BS: Saudi police 'stopped' fire rescue

Subject: Saudi police 'stopped' fire rescue
From: GUEST,Amy
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 09:14 PM

From bbc online: News Story

Saudi Arabia's religious police stopped schoolgirls from leaving a blazing building because they were not wearing correct Islamic dress, according to Saudi newspapers. In a rare criticism of the kingdom's powerful "mutaween" police, the Saudi media has accused them of hindering attempts to save 15 girls who died in the fire on Monday.

About 800 pupils were inside the school in the holy city of Mecca when the tragedy occurred.

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".

The Saudi Gazette quoted witnesses as saying that the police - known as the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice - had stopped men who tried to help the girls and warned "it is a sinful to approach them".

The father of one of the dead girls said that the school watchman even refused to open the gates to let the girls out.

"Lives could have been saved had they not been stopped by members of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice," the newspaper concluded.

Relatives' anger

Families of the victims have been incensed over the deaths.

Most of the victims were crushed in a stampede as they tried to flee the blaze.

The school was locked at the time of the fire - a usual practice to ensure full segregation of the sexes.

The religious police are widely feared in Saudi Arabia. They roam the streets enforcing dress codes and sex segregation, and ensuring prayers are performed on time.

Those who refuse to obey their orders are often beaten and sometimes put in jail.

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What a world we live in.

Subject: RE: BS: Saudi police 'stopped' fire rescue
From: kendall
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 09:33 PM

If Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell had their way it would be almost as bad here.

Subject: RE: BS: Saudi police 'stopped' fire rescue
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 09:36 PM

Thank goodness these folks are our "friends". Makes ya wanna strap on a uniform and go protect 'em.

Rick

Subject: RE: BS: Saudi police 'stopped' fire rescue
From: CarolC
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 09:45 PM

And the Northern Alliance guys in Afghanistan are raping and brutalizing the very women who were suffering for so long under that Taliban in that country.

Hmmm...

Subject: RE: BS: Saudi police 'stopped' fire rescue
From: Midchuck
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 09:47 PM

Between the various Islamic mania, and the Falwell/Robertson types mentioned above, and the sexual habits of the Catholic priesthood, I am beginning to wonder if organized religion does not do more harm than good, and if we couldn't get everyone who believes in any established religion to practice it in private, like they do their other nasty habits. I know this is flamebait of the worst sort, but I'm just sick of it, and it keeps getting worse.

And the worst part of it is, if I indulge the urge to say, God Damn the lot of them, I'm doing it myself....

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: Saudi police 'stopped' fire rescue
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 09:57 PM

Well Peter, I think that about sums it up for me too.......

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Saudi police 'stopped' fire rescue
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 10:00 PM

Hi Peter, "Organized" means a power structure. Power goes to any lengths to protect itself. Be it Enron, Churches, Political Parties, The legal system, the Medical folks, or the Boy Scouts.....when they get "organized" they play hardball. And when they ARE playin' hardball, they do a LOT more evil than good.

Rick

Subject: RE: BS: Saudi police 'stopped' fire rescue
From: DonMeixner
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 10:18 PM

More crimes against humanity have been done in the name of God by the Faithful than by ANY criminal in history. And it always seems to be by the "My God is Righter, Better, and Gooder than your God" Crowd. For the time being I'll keep my God in my heart rather than wearing God on my sleeve, I'll feel safer that way.

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Saudi police 'stopped' fire rescue
From: Wotcha
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 10:23 PM

The Mutawah have no official power and are not a police force. They are, however, a reality in Saudi -- a bunch of camel whip brandishing busy-bodies. To anyone who has lived there, this story may seem a little bit hysterical ... some truth in it somewhere but the ministry of information (pun?) may have had something to do with garbling the story.

"Every day is Monday,
Except Friday, which is Sunday"
Cheers,
Brian

Subject: RE: BS: Saudi police 'stopped' fire rescue
From: Wincing Devil
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 10:33 PM

I firmly believe in God.

I just as firmly disbelieve in religion.

'nuf said!

Subject: RE: BS: Saudi police 'stopped' fire rescue
From: DougR
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 10:50 PM

Kendall, I'm a bit surprised at your comment. I'm not admirer of either of the two men you mention in your post, but I'm not willing to say either of them would condone such action.

DougR