Death Sentence for Sorcery...

[Bonam]

Just saw this on the news and couldn't help sharing...

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/03/19/saudi.arabia.sorcery/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn

Really had no idea that people could still get charged with "sorcery", even in Saudi Arabia.

[bloodyminded]

Just saw this on the news and couldn't help sharing...

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/03/19/saudi.arabia.sorcery/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn

Really had no idea that people could still get charged with "sorcery", even in Saudi Arabia.

I didn't know it either, but I'm not surprised.

I also find it a little hypocritical that "religious police," mandated with upholding the Authority of old texts filled with Magic (ie any religious text), can accuse a person of "sorcery."

[GostHacked]

I didn't know it either, but I'm not surprised.

I also find it a little hypocritical that "religious police," mandated with upholding the Authority of old texts filled with Magic (ie any religious text), can accuse a person of "sorcery."

When you do a miracle, you are a heretic. When god does it, it's just .. natural.

[Argus]

Just saw this on the news and couldn't help sharing...

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/03/19/saudi.arabia.sorcery/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn

Really had no idea that people could still get charged with "sorcery", even in Saudi Arabia.

People are still burned as witches in parts of Africa and Asia.

But we mustn't judge! We're all equal, you know!

[KeyStone]

People are still burned as witches in parts of Africa and Asia.

But we mustn't judge! We're all equal, you know!

The Canadian and US governments won't say jacksh!t about this.

As long as they continue to buy our technology, and give us their oil, they can do whatever they want.

Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela however, are constantly under a microscope.

The more you see the unbalanced, disproportionate responses levied by the West to such atrocities, the more you realize the West really only cares about prosperity though trade. All those other things like democracy, human rights, etc only come up when they are convenient to use against a government that doesn't give them access to their markets and resources.

[BCMan]

I wonder if he predicted that he would face something like this.

Why didn’t he just pt a disclaimer in his show to say that this is for entertainment purposes but nevertheless he should be released.

My first post here, So Hello.

[Guest American Woman]

Really had no idea that people could still get charged with "sorcery", even in Saudi Arabia.

I think people can be charged with anything that goes against Islam; to my knowledge, that's the purpose of the 'religious police.' It's unbelievable the mindset these people have. As recently as 2002, "religious police stopped schoolgirls from leaving a blazing building because they were not wearing correct Islamic dress."

According to the al-Eqtisadiah daily, firemen confronted police after they tried to keep the girls inside because they were not wearing the headscarves and abayas (black robes) required by the kingdom's strict interpretation of Islam.

One witness said he saw three policemen "beating young girls to prevent them from leaving the school because they were not wearing the abaya". link

15 girls died in the fire.

[Michael Hardner]

Yes, some of our allies have backwards practices, as do other countries.

[Mr.Canada]

Yes, some of our allies have backwards practices, as do other countries.

So, you're willing to turn a blind eye because other countries do it so it must be ok?

[Michael Hardner]

So, you're willing to turn a blind eye because other countries do it so it must be ok?

This is your 2nd post to me in a row that puts words in my mouth. Meanwhile, as I have pointed out, you are clearly on a witch hunt against a certain religion.

If you don't want to respond to my comments on your posts, that's fine - but then don't ask me to comment when you want me to. You're drifting backwards, Mr. Canada.

[Mr.Canada]

This is your 2nd post to me in a row that puts words in my mouth. Meanwhile, as I have pointed out, you are clearly on a witch hunt against a certain religion.

If you don't want to respond to my comments on your posts, that's fine - but then don't ask me to comment when you want me to. You're drifting backwards, Mr. Canada.

I'm on no "Witchhunt" as you put it. This was in the news, I thought it was worthy to discuss. If countries with Islamic governments have similar practices I think that makes the religion part of the conversation. Since it's the religion that is driving the laws in those countries. They don't separate Church and State but we're somehow supossed to when discussing them?

Alls you'v e done is admit that some countries have backward practices but refuse to comdemn them. So that must mean you support them. If you don't you should really stop wasting our time and say so. Why be so secretive? Does it really bother you that much to stand up for womens rights?

