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johnslat · Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 3:03 pm Post subject: Theocracy

One of the possible side-effects of living/working in a theocracy:

"Australian sentenced to 500 lashes in Saudi Arabia
(AP) � 9 hours ago
SYDNEY (AP) � An Australian man has been sentenced to 500 lashes and a year in a Saudi Arabian jail after being convicted of blasphemy, officials said Wednesday.
The 45-year-old man, identified by family members as Mansor Almaribe of southern Victoria state, was detained in the holy city of Medina last month while making the Muslim pilgrimage of hajj. Family members told Australian media that Saudi officials accused him of insulting the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, a violation of Saudi Arabia's strict blasphemy laws.
Australia's ambassador in Saudi Arabia has contacted Saudi authorities in a bid for leniency, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. Consular officials are providing support for the man and his family in Australia.
"The Australian government is universally opposed to corporal punishment," the department said in a statement.
Almaribe was convicted of blasphemy on Tuesday and initially sentenced to two years in jail and 500 lashes. The court later reduced his jail sentence.
Almaribe's son Jamal told The Age newspaper that his father was reading and praying as part of a group when he was arrested.
Almaribe's son Mohammed said he feared for his father's well-being. "Five hundred slashes on his back, and he has back problems. I wouldn't think he'd survive 50," he told Australian Broadcasting Corp."

BretHarte · Joined: 17 Aug 2011 Posts: 94

The article I read identified him as Shi'ite. No doubt he's an Iranian spy. I wonder what went on. I doubt he was reading and praying as his son says. Maybe they thought he was smuggling dropbears.

johnslat · Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 3:58 pm Post subject:

Dear BretHarte,

"No doubt he's an Iranian spy." Tongue-in-cheek, right?

We REALLY need an irony button.

Regards,
John

BretHarte · Joined: 17 Aug 2011 Posts: 94

Yeah, he probably is Mossad.

posh · Joined: 22 Oct 2010 Posts: 430

2buckets · Joined: 14 Dec 2010 Posts: 515 Location: Middle East

Sometimes "lashes" means light taps with a pencil.

johnslat · Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 9:39 pm Post subject:

Dear 2buckets,

And sometimes it means short curved hairs growing on the edges of the eyelids, serving to protect the eyes from dust particles.

However, given the context, I suspect that's not the appropriate definition, either,

Regards,
John

2buckets · Joined: 14 Dec 2010 Posts: 515 Location: Middle East

I knew someone who got 50 lashes, and it was as I described; light taps with a pencil. It was more of an exercise in humiliation than a real corporal (sic) punishment episode.

With Malice Toward None · Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 250

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