo this most humiliating punishment. With the nation at a virtual standstill for the holiday Id al-Fitr, the sentence remains pending. I will leave this matter to fate.

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Eid ul Fitr??? Are you on dope or just trying to divert attention

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The article was written last Dec, don't blame me, it is still up on the web site. Looks like the lashings may have shut down the web site!

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anyways i would agree that wahabism has brought a lot of shame to islam. however countries rallying for freedom of speech must clean up their act, and stop lying to their own people.

By the mid-1990s, Saudi Arabia, a country of just 13 million people, was accounting for 75 per cent of total UK arms sales

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Now I am really beginning to wonder what has become of the author....

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Lets keep the discussion on track. The thread is about punishment in Saudi Arabia for "calling for freedom of speech and criticizing Saudi Arabia's official religious doctrine". Pls stick to these topics, and stay away from sectarian bashing (wahabi'ism etc) or bringing unnecessary tangents to the discussion.

Thanks

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if you want to discuss saudia's official religious doctrine, you have to mention wahabism

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Mentioning it is not a problem. But this thread is about the punishment metted out to those who disagree with it. Try to keep the focus on the topic.

Thanks

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Ohioguy... thats ^^ a fair comment. If Saudi government is so anti-freedom, how come it still enjoys immense diplomatic and military support from the Good ol' USA. And USA, we all are told again and again, is a gift of God for us humans so it can bring freedom and democracy to the entire world.

Your perspective?

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Faisal, what does having relations, good or bad with the US have to do with anachronic practices like lashings and the stationary and ridiculous mandates of Wahabbism? Does the US dictate muslim sects now as well?

If tomorrow the American methodists declare a crusades on the muslims, then you can blame bush. Until then, clean your house up before mouthing off.

respectfully yours,

Mat

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There are very few muslims on GS (there are some exceptions, ofcourse), who support the brutal and intolerate regime in Saudi Arabia (and some other dictatorships in the middle east). So, now the question remains how to get rid of them. Due to brutal nature of the regime, the country is practically a police state. In addition, the Saudi regime is probably the biggest exporter of extremist elements in the world. So, it remains to be seen when democratic nations around the world pull their support from this house of cards, and help the people there to bring it down. Now you see what I am saying? :-)