Prosecutors in Saudi Arabia have begun investigating 57 young men who were arrested on Thursday for flirting with girls at shopping centres in Mecca.
The men are accused of wearing indecent clothes, playing loud music and dancing in order to attract the attention of girls, the Saudi Gazette reported.
They were arrested following a request of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.
The mutaween enforce Saudi Arabia's conservative brand of Islam, Wahha bism.
Earlier in the month, the authorities enforced a ban on the sale of red roses and other symbols used in many countries to mark Valentine's Day.
The ban is partly because of the connection with a "pagan Christian holiday", and also because the festival itself is seen as encouraging relations between the sexes outside marriage, punishable by law in the kingdom.
The Prosecution and Investigation Commission said it had received reports of such "bad" behaviour by 57 young men at a number of shopping centres in the holy city of Mecca, the Saudi Gazette said.
The guardians of some of the men defended their actions, however, saying they would regularly get together at the weekend to have fun without ever violating laws governing the segregation of the sexes, it added.
We obviously have a major cultural difference here.. if I lived in a country with authorities who thought they had the right to decide whether I could flirt or not I'd be joining the guys planning the Revolution. I value my freedom too much - and I'm hardly a libertarian type normally. Even the name ("Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice") is like something out of '1984'.
Haha! - I can see why this may be going a tad too far, but If they don't appear to be cracking down on 'flirting' It may lead to more & more people openly flirting, which may lead to more obscene things. Does seem a little weird I guess when we live in countries that wouldn't bat an eyelid on such cases. Hey-Ho it is SA afterall....
Last edited by Intisar; 02-24-2008 at 05:56 PM.
Reason: Replied to a deleted post.
Ėk Gusā Alhu Mėrā
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah.
Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Mahraaj Ji!
Kal Meh Bėḏ Atharbaṇ Hū Nā Kẖuḏā Alhu Bẖa.
In the Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Atharva Veda became prominent; Allah became the Name of God.
We obviously have a major cultural difference here.. if I lived in a country with authorities who thought they had the right to decide whether I could flirt or not I'd be joining the guys planning the Revolution. I value my freedom too much - and I'm hardly a libertarian type normally. Even the name ("Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice") is like something out of '1984'.
Totally. The thought police will be next. Oh wait...
Hey, let me use the logic that y'all so often like to reiterate on this forum during every waking hour. It ain't your country, so it shouldn't matter whether their laws seem ridiculous or not. This shouldn't affect you like Western laws affect Muslims because y'all don't live there.
Hey, let me use the logic that y'all so often like to reiterate on this forum during every waking hour. It ain't your country, so it shouldn't matter whether their laws seem ridiculous or not. This shouldn't affect you like Western laws affect Muslims because y'all don't live there.
So I guess I should quote you next time we have another thread about how "western" laws discriminate agaisnt muslims right?
Hey, let me use the logic that y'all so often like to reiterate on this forum during every waking hour. It ain't your country, so it shouldn't matter whether their laws seem ridiculous or not. This shouldn't affect you like Western laws affect Muslims because y'all don't live there.
That seems reasonable...as long as a Muslim has an "opt out" clause when things differ from his view of Islam. But he really doesn't does he?
Of course, if these were Saudi Royal family members they could just go to Beverly Hills or Greece or Dubai and "let off a little steam".
Where I come from, "flirting" requires the participation of at least two individuals. It seems these chaps cannot really be accused of anything more than "attmepted flirting", which would seem a lesser offence.
If you only understood the message that I was trying to convey. :rolleyes: Why do I even bother?
That hypocracy is your policy? I think you conveyed that clearly
*France bans hijabs in school institutions*
Muslim community: "They are discriminating agaisnt muslims!. How can they do this?!"
*Danish newspaper prints lewd cartoons*
Muslim community: "OMG! HOW DARE THEY! TAKE TO THE STREETS!"
*Queen knights Rushdie*
Muslim community: "How dare they knight him! Doesnt the queen know he offended us?! How can she think she has a right to knight anyone she wishes in her country?!"
*Saudi Arabia makes all sorta of boneheaded gov't policies*
Non-muslims: "The Saudi gov't is pants-on-head retarded...."
Muslims on LI: "Its our country. What right do you have to say what we do with it or in it?"
Last edited by Isambard; 02-24-2008 at 06:41 PM.
Reason: Edited for hilarity
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