All My Liberal friends Should Take Note of This

Today's news reports Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has pardoned a female rape victim who had been sentenced to 200 lashes for being alone with a man at the time of the attack who was not related to her.

The case had sparked international outcry. In this case, the White House had expressed its "astonishment" over the woman's sentence while our more liberal relatives in Canada called it barbaric.

The Saudi Justice Minister Abdullah bin Mohammed al-Sheik told al-Jazirah newspaper that the pardon does not mean the King doubted the country's judges, but instead acted in the "interests of the people." He said the king looks into alleviating the suffering of the citizens when he is sure that these verdicts will leave psychological effects on the convicted people, even though the King is convinced and sure that the verdicts were fair.

The rape victim was initially sentenced in November 2006 to several months in prison and 90 lashes for being alone in a car with a man with whom she was neither related nor married, a violation of the kingdom's strict religious laws regarding segregation of the sexes.

Later the court more than doubled the sentence to 200 lashes and six months prison in response to her appeal.

Soap Box Ravings was initially amazed like everyone else to see the victim punished for being raped. But he is even more amazed to see that an appeal leads to a doubling of the sentence. Remember, this is what they have done to one of their own. A little research will show you they execute foreigners in their country about twice as often as a native. They average about one beheading every other day after appeals if any.


Al-Sheik told al-Jazirah newspaper Monday that only the king could issue a pardon, and he did so despite his view that the Saudi legal system was "honest" and "fair."

"The king's order consolidates and confirms what is known about the Islamic courts," said al-Sheik. "Efficient judges look into different cases and issue their just verdicts and those convicted have the right to appeal."

Soap Box Ravings reminds all that Islamic courst are religious courts that use Islam as their basis. Saudi Arabia is the home of Wahabiism (Arabic: Al-Wahhābīyya الوهابية, Wahabism is a branch of Sunni Islam practised by those who follow the teachings of Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab.) This is the dominant form of Islam found in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, as well as some pockets of Somalia, Algeria, Palestine and Mauritania. It is considered to be one of the most strictest sects of Islam.

The rapists were convicted of raping the girl and were initially sentenced to jail terms from 10 months to five years. Their sentences were also increased after their appeals.