Government out of control?

[pgg]

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In regards to being forced into marriage, that's a big misconception that many anti-Islam individual use to attack my religion and culture. Under Islamic law, no woman can be forced into marriage.

For something forbidden by Islamic law, it sure happens a lot in that part of the world. Or perhaps "consent" means something different to a teenage girl who's married off / sold for a dowry.

 

[Postictal Raiden]

For something forbidden by Islamic law, it sure happens a lot in that part of the world. Or perhaps "consent" means something different to a teenage girl who's married off / sold for a dowry.

I agree. However, that's not as frequent as the incidents of domestic abuse and racism that take place in a country that calls for equality and human rights.

 

[shopsteward]

I'm not going to address the bold part of your post because it is pure ignorance and I, being a Saudi citizen, find it very offensive.

Perhaps I should rephrase. My understanding is that women in Islam need to cover up because otherwise men would be attracted to them when they saw them. And this attraction would be sufficiently strong that it would be unfair to the man who was attracted. Or, alternatively, it would be unfair to the man to whom the woman "belonged" if other men were attracted to his women.

In other words, the basis of the requirement for women to cover up is a religion and/or a culture which is based in the idea that men do not have control over their sexual desires. Of course, the proper answer to this is that, as it is entirely a male problem, a male solution is required. So instead of women having to cover up in public, the men who have a problem should blindfold themselves when out in public. Problem solved.

 

[deleted126335]

Perhaps, what I was trying to say was that, despite all the freedoms we enjoy here in America, there are several aspects of our laws and norms that cater for Christian citizens only.

The point I want to bring across is that people, regardless of their backgrounds, must abide to the law of the land. Just like paying taxes, residents of the U.S. have to pay them even if it conflicts with their principles or religious beliefs. There are over 8 million foreign workers in Saudi Arabia. I'm sure a good number of them are not able to practice their full "God given rights". However, they are more than welcome to return to where they came from and open more job opportunities to the Saudi citizens. I find it very hypocritical to see some of these foreign citizens complain and show discontent with the Saudi and Islamic laws, yet they are enjoying the bounties that their own countries didn't provide them with.

That is a completely valid point. But it is plainly inaccurate to imply that Saudi Arabia is nearly as tolerant to other (non-muslim) faiths and cultural norms as the US is to non-Christian faiths and cultural norms. Discrimination based on religion has virtually been banished from our laws and institutions. Not from individual hearts and minds though.

 

[Ronin786]

That is a completely valid point. But it is plainly inaccurate to imply that Saudi Arabia is nearly as tolerant to other (non-muslim) faiths and cultural norms as the US is to non-Christian faiths and cultural norms. Discrimination based on religion has virtually been banished from our laws and institutions. Not from individual hearts and minds though.

Comparing Saudi Arabia to the US isn't a very good comparison, since the US doesn't hold any sort of religious standing in any religion. The Vatican is a more apt comparison, and Christians in Saudi Arabia, an extremely small % consisting of ex-pats at most, are free to do what they please in their own living areas.

I don't defend much of what Saudi Arabia does, but I think claiming religious intolerance isn't fair without realizing that probably 99% of the country are Muslim and the area holds a very holy significance in Islam.

 

[deleted126335]

Comparing Saudi Arabia to the US isn't a very good comparison, since the US doesn't hold any sort of religious standing in any religion. The Vatican is a more apt comparison, and Christians in Saudi Arabia, an extremely small % consisting of ex-pats at most, are free to do what they please in their own living areas.

I don't defend much of what Saudi Arabia does, but I think claiming religious intolerance isn't fair without realizing that probably 99% of the country are Muslim and the area holds a very holy significance in Islam.

They didn't get to be 99% muslim by being a model of tolerance towards other religions.