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Prosecutors in Saudi Arabia have begun investigating 57 young men who were arrested on Thursday for flirting with girls at shopping centres in Mecca.

The men are accused of wearing indecent clothes, playing loud music and dancing in order to attract the attention of girls, the Saudi Gazette reported.

They were arrested following a request of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

The mutaween enforce Saudi Arabia's conservative brand of Islam, Wahhabism.

Earlier in the month, the authorities enforced a ban on the sale of red roses and other symbols used in many countries to mark Valentine's Day.

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Originally posted by rural - Francesca:
Is it wrong that I'm thrilled that the men got arrested rather than the women they were flirting with??? which is my perception of what usually happens.....

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Yeah, well I hope you're kidding in some kind of macabre way, because there is no such thing as a society where one gender is free while the other is enslaved.

Amnesty International report on how this wonderful Islamic state treats women gently and kindly, compared to men

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‘I use a sword to kill male criminals... and firearms, specifically pistols, to kill female criminals. I think firearms are used to spare the woman, as to be executed by sword would mean uncovering her head and exposing her neck and some of her back.’ - Sa’id bin Abdullah bin Mabrouk al-Bishi, a Saudi Arabian executioner

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Originally posted by rural - Francesca:
yes I'm being dark and ironic

I would hope we would evolve to a society where no one gender is persecuted

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Ok, I agree.

The reason I opened this thread is a little crusade [sic] I'm on.

I'm convinced that the main monotheistic religions in vogue in our society (Yahweh-worship, God&Jesus-worship, Allah-worship) are forces for darkness and backwardness - both in matters of science and morality.

This doesn't apply to the believers of those religions.

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Originally posted by rural - Francesca:
but for some of those faiths, what is being done is against doctrine

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Saudis crack down on flirting and Valentine's Day

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Germans killed more than 6 million Jews, Gypsies, disabled people and homosexuals.

Atheists killed and imprisoned millions of human beings.

And the list goes on.

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What it means is that every single Jew, Christian, or Muslim who wants to promote scientific enlightenment or social progress - even plain simply humanitarian values - must do so in spite of the accepted doctrine of their religion. -unionist

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Here is an example that shows that what you are saying is bullshit.

Prophet Mohammed put a halt to killing new-born females (that "instantly brought shame" to their fathers, mal relatives and tribesmen). He did that in spite of the Islamic doctrine, says unionist.

[ 23 February 2008: Message edited by: adam stratton ]

Then having concluded that he can impose such an assertion by applying his own cultural conceptions upon others, without investigating the actuallities, he then suggests that anyone pointing out variances between the doctrines is defending socially backward practices.

[ 23 February 2008: Message edited by: Cueball ]

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Originally posted by adam stratton:

Germans killed more than 6 million Jews, Gypsies, disabled people and homosexuals.

Atheists killed and imprisoned millions of human beings.

And the list goes on.

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[ 23 February 2008: Message edited by: marzo ]

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Originally posted by rural - Francesca:

but for some of those faiths, what is being done is against doctrine

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Originally posted by unionist:

With all due respect, Francesca, that's what every apologist says

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Either one agrees with you, unionist, or he/she is an apologist. And you have the nerve to talk about the Saudi religious police.

quote:

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Originally posted by adam stratton:

Germans killed more than 6 million Jews, Gypsies, disabled people and homosexuals.

Atheists killed and imprisoned millions of human beings.

And the list goes on.

What is your point, unionist ?

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Interesting theses:

1. Atheism is a religion?

2. The Nazis murdered millions because their atheist God told them to?

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Originally posted by adam stratton:
Prophet Mohammed put a halt to killing new-born females (that "instantly brought shame" to their fathers, mal relatives and tribesmen). He did that in spite of the Islamic doctrine, says unionist.

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What a kind man he was. Putting a halt to killing new-born females! And he needed some Deity to whisper that to him?

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Originally posted by Cueball:
Amazing. Our own propoganda distortions are so effective, people are actually able to say that Saudi Arabia is a akin to National Socialist Germany, with a straight face.

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Saudi Arabia isn't "akin" to Nazi Germany - it's far worse.

You know why?

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Originally posted by Cueball:
Secular regiemes are no cure against mass human rights violations.

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Great argument!!!

Er...

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Originally posted by Cueball:
I am arguing against the general thesis being put forward, which is that secular regiemes do not prevent mass human rights violations simply because they are secular.

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Saudi Arabia isn't "akin" to Nazi Germany - it's far worse.

You know why?

Because it still murders and tortures people today. -unionist

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Originally posted by adam stratton:
So does Israel. Would you say that Israel is "far worse" than Nazi Germany? Why not?

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Originally posted by unionist:
Childish sophistry. Grow up.

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Just an aside semantical quibble, perhaps a better way to word that would have bee:

Immature sophistry. Grab some life experience and wisdom and get back to me, when you have it.

As really, we alkl "grow up" but that process when concluded does not always contain maturity or wisdom.

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Originally posted by adam stratton:
Germans killed more than 6 million Jews, Gypsies, disabled people and homosexuals.
Atheists killed and imprisoned millions of human beings. And the list goes on.
What is your point, unionist ?

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you could just as well be an arab living in Canada, with a nice house, good job, many good friends, a variety of cultural activities and with a pretty decent amount of freedom compared to all countries around the world.

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Originally posted by remind:

Just an aside semantical quibble, perhaps a better way to word that would have bee:

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What is your point Adam. The discussion here pertains to the evils of religion. Bringing in other examples of barbarity doesn't invalidate the focus on religion being put forth. Slumberjack

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The "evil of religion" in yet another thread about how Islam is evil, when we were already discussing it in another thread.

But sprry, Slumberjack, I have not seen unionist's explanation before I asked the question. I was just thinking Why he opened yet another thread when were discussing the very same subject somewhere else and the thread was still open. But is his explanation, that I missed:

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The reason I opened this thread is a little crusade [sic] I'm on.

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Originally posted by adam stratton:
So does Israel. Would you say that Israel is "far worse" than Nazi Germany? Why not?

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Originally posted by unionist

Childish sophistry. Grow up.

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Easier to draw the Nazi comparison with S.A. than with Israel.

I prefer being a candid child to a grown up with no backbone, who peddles double-standards.

You still have not answered my question, unionist.
Show an even handedness !

[ 23 February 2008: Message edited by: adam stratton ]