Saudi religious police `overdoing it

[dArKeR]

Backed by the government, squads of bearded men roam the kingdom armed with sticks or whips, forcing Saudis and foreigners alike to go to the mosque

Word that authorities were coming spread through Riyadh's rundown, busy Batha market. Merchants hastily dropped their shutters. Some shoppers hid, some ran, some were caught.

It wasn't a narcotics bust or one of the widely publicized Saudi government raids on terrorists. This was a sweep by the muttawas, or religious police, rounding up Muslim men -- Saudis and foreigners alike -- and forcing them to go to the mosque at prayer time.

The muttawas, backed by the Saudi government, say they are simply working for Islam. But some see them as symbols of intolerance that can breed extremism, and their methods and philosophy are coming under scrutiny as Saudis confront terrorism at home.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2003/11/23/2003076953

[trotsky]

1. Wow

A glimpse of what life will be like should the religious right get total power in the United States.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

2. or worse

A glimpse of our allies.

[oneighty]

3. Such conduct is fine

just so they help us get our oil.

180

[leesa]

4. Ashcroft's wet dream! THIS is what the evangelical christians dream

about (I mean the wacky ones like Bush, Ashcroft, Falwell, Pobertson, etc.)

[scottcsmith]

5. Horrible human rights violations

Although I understand why the United States has a relationship with the Kingdom (oil money), I don't understand why we look the other way when it comes to the horrific human rights violations in Saudi Arabia. Torture of prisoners is common. No freedom of speech. Here are links to reports on Saubi Arabia from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International:

http://www.hrw.org/wr2k3/mideast6.html

http://web.amnesty.org/report2003/Sau-summary-eng

[lumpy]

6. Never fear, Dubya will handle this situation

eventually that is, after he takes care of Cuba, No. Korea, Iran and the rest of those evil empires. Meanwhile back at the ranch the pigs are not getting fed.