The saga of Manal Al-Sharief continues.
Her arrest in Dammam is being extended by 10 days while the authorities ‘continue to investigate’ her case. At this point, even if she is found not to have violated any laws, she’s being significantly punished. Sitting in a jail, for any length of time, is punishment. If innocent of any crime, it is worse than punishment: it is a grave violation of human rights.
The Arab News article, however, does quote the Deputy Minister of Interior as saying there is a law, a 1990 statement that prohibits women from driving in the Kingdom. (Saudi Gazette identifies the year as 1991/92.) It’s very useful to understand that a ‘statement’ now equals a ‘law’. But does it? Was that statement issued by an authority with the power to make laws under the Saudi governmental system? Or is it just a statement? What other ‘statements’ carry the force of law in Saudi Arabia? Are they published so that everyone can learn what they may or may not legally do? If not, then they’re not law, they’re clubs by which authority can be exerted whenever it’s felt necessary. In other words, they are an back door to tyranny. Saudi Arabs should expect better than that of their government.
Manal Al-Sharif’s detention extended by 10 days
SIRAJ WAHAB | ARAB NEWSDAMMAM: As her five-year-old son remains hospitalized with a severe infection, imprisoned motorist Manal Al-Sharif learned she will remain behind bars for another 10 days while authorities decide her fate.
Her lawyer, Adnan Al-Saleh, told Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News, that the court ruled Thursday against her release as it continues to probe her drive into Alkhobar and the subsequent online posting of the event on social media websites.
“We believe the best thing for the prosecutor general would have been to release her on bail,” said Al-Saleh. “They told us that the investigating authorities need another 10 days to complete their inquiries. They will then decide whether Al-Sharif is innocent or whether her case should be referred to a special prosecutor,” he said, and explained that such things are in line with the legal formalities. “However, this does not and will not stop us from continuing with our efforts to get her released on bail.”
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May:27:2011 - 07:26
A lie repeated often enough becomes the truth, however here in Saudi Arabia, when something is repeated often enough, it becomes what passes for law, as well.
Here’s what was reported locally back in 1990 when 47 women drove in RIyadh … more than two decades ago.
“”Women’s driving of cars contradicts the sound Islamic attitude of the Saudi citizen, who is jealous about his sacred ideals,” the Saudi Ministry of Interior said in announcing the kingdom’s first legal ban on women driving.”
Here’s the full text:http://sandgetsinmyeyes.blogspot.com/2010/11/women-driving-in-saudi-week-government.html
May:27:2011 - 07:56
Is killing the infidels law too?
SGIME that link is blocked…
May:27:2011 - 08:17
Interestingly in the Arab News today:
http://arabnews.com/lifestyle/islam/article432352.ece
“Indeed Islam abhors all types of injustice, particularly when it is aimed at the weak and vulnerable. If one is given power or influence and uses it to deal unfairly with those who have no means to counter that, he stands in a very difficult position as God does not accept injustice, no matter who is the perpetrator.”
Talk about a double-edged sword–welcome to Saudi Arabia, the kingdom of humanity!
May:27:2011 - 08:34
Sorry sparky – you must be in Saudi where SGIME is blocked. Here’s a link to the referenced LATimes article: http://articles.latimes.com/1990-11-15/news/mn-6021_1_saudi-women
May:27:2011 - 09:21
Thanks SGIME…Yes, I am in Riyadh…
How about this for portents of evil…I had a bloody dream three days ago. A lovely prince had his arms and legs ripped from his body. It was disturbing and sick. Grandfather and child were put into water wells to drown alive.
The sickest part is I stood by and did nothing to stop it…I just stood and watched not in horror but quite indifferently. No harm came to me…I simply unlocked the door…
May:27:2011 - 09:53
Why have you come to earth? That is the question of the day~
I have come to love, serve and remember
Lola that would be Kingdom of Contradition or of the Two Faced Snake…One of the heads needs to be cut…but whose will it be is the question…one will be subdued!~
Nice song…below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41wffU0GN-c
May:27:2011 - 10:21
@Lola: Well, it’s certainly the Kingdom of Contradiction!
May:27:2011 - 10:36
It’s the kingdom of hypocrisy!
May:28:2011 - 03:40
And the ‘investigation’ expands:
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=20110528101752
And in the US:
http://www.floridatoday.com/comments/article/20110527/NEWS01/105270323/Prosecutors-charge-alleged-spitting-Saudi-woman-hate-crime-charges
May:28:2011 - 10:35
”Women’s driving of cars contradicts the sound Islamic attitude of the Saudi citizen, who is jealous about his sacred ideals,”.
I dont know if Saudi think their women are better Muslims than The mother of all Muslims and certainly my mother Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her)who rode a Camel or (jamal)to a battle after which incidence the very well-known and the most controversial battle in the Islamic history was called (the battle of camel). Actually she was the factor behind getting an army of about 30000 men mobilized for a march,to Al-Kufah in Iraq then caital of the caliphate ,do anyone with little mind in the right place, can even think she would have ridden a camel for that, had she a tank or F16 . I the one who can not see his own back (without a mirror) dare not judge whether she was right or wrong in going out to that march or battle, as different people analyze its purpose differently,to me it was their time their differences and they made their decisions and she was not infallible nor the ones she fought, but I am sure it was her camel and she had all right to ride that camel, and by practically taking part in a political dilemma she proved women can have their say in public affairs.
dont you think Cars and motor bikes are just motorized camel and horses.