Saudi court sentences 75-year-old woman to 40 lashes

The Times of India ^ | March 19,2009

[SeekAndFind]

CAIRO: The sentencing of a 75-year-old widow to 40 lashes and four months in prison for mingling with two young men who were reportedly bringing her bread has sparked new criticism of Saudi Arabia's ultra-conservative religious police and judiciary.

Khamisa Sawadi, who is Syrian but was married to a Saudi, was convicted and sentenced last week for meeting with men who were not her immediate relatives. The two men, including one who was Sawadi's late husband's nephew, were also found guilty and sentenced to prison terms and lashes.

The woman's lawyer, Abdel Rahman al-Lahem, said that he plans to appeal the verdict, which also demands that Sawadi be deported after serving her prison term. He declined to provide more details and said his client, who is not serving her sentence yet, was not speaking with the media.

Saudi Arabia's strict interpretation of Islam prohibits men and women who are not immediate relatives from mingling and women from driving.

The playing of music, dancing and many movies also are a concern for hard-liners who believe they violate religious and moral values.

A special police unit called the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice enforces these laws, patrolling public places to make sure women are covered and not wearing make up, sexes don't mix, shops close five times a day for Muslim prayers and men go to the mosque to worship.

[SeekAndFind]

In other news, National Review reports that a young woman in Saudi who became pregnant after being gang raped was sentenced to 70 lashes for adultery. She will receive this punishment after she gives birth to the child.

That is the law of the steadfast ally of the United States of America -- Saudi Arabia -- for you.

[Puppage]

The sentencing of a 75-year-old widow to 40 lashes and four months in prison for mingling with two young men

Define: mingling

I mingle at partys all the time.

[Levante]

And all we hear from the fish-eating b#tches at NOW is ....

(crickets).....

[workerbee]

As long as they don't do anything really tortuous like put panties on her head. Then the UN/Amnesty/Communists would really be upset!

[Joe Boucher]

These folks and there culture and religion are garbage.
And if you think they are our friends then you are a stupid.

[wac3rd]

The New York Times has the following response...” “

[swarthyguy]

Who cares?

They sell us oil. And we buy it.

Everything else is irrelevant.

Enough Saudi bashing.

[x_plus_one]

Arabs are animals - worse than dogs...

[swarthyguy]

Tell it to Dubya of Arabya, Dude.

[dbrew2u]

Due to American immigration policies and Political Correctness. This may be coming to a neighborhood near you.

[LegendHasIt]

Ah, such a tolerant and gentle society is Islam.

[SeekAndFind]

Define: mingling

They were her acquaintances when they were kids and were delivering bread to her. However, women are not allowed to be in the presence of men who are not family members. RESULT: Grandma Sawadi ( at 75 years of age ) will be lashed 40 times for this "crime".

[CodeToad]

Muslim court, certainly not a Christian one.

Why is it Mulims like to torture and kill? Is it because their cult was created by a child-molesting murdering madman?

[yankeedame]

They were her acquaintances when they were kids and were delivering bread to her. However, women are not allowed to be in the presence of men who are not family members. RESULT: Grandma Sawadi ( at 75 years of age ) will be lashed 40 times for this "crime".

Hopefully,if it must happen, it will be with the petal of a flower.