Edited April 3, 2010 by Mr.Canada

[Michael Hardner]

I'm on no "Witchhunt" as you put it. This was in the news, I thought it was worthy to discuss. If countries with Islamic governments have similar practices I think that makes the religion part of the conversation. Since it's the religion that is driving the laws in those countries. They don't separate Church and State but we're somehow supossed to when discussing them?

Yes, we're supposed to - because we're supposed to be better than that, or don't you think so ?

You're still not seeing it: "countries with Islamic governments have similar practices...". As I already showed you, these kinds of backwards beliefs cross all religious beliefs.

Alls you'v e done is admit that some countries have backward practices but refuse to comdemn them. So that must mean you support them. If you don't you should really stop wasting our time and say so. Why be so secretive? Does it really bother you that much to stand up for womens rights?

This "refuse to condemn" thing is an empty charge. I've only seen people use it when they are shown to be wrong on something else, i.e. it's a distraction technique you are using here. Of course I condemn the backwards actions of Democratic Republic of Congo, Saudi Arabia and so on... but nobody cares if I condemn this or that bad practice. Nobody is waiting on my judgment of these acts.

Back to your post. Now, will you admit that witch hunting isn't the sole practice of Islamists ? Will you stop your own witch hunt of Muslims ?

[Mr.Canada]

Yes, we're supposed to - because we're supposed to be better than that, or don't you think so ?

You're still not seeing it: "countries with Islamic governments have similar practices...". As I already showed you, these kinds of backwards beliefs cross all religious beliefs.

I don't care if they do right now. We're discussing Islam here.

This "refuse to condemn" thing is an empty charge. I've only seen people use it when they are shown to be wrong on something else, i.e. it's a distraction technique you are using here. Of course I condemn the backwards actions of Democratic Republic of Congo, Saudi Arabia and so on... but nobody cares if I condemn this or that bad practice. Nobody is waiting on my judgment of these acts.

I am, I'm waiting for you to grow a set and weigh in. Finally you do so, it only took you around 10 posts to do it.

Back to your post. Now, will you admit that witch hunting isn't the sole practice of Islamists ? Will you stop your own witch hunt of Muslims ?

I don't think that this has ever been my contention Michael. It's one facet of Islamic based law which was in the news so I posted on it. I'm on no witch hunt of Muslims. Saudi Arabia forces women to wear a Burka in public. Saudi Arabia kills people who are believed to be practicing sorcery which includes anything that is against what Islam teaches. These are facts, I'm merely pointing them out in case some people didn't know. We're all grown ups here let's try to conduct ourselves like it.

I don't see anything wrong in pointing out news worthy items. Are saying we should supress such news because it might hurt someones feelings?

[Michael Hardner]

I don't care if they do right now. We're discussing Islam here.

Really ? I thought we were discussing a single case ?

Why is this about Islam more than Christianity ?

I am, I'm waiting for you to grow a set and weigh in. Finally you do so, it only took you around 10 posts to do it.

I have no obligation to condemn any act, nor do you. It doesn't matter how many posts it took me to do it.

I don't see anything wrong in pointing out news worthy items. Are saying we should supress such news because it might hurt someones feelings?

Pointing out news items isn't wrong. Blaming a religion for bad things that happen may be right, or wrong: if you can back it up, then I guess it would be ok to do so, but you can't. When I point out that you have made an error, you try to deflect blame to me somehow by vaguely damning those who disagree with you, and by grandstanding me for not "condemning" these acts when it has nothing to do with the discussion.

So, let's recap:

You brought up a heinous act of a backwards government, tied it to a religion. When I pointed out that that was wrong you didn't admit your mistake, but went in another direction altogether.

[Guest American Woman]

From what I've read, a lot of Saudis want the world to react. They want the world to see what's going on, what the 'religious police' are doing, and to condemn it. It's part of their effort to get the practice to stop:

To see what Saudis are saying about the religious police, known around here as the Hey'a, all you have to do is load up a few videos on YouTube.

The videos are often narrated by angry citizens, saying things like "We'll show you by showing the world your bad deeds." link

If we hear about incidents such as the death sentence for 'sorcery' and religious police preventing girls from escaping a burning building and don't react, if we aren't outraged, I can't imagine how that would make them feel. I believe it's only world attention/pressure that makes things change sometimes. In that respect, I believe these incidents not only deserve, but require, our attention.