I have no words.

[original_aj]

An appeal court in Saudi Arabia has doubled the number of lashes and added a jail sentence as punishment for a woman who was gang-raped

Yes, she is being punished for getting raped.

There are no words to express my feelings at this point, but I would very much like to be alone with the judge right now.

Excuse me while I go and hit something very hard.

Comments

[andrewducker]

I'm still confused by the wording of the story. She was being punished for being in the car of an unrelated man at the time of the attack - so is she being punished for having voluntarily gotten into a man's car, or for having been dragged into someone's car?

Both are reprehensible punishments, but I'd like to know which one I'm supposed to be feeling aggrieved about.

No no...

[zornhau.livejournal.com]

We mustn't be cultural imperialists. We must respect indigenous culture.

Now excuse me while I sew a red cross to my surcoat and sharpen my sword.

[digitalraven]

You act like this is something out of the ordinary, something unique. Your assumptions are wrong.

This is your world:
"…well over two million kids - some younger even than one year old - are kidnapped and sold to prostitution, sexual slavery and sexual exploitation worldwide every year."

"Pony is an orangutan from a prostitute village in Borneo. We found her chained to a wall, lying on a mattress. She had been shaved all over her body. If a man walked near her, she would turn herself around, present herself, and start gyrating and going through the motions. She was being used as a sex slave. She was probably about six or seven years old when we rescued her, but she had been held captive by a madam for a long time. The madam refused to give up the animal because everyone loved Pony and she was a big part of their income."

These people live on your planet. These are not unusual situations. That you think they are says a lot about your media.

[rdi.livejournal.com]

Oh, I think there'd be a line-up to be alone with that judge.

Although I wouldn't want to be alone with him; I'd at least want my trusty cluebat.

[rdi.livejournal.com]

OK, now that my stomach has stopped turning in disgust, here's the unicorn chaser those links need:

[daisy-stitch.livejournal.com]

Yes I saw that one too.

Like you I really don't have the words.

[spacelem.livejournal.com]

No, we must respect these peoples' views, because they are religious views, and religious views are exempt from normal common sense and a sense of compassion and respect for others.

She was got because of religious laws, and it was her own fault, being a woman and everything. Probably tempted all those poor men into committing such a sin. She should feel lucky the lash and a lengthy stay in prison was all she got. Maybe she'll think harder next time.

Don't forget, other peoples' customs are important, and we must preserve and respect them, always, and without question.

Wait a minute...

[grendelis.livejournal.com]

There is something else to consider...

Perhaps she was (working as) a whore, or was being pimped or was a sex slave? It just doesn't say.

Was it a setup, love or a paid job?

Is that how men of that culture would behave as a way of 'self' punishing a 'normal' female who got into a car? There must be some logical reason why she got into the car. Indeed, was it her own choice at all?

Is that how men of that culture would *want* to behave? Are there pent up competitive sexual cravings that normally happen in that society, but no one usually hears about them?

[nickys.livejournal.com]

> These people live on your planet. These are not unusual situations.

True, but the day anyone stops being outraged and appalled by those situations is the day they cease to be truly human.


I also think there's a difference between evil that happens and is recognised as a criminal act, and evil that is entrenched in a judicial system which claims moral authority over people.