Dr. Hayat Sindi is a Saudi Arabian medical scientist and a woman who has earned respect for extraordinary accomplishments in a country that denies women basic liberties. She is not only an award-winning scientist but one of the first female members of the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia. Ranked by Arabian Business as the 19th most influential Arab in the world and the ninth most influential Arab woman, it is not surprising that Harvard University has brought her to the country as a visiting scholar. However, a nasty lawsuit in King County has raised deeply disturbing allegations about Sindi’s efforts against women who she accuses of hacking her emails. According to counsel for one of those women, Sindi worked to have another woman flogged for writing on Facebook that she had had an affair with her husband. On the other side is Samia El-Moslimany, a women’s activist and photographer who lives in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, who is fighting to keep Sindi from forcing the disclosure of the women, who would face medieval Sharia justice in Saudi Arabia.
All of this began when El-Moslimany posted statements on social media in 2012 alleging that Sindi had had an affair with her husband. Sindi responded with a Saudi defamation case and, according to an affidavit submitted by El-Moslimany’s lawyer, she wanted El-Moslimany flogged. The effort backfired. A Saudi judge decided last year that El-Moslimany should spend four days in jail for the public defamation while Sindi should spend two months in jail for forming an illicit relationship with El-Moslimany’s husband. Neither has served their sentences.
Sindi however has continued to try to force disclosure of the names of the women commenting on the Internet under the claim that she was hacked. A King County Superior Court judge decided Friday not to sentence a Burien woman to jail or to levy a $500 fine for each day of withholding the names in light of the danger to these women.
Judge Mariane Spearman denied Sindi’s request to hold El-Moslimany in contempt of court because Sindi’s new lawyer could not specify which Facebook comments might be a basis for investigating any of the women.
The idea of a Harvard academic fighting to have women flogged for alleged defamation is deeply troubling. The fact that Saudi Sharia law allows for medieval justice does not excuse a demand for such justice over the exercise of free speech. Even if such speech was defamatory, it should not be a criminal matter subject to flogging. Whatever the truth of the adultery, it should not be relevant to Harvard or anyone else other than those involved in these families. However, flogging for posting matters on the Internet raises significant issues of due process and free speech.
Should Harvard be involved in such dispute when one of its faculty seeks to have women flogged under Sharia law or this is simply a private matter under the laws of another country?
What is a “pommies”. I am from France. Prior to that Remulak. Now in Ferguson. In Ferguson they say it has something to do with a women who attends a “prom”. What is a “prom”? There is a woman in the bar here who was a Prom Queen and she looks like that movie lady named Doris Day. There are no riots in Ferguson and nothing in Dellwood has been burned in months. There is a lawsuit to stop the City of Ferguson and City of Jennings from running a debtors prison. The plaintiff’s name is Fant and we are trying to interview her. Apparently they arrest you for looking cross eyed and then fine you. When you cant pay the fine they lock you up until your Aunt DoeDoe comes to bat and pays the fine. Did you folks know that Enos Slaugher used to live on Nancy Place in Ferguson. And the actor in dracula movies used to live on Elizabeth Avenue. The catholic church bought the mansion and made it into a parking lot in the 1950’s. That was the beginning of the end for Ferguson. Its day of infamy was not until last year but the downhill slide had to do with bad zoning. Ferguson is a nice town and blacks and whites get along well. Its the outsiders. They think I am from France. If I said Remulak or New York they would want me to leave.
Paul
Not my navy. I hate pommies, almost as much as the Koch brothers
issac – in 1812 it was ‘your’ navy. 😉
All jokes aside, the article does not state whether or not the visiting professor is married. If she is not married, under Islamic law, she may, perhaps, be allowed to have a relationship with this married man due to the acceptance of polygamous unions in Saudi Arabia, where men have multiple wives.
The husband, El Moslimany, probably has a decent defense. He should say that both women look the same with their heads covered in those rags and that he thought he was sleeping with his wife, not the esteemed professor at Harvard. He should have been tipped off, however, when the professor proceeded to shout GO HARVARD, ALLAH AKHBAR, during their roll in the hay.
Reblogged this on Oyia Brown.
I thought that adultery could be considered a capital crime under Sharia law in Saudi Arabia. It seems to me that Dr. Sindi could be exposing herself to the consequences of Sharia law by pressing this issue.
Just a Muslim cat fight.
“Bridging the understanding between East and West is important for peace and tolerance,” Alwaleed said in a statement released by Harvard.
I agree with this statement, but their actions so far lean towards making everyone understand and accept Islam. However, when it comes to the other side the West/Christianity is evil and should be destroyed everywhere. Understanding is a two way street, as is tolerance. If that is actually your true goal. Their actions speak to the opposite much more loudly.
RFB
If Harvard could ban Kissinger from coming back to Harvard to teach because of his many crimes in office, I think they have a good case to do the same for this woman.
Pogo
Oh, East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,
Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment Seat;
But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth,
When two strong men stand face to face, though they come from the ends of the earth!
RK
Somethings are and somethings are not incompatible.
It is not a private matter for a high profile individual who is happy to use the freedoms of the West to profit but also willing to use cruel and brutal punishments against her opponents. It says alot about that person’s character. She should be fired immediately.
Justice Holmes – I thought part of the job requirements for Harvard was to have at least one affair. The flogging just adds flavor to her resume. 😉
I remember getting strapped in Junior High School. There were eight or nine of us and we all tried to be the last guy cuz the principal typically got tired by then and we all were laughing so hard he couldn’t make it hurt. The new kids went to the front of the line.
issac – get a copy of Horatio Hornblower and it will give you an idea of what flogging is like. In Horatio’s case it would be by your beloved Royal Navy.
Try re-reading any of these posts regarding Islam and change the religion to Christianity or Judaism. If the story seems more offensive than under Islam then you have a bias that cannot be ignored.
I agree with Pogo by the way..
Olly – I cannot remember the last time someone who was not Islamic asked for someone to be flogged.
Spread the word – let sunlight disinfect.
This woman is an educator – she stands for vindictiveness and the manipulation of legal systems for revenge. That is an issue for Harvard (and more importantly for the students that she teaches).
That she is an adulteress is her business.
There is flogging to the right of us. And flogging to the left of us. But here it seems to be more from the Left than the Right.
As I have said on this blog many times: Saudi Arabia is a pirate territory. All you can do is fly over and flush. Harvard needs to learn The Way. As taught by Lord Bhudda– not some Islamic Imam beating on a tin can.
I thought Saudi donations would be put to good use.
Saudi Prince Donates $40 Million to Harvard, Georgetown Universities
A Saudi prince has donated $20 million each to Harvard University and Georgetown University to advance Islamic studies and further understanding of the Muslim world.
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Alsaud — whom Forbes magazine ranks as the fifth wealthiest person in the world, with assets worth $23.7 billion — is the nephew of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah.
“Bridging the understanding between East and West is important for peace and tolerance,” Alwaleed said in a statement released by Harvard.
Should George Washington be forcing its students to take a course on sexual harassment?
At some point you have to acknowledge that Islam is incompatible with the West.
Reblogged this on pundit from another planet.
Reblogged this on This Got My Attention and commented:
Wow! Hahvahd. I thought they already had all the money in the world.