Just days after extremists killed 12 people in Paris for insulting Mohammad in cartoons, the Saudi government has decided to go forward with its plan to flog a blogger for blasphemy. As previously discussed the abusive treatment of Raif Badawi, who founded the “Free Saudi Liberals” website. He was sentenced to 10 years in jail and 1,000 lashes for blasphemy and his first 50 lashes will be carried out on Friday.
Badawi’s website criticized senior religious figures, including Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti. Rather than respond to the criticism, he was accused of insulting Islam and religious authorities. Originally, the Kingdom wanted him charged with apostasy and subject to the death penalty. However, he was convicted of insulting Islam and sentenced to seven years in prison and 600 lashes. The conviction led to worldwide condemnation and then an appellate court overturned the sentence. He was given a retrial and hit with an even harsher sentence.
He will be given the 1000 lashes over the course of 50 weeks by our closest ally in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia continues to impose Sharia law. The Kingdom not only denies free speech and the free exercise of religion but it supports the view that people can be executed for insulting religion.
Saudi Arabia fits the description of Justice Louis Brandeis in Olmstead v. United States :
The government is the potent omnipresent teacher. For good or ill it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. To declare that the end justifies the means — to declare that the government may commit crimes — would bring terrible retribution.
It takes a Prophet to be a Prophet. And to profit. Fleece the flocks. All religions are similar except some are more Mafioso than others. And I don’t mean that as a slew on Mafia folks to compare them to Muslims. But…. when you think about the origin of the species on Sicily… its not far fetched… no pun intended… to see a link. Maybe. Oh, Sorry Don. Here’s your pistol and now we can go to sunrise Mass. And, Cardinal Burke, talking about the dreadful problem with the Church allowing girls instead of boys to do the alter service which he says has resulted in a drastic curtailment of the number of new Priest candidates. Wonder why that is?
Now if you are interested in a fair and balanced religion and don’t want to be fleeced, then consider the 8th Day Dog Adventists.
Barkingdog, I heard she was 9 year old when he had sex with her , though he had asked her father to be reserved for him when she was just 6 year old , if Im not mistaken ..?
Sadly , advanced world has reinforced darkness in the Muslim world by respecting rather than ridiculing and disrespecting laws and customs that are not compatible with the civilized world .
Jill, nice post. But the sad fact is that people will always resort to the level in anything. Same with religion. Religion should be a high point of humanity, but, once again, it just becomes another method for those to wish to assert control.
All these posts prove is how different our two worlds are. The sooner we get out of there and quit telling them how to live the better off all of us will be. The people who live in those countries have to be the ones to make the changes–and pay the price. Another sad fact–unhappy religious psychopaths keep the profits high for the defense industry.
Je Suis BarkinDog. Bon jour pedophile prophets en France et America.
First, our President should make a public request that the Saudis discontinue lashing. It could be “our country is in the process of reviewing our penalties.” The world is in the 21st century and ancient punishments are terribly cruel and must be eliminated.
The United Nations should get involved. Begin a worldwide plea for the cruel punishments of the past be discontinued.
The Hague?
All our leaders present and past should make personal calls to the King. The Bushes, Clintons, etc., state that the American people abhor this punishment and could impact future relations.
Or President Obama can announce we expect our allies to be humane.
Paul C., I know the young man who was paddled had weeks to build the muscles in his behind to get ready for this. Are we certain the lashings are on bare skin?
Pull all military personnel out? They were attacked recently, don’t they need us?