| MPACUK Condemns Saudi Authorities |
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| Wednesday, 21 November 2007 | |
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The justice ministry said in a statement that the sentence was justified because the woman was in a car with an unrelated man. The case has aroused controversy at home and condemnation abroad. US presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton said the sentence was an outrage and urged President Bush to put pressure on Saudi King Abdullah. The 19-year-old, who has not been named, was travelling in a car with a male friend last year, when the car was attacked by a gang of seven men who raped both of them. She has become known as the "Qatif girl", a reference to the largely Shia town which she comes from. Four of the men were convicted of kidnapping - but the court also sentenced the woman and her friend to receive 90 lashes each for the crime of "illegal mingling". Last week the court increased the woman's sentence to 200 lashes and six months in prison. It also banned her lawyer from the courtroom and took away his licence. 'Astonishing verdict' The Saudi justice ministry has defended the verdict and warned against "agitation through the media" - a sign of how sensitive the authorities are to the fact that the woman and her lawyer have sought to use the media to highlight the case, says BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy. Meanwhile, Mrs Clinton, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in the US presidential elections, strongly condemned the Saudi sentence. "The Bush administration has refused to condemn the sentence and said it will not protest against an internal Saudi decision," she said. "I urge President Bush to call on King Abdullah to cancel the ruling and drop all charges against this woman. As president I will once again make human rights an American priority around the world." A State Department spokesman on Tuesday called the verdict "astonishing". The US-based Human Rights Watch said it sends victims of sexual violence the message that they should not press charges. Source: BBC News MPACUK Comment: MPACUK Condemns the Saudi Arabian authorities for this terrible verdict.           Readers have left 17 comments.
Mashfiq:
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I am worried that this will be perceived as a practice enamating simply from Islam and not anything else. As Saudi is the home to the Holy Mosque and the House of Allah.
The non-Muslims would and can always use the argument that the Regents Park Mosque, Islamic Cultural Society, which many Muslims attend, is headed by a Saudi 'Muslim' diplomat. Therefore, all this argument regarding Saudi regimes links to authentic Islam will be made very easily.
(2)
2007-11-22 09:51:56
Syed:
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I am worried that this will be perceived as a practice enamating simply from Islam and not anything else. As Saudi is the home to the Holy Mosque and the House of Allah. — Mashfiq
(3)
2007-11-22 10:10:43
Samson:
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Its not just the sentence that is barbaric but the reason for being guilty in the first place.
"illegal mingling", How backward!
(4)
2007-11-22 13:28:06
Tahira:
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Well done MPAC for speaking out against this disgusting abuse by the Saudi Authorities. I wish Gordon Brown's government would distance themselves from the Saudi dictators too!
(5)
2007-11-22 17:21:05
I Sidat:
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As a law and social science student i was shocked to here such vile 'justice', Islam promotes equality for women states like these do complete opposite, its time muslims wake up and get these states to follow the quran more robustly
(6)
2007-11-23 04:00:33
Mashfiq:
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I dislike Muslims such as Hizb Ut Tahrir and others who always say "ten thousand years ago, Muslim women were given rights, and this and that happen a million centuries ago"..... What I want to know is what can Islam offer today in 2007 in the United Kingdom. It is all good to say Islam historically thousands of years ago did this and did that and provided this and that.... What has Islam done now for us all in Britain?
(7)
2007-11-23 13:08:30
Samson:
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I dislike Muslims such as Hizb Ut Tahrir and others who always say "ten thousand years ago, Muslim women were given rights, and this and that happen a million centuries ago"..... What I want to know is what can Islam offer today in 2007 in the United Kingdom. It is all good to say Islam historically thousands of years ago did this and did that and provided this and that.... What has Islam done now for us all in Britain? — MashfiqMay I say that you have succinctly posed a question of great importance. We have seen the evolution of Christianity and Judaism to meet the demands of a modern and evolving World. What were once ancient and irrelevant laws and rituals are consigned to historical curiousity. Following of Christianity and Judaism has become more liberal and relaxed. Since protection of the rights to homosexuality have become law so the religious objection become historical. But it is also true that many Muslims live more secular than religious lives so its unfasir to suggest Islam in the 21st century in Britain is un-modified. But it is fundamentalism with an implied threat that slows the progress.
(8)
2007-11-23 14:17:40
Barbarossa:
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Classic how the two Israeli lobbyist spies Mashfiq and Sampson set each other up and then pretend like they are just randomly agreeing with each other - HELLO YOU PROBABLY WORK IN THE SAME ISRAEL LOBBY OFFICE! - so please spare us the boring racist trash and stop hijacking this thread.
Well done to MPAC for speaking out! I am not a Muslim but great work on this as it proves that most Muslims are against this stupid judgement .
