{Saudi] Partygoers to be Flogged

news24 ^ | 2/4/07

[abu afak]

Riyadh - A Saudi Arabian court has convicted and sentenced 20 foreigners to receive lashes and spend several months in prison for attending a party where alcoholic drinks were served and men and women danced, a Saudi newspaper reported on Sunday.

The kingdom's religious police arrested 433 foreigners, including more than 240 women, for attending the "impudent" party in Jiddah, the state-guided newspaper Okaz reported.

It did not identify the foreigners, give their nationalities or say when the party took place.

Judge Saud al-Boushi sentenced the 20 to three to four month in prison and ordered them to receive an unspecified number of lashes.

They have the right to appeal, the newspaper said.

The prosecutor general charged the 20 with "drinking, arranging for impudent party, mixed dancing and shooting a video for the party", Okaz said.

The newspaper said because of the large number of detainees, several judges were assigned to try them in groups.

The rest of the detainees are awaiting trial.

Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam.

The religious police - a force resented by many Saudis for interfering in their personal lives - enjoys wide and unchallenged powers.

Its members roam public places, such as malls, markets and universities, looking for such infractions as unrelated men and women mingling in public, men skipping the five daily prayers and women with strands of hair showing from under their veil.

[jan in Colorado]

Its members roam public places, such as malls, markets and universities, looking for such infractions as unrelated men and women mingling in public, men skipping the five daily prayers and women with strands of hair showing from under their veil.

I thank God EVERY day that I was born in the United States of America!

[Lockbar]

Thank god they aren't "swingers" or they would REALLY be in trouble!!!

[geopyg]

"Most of them would have a stroke"

Or blow up.

[geopyg]

On the history channel the other night it had a show on the Nazi's and Saddam. The arabs tried to beat England in syria and got their butts kicked. When the Nazi's got going on WWII the arabs saw their chance. The bath party got started as a resistance movement and tried to beat England in Iraq with some minor help from the nazis(a few planes and uncorridated bombing runs). The English beat the bathists and imprisoned Saddam's uncle. Later the uncle was realeased but still harbored resentment and passed that on to his brother's son that he raised - Saddam.

[Recovering_Democrat]

I hopr after every flog, each one of them yells out, "It was worth it!" BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

[cricket]

I would be so interesting watching them go crazy in a regular American mall. Most of them would have a stroke.

Don't know if they would have a stroke; but it would certainly add to their resolve. . .

[healy61]

I can guarentee you that the religious police would be the first to approach the women. A few years back there was a house of Arab men across the street from us. One afternoon it was obvious to my wife that at least three men and one of more women were upstairs having something sexual going on. There were three rather large framed girls standing on the sidewalk waiting turns with the other men. All was done when I got home accept the girls on the sidewalk. I was right over there and told them that if they did not leave immediately I was calling the police and pressing charges. I will not give up my property values to these type of people. It never happened again.

[ukie55]

I would be so interesting watching them go crazy in a regular American mall. Most of them would have a stroke.

We should be so lucky....

[Stultis]

I would be so interesting watching them go crazy in a regular American mall.

Careful what you wish for...