Saudi Double Standards

Many religions and “beliefs” are so ridiculous that one may wonders how on earth could people be so dumb as to follow them.

However, as long as such beliefs are only “in your mind”, and that other people’s right to think differently is respected, that’s probably OK.

That people of a certain “belief” form a group of such believers, that is becoming sometimes a bit more dangerous, but is considered generally acceptable when dealing with peaceful and loving brothers and sisters of “name your favorite religion here”.

However, a basic element for a peaceful planet, which must absolutely be respected at all times and in all parts of this world, is that church and state should never mix.

Unfortunately, examples abound where this golden rule is not respected, starting with the pretentious “In God We Trust” as written on US bank notes… as if all US citizens believed in God (I don’t think so: some do, but some don’t, like everywhere).

Everyone but brainwashed communists would agree that the Chinese government should respect people’s freedom of religion, including in Tibet, but the Tibetans themselves should put an end to their own mixing up of religious belief and state matters.

The worse offenders, in terms of how many people are suffering from their devious ways, usually hail from some “hardcore” Islamic groups (noting that “fundamentalists” from all religions, from Jewish to Christian, are equally dangerous in their own ways).

While there  are obviously many many very nice and peaceful Muslim people,  there are also some very nasty ones, trying to impose their distorted – and “man made” – beliefs, sometimes using the charade of “Shariah” (which should itself be banned, as it mixes up religion with matters than have nothing to do with religion, from government to banking etc.) on their fellow citizens.

As spotted by a friend on the web this week-end (source not mentioned), below is one of many examples of the stupidity – and double standards – of these guys.

Saudi moral committee threatens to cover “tempting” women’s eyes

Women with sexy eyes in Saudi Arabia may be forced to cover them up, according to the spokesperson of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (CPVPV) in the conservative Gulf kingdom.

Spokesman of the Ha’eal district, Sheikh Motlab al-Nabet said the committee has the right to stop a women whose eyes seem “tempting” and order her to cover them immediately.

Saudi women are already forced to wear a loose black dress and to cover their hair and in some areas, their face, while in public or face fines or sometimes worse, including public lashings.

The announcement came days after the Saudi newspaper al-Watan reported that a Saudi man was admitted to a hospital after a fight with a member of the committee when he ordered his wife to cover her eyes. The husband was then stabbed twice in the hand.

The CPVPV is Saudi’s Sharia, Islamic law, executive arm and was founded in 1940 to ensure Islamic laws are not broken in public, yet over the years, the committee has been largely criticized over its human rights violations.

In 2002, the committee refused to let female students out of their burning schools in Mecca for “not wearing the proper head cover,” which contributed to a large number of dead.

15 young girls died in the fire and dozens more were injured. The CPVPV men banned the firemen and policemen from accessing the girls as “it is not okay for girls to be seen without their full Islamic dress in front of strangers.”

The committee, which only accepts and trains volunteers, has questionable powers on the Saudi street, as they operate under the supervision of the King himself.

A Wikileaks document released last year mentioned that “wild Western-style parties” are regularly held at royal palaces in Jeddah, away from the reach of the committee, who stands helpless against any royal violations.

It was reported that the parties had alcohol, drugs, dancing and sex, according to American consulate wires published by the whistle-blower organization.