(9)
2007-11-24 16:24:54
Mashfiq:
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Classic how the two Israeli lobbyist spies Mashfiq and Sampson set each other up and then pretend like they are just randomly agreeing with each other - HELLO YOU PROBABLY WORK IN THE SAME ISRAEL LOBBY OFFICE! - so please spare us the boring racist trash and stop hijacking this thread. — BarbarossaThe same anti-semitic rant in reference to your insulting and ludicrous accusation about my association with Israel. Firstly, you do not know me and nor can you suggest my views are "racist" purely for defending the interest of British Muslims. For instance, my previous blog comment, which stated the following: "I am worried that this will be perceived as a practice enamating simply from Islam and not anything else. As Saudi is the home to the Holy Mosque and the House of Allah. The non-Muslims would and can always use the argument that the Regents Park Mosque, Islamic Cultural Society, which many Muslims attend, is headed by a Saudi 'Muslim' diplomat. Therefore, all this argument regarding Saudi regimes links to authentic Islam will be made very easily." If you were to investigate yourself, you will actually find that Dr Ahmad Al-Dubayan, is a serving Saudi diplomat and Director of the Islamic Cultural Society, notably known as the Regents Park Mosque. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia is home, as is evidently clear, home to the House of God and the Prophet's Mosque. Thus that is not racist or false. Unless you can produce any evidence to suggest otherwise. If you have any further comments or concerns, please feel free to question my blogs rather than pander to the scum who always play the race card. Thanks
(10)
2007-11-24 18:48:33
Barbarossa:
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Lol ok let me get this straight - your a Muslim and all you ever do is rant on about Israel and anti-Semitism - oh please could you be any more obvious.
Has Mossad not given you any training? I mean you have served with Mossad have you not? or when you went to Israel did they only train you to bull doze Palestinian houses and shoot stone throwing children?
(11)
2007-11-24 19:14:33
Delila:
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Lol ok let me get this straight - your a Muslim and all you ever do is rant on about Israel and anti-Semitism - oh please could you be any more obvious. — BarbarossaHas Mossad not given you any training? I mean you have served with Mossad have you not? or when you went to Israel did they only train you to bull doze Palestinian houses and shoot stone throwing children? So do you think it is wrong if a Muslim ever had a supportive word about Israel or for a Jew? May we guess that you dont? The association with the article is that you demonstrate great and irrational anger against a Msulim for a behaviour that you don't seem to tolerate. In what way are you different from the Saudi Judge?
(14)
2007-11-25 10:25:34
Mashfiq:
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The British Government have to ensure we progress on the Middle East peace process, finding a final solution to the ongoing conflict. The Annapolis talks will help progress that process and explore solutions over the site of Jerusalem. I fully support the peace process and a final solution to the conflict.
I applaud the steps taken by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and others in helping to form a new government. A government willing to engage with other regional states, including the State of Israel. I want to seek a Palestinian government with which all nations can work constructively with and also do business with. The current government led by Hamas-led Palestinian Authority, has refused to work with Israel or any other nation. This is simply concerning. There are obvious steps both the Israelis and Palestinians can take, particularly the Palestinians could,for instance, secure the release of Corporal Shalit, halting the firing of rockets into Israel by Palestinian militants, and improving law and order in Gaza. Furthermore, they can open up channels for dialogue with their neighbours. Additionally, the recognition of the state of Israel could benefit Palestine. That is my opinion anyway. Thanks
(15)
2007-11-25 14:09:20
Mashfiq:
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In reality, Muslim are welcome to hold any opinion they seek to hold, the Muslim opinion is not confined to me. Furthermore, some Muslims are welcome to support Israel and others may hold an entirely different opinion. This is what makes Britain great and what makes Saudi Arabia crap hahahahah We give people the right to support or dislike, love or hate, freedom to say and do whatever they like, as long as it is within the law.
Everyone is entitled to hold an opinion, but I do not expect your friends to shout me down if I hold an opinion regarding the Middle East. Or are you a kafir Saudi secret service officer.
(16)
2007-11-25 14:12:52
Delila:
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The British Government have to ensure we progress on the Middle East peace process, finding a final solution to the ongoing conflict. The Annapolis talks will help progress that process and explore solutions over the site of Jerusalem. I fully support the peace process and a final solution to the conflict. — MashfiqI applaud the steps taken by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and others in helping to form a new government. A government willing to engage with other regional states, including the State of Israel. I want to seek a Palestinian government with which all nations can work constructively with and also do business with. The current government led by Hamas-led Palestinian Authority, has refused to work with Israel or any other nation. This is simply concerning. There are obvious steps both the Israelis and Palestinians can take, particularly the Palestinians could,for instance, secure the release of Corporal Shalit, halting the firing of rockets into Israel by Palestinian militants, and improving law and order in Gaza. Furthermore, they can open up channels for dialogue with their neighbours. Additionally, the recognition of the state of Israel could benefit Palestine. That is my opinion anyway. Thanks MAsfiq, you hold a rare opinion from your community but a perceptive one. You are basically saying "If only the Palestinians had followed their Roadmap commitments". Now here's a chace to try again. I think we may find the safe release of Shalit might be a pre-condition. Hamas threaten to scupper any peace deal.
(17)
2007-11-25 15:53:15
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Authorities in Saudi Arabia have defended a judicial sentence of 200 lashes for a rape victim.
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