Job Discussion Forums

[Jester18]

Here's a good one for every one! I'm curious to hear from Muslims(born into Islam and Reverts) and Non-Muslims on this. One of the students at my college went missing earlier this week---we later found out through proper channels that he had been arrested by the muttawa at a local mall for approaching another muslim woman and simply telling her that she was beautiful. I don't know the extent to this "harrassment", but don't you think that jail for 3 days is a little harsh?? If you are from other Muslim countries-----do you agree with this kind of punishment and would this happen in your country as well. Now if he had really harrassed her or or physically abused her---then --yes---I would understand SOME kind of punishment---but if he just walked up to her and said "you are beautiful"--in a non-threatening way---- then I totally disagree with that!
Any thoughts? And Mr. Golham---this is NOT muslim bashing---this is just a conversation!!

[scot47]

What is this all about ? Can't see how this is relevant to our work in KSA !!!!

[soitsenglishweteach]

[Cleopatra]

How reliable are your sources? What exactly are the 'proper channels'? How do you know whether or not to trust the version of events you have been given?

[Queen of Sheba]

Muttawa is a term used for anyone that appears extremely religious, the Hayya are those employed by the government with the power of arrest in KSA.

In this country and in all Muslim countries this approach by the young man would be considered indecent. Most Muslim countries would not arrest a man for doing this. The difference is here in KSA, it�s such an aggressive public gesture and statement, to confront a girl you don�t know and tell her she is beautiful or any such other "come on" that it may easily be construed as threat and an embarrassment to her modesty, especially if it was in public and others heard it.

I suspect she reported it to the Hayya and asked that he was arrested; otherwise he approached her in such a manner as to create attention and cause his own arrest. Either case, it would be justified in this context. Judging it under a Western perspective is useless, and complaining about how annoying the Hayya and muttawa are equally so. The fact is we live in their country and we are under their laws. We can complain, but we can�t change it and still have to observe their customs, as do the locals. So its kind of irrelevant what we think, but I would be upset and suspect of such an approach as well, I cant say if I would ask for his arrest, it would depend on the exact context and approach and situation, I would have to have more details, but in this country, this isn't a mild approach as you may think it is, and by making such a comment he actually means much more. By local standards, this situation could easily lead to a more aggressive one, so I wouldn't rule out arrest.

[Stephen Jones]

[Mr Gohlam]