Saudi religious cops ban dog, cat sales

News Type: Event — Seeded on Sat Sep 9, 2006 2:39 PM EDT

Article Source: Yahoo! News

world-news, dogs, pets, dog, cats, cat, upsetting, decree, jiddah, i-love-animals

JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia's religious police, normally tasked with chiding women to cover themselves and ensuring men attend mosque prayers, are turning to a new target: cats and dogs.

The police have issued a decree banning the sale of the pets, seen as a sign of Western influence.

The prohibition on dogs may be less of a surprise, since conservative Muslims despise dogs as unclean. But the cat ban befuddled many, since Islamic tradition holds that the Prophet Muhammad loved cats — and even let a cat drink from his ablutions water before washing himself for prayers.

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9.8

{"commentId":284622,"authorDomain":"ansab"}

Ansab

With friends like Saudis, who needs enemies?

{"commentId":284622,"threadId":"41501","contentId":"356336","authorDomain":"ansab"}

3 votes

#1 - Sat Sep 9, 2006 2:45 PM EDT

{"commentId":284859,"authorDomain":"borys"}

Bozzor

If it wasn't for the oil, Saudi Arabia would have been invaded and its government toppled long ago. It's a mad country that does not recognize its own insanity.

{"commentId":284859,"threadId":"41501","contentId":"356336","authorDomain":"borys"}

2 votes

#2 - Sat Sep 9, 2006 7:13 PM EDT

{"commentId":285216,"authorDomain":"azzam"}

Azzam

Have u ever been to Saudi?

Personally i have been there several times and honestly it doesn't seem like a country built on "madness and insanity". I do recognize that some of the laws (eg. woman not being able to drive) seem a little out of place in today's world but they have adapted and although they have not changed the rules they do compensate for their inconvenience.

Just because some laws seem "insane or mad" to us doesn't mean they are. For example i heard of a law in Alabama that prohibits tying a giraffe's neck to a light post. I think that law is completely absurd but it was obviously made for a reason.

If you went there and experienced the culture a little bit more maybe you wouldn't be so quick to jump to such conclusions.

{"commentId":285216,"threadId":"41501","contentId":"356336","authorDomain":"azzam"}

4 votes

#2.1 - Sun Sep 10, 2006 2:45 AM EDT

{"commentId":285450,"authorDomain":"borys"}

Bozzor

Yes I have been to Saudi Arabia. I worked there for 8 months back in the 90s.

They cut people's hands of for theft - maybe not such a bad idea according to some, but a little extreme.
Women cannot drive OR vote. They are limited in many employment opportunities.
Christianity is forbidden. Bibles are not allowed in the country. Jews are not allowed inside at all.

And these SOBs have the hide to tell Americans to stop discriminating against Muslims in the US????!!! Excus me, but take a look in the mirrow before you look out the window.

{"commentId":285450,"threadId":"41501","contentId":"356336","authorDomain":"borys"}

1 vote

#3 - Sun Sep 10, 2006 11:06 AM EDT

{"commentId":285738,"authorDomain":"azzam"}

Azzam

I understand laws in Saudi Arabia can be a little extreme, but to the majority of the people living there, Christianity is not an issue. Our country is built on the fact that one is free to study any religion they choose, and have equal job opportunities (most of the time), and women receive equal rights. That's why we pride ourselves on being the "greatest country" in the world. Other countries, however, are not built in such a fashion. A lot of countries today have a religion that is followed by the majority of the people and still do not have many women's rights laws. The lifestyle in Saudi Arabia is completely different than that of ours and cannot be compared (don't compare apples to oranges).

If Saudi wants to tell Americans to stop discriminating against Muslims why cant they? Will it happen? Probably not. Just like if we tell Saudi to change their laws and stop discrimination against Americans. Will it happen? I doubt it. But since we value and appreciate the idea of free speech so very much they have every right to say what they please.

Disagreement does not make one better or worse than someone else.

{"commentId":285738,"threadId":"41501","contentId":"356336","authorDomain":"azzam"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Sun Sep 10, 2006 4:12 PM EDT

{"commentId":285878,"authorDomain":"borys"}

Bozzor

"...but to the majority of people living there. Christianity is not an issue."

OK, then in the US, we can round up around a few hundred thousand Muslims and lock some up and expel the rest. After all, they're not the majority of Americans and not he majority of Muslims, but they are the ones judged as extreme and ones who need to be removed. That's OK. Then, we may as well lock up all Russians, because they're all running some scam. After all, as long as you're a white, Christian, heterosexual, middle class American, you have the right to eliminate all other groups. Why can you? Well, because thew Saudis can do it and not bat an eyelid.

Saudi Arabia should shut up and let Danish newspapers publish any cartoons they wish. It is a hypocritical country, one that is locked in a time warp that is simply stagnating it.

And wow, why not let the Israelis simply declare the Islam is illegal there and expel them all? Most people in Israel would not mind. Let them do that. They can then be just like Saudi Arabia...

{"commentId":285878,"threadId":"41501","contentId":"356336","authorDomain":"borys"}

2 votes

#4 - Sun Sep 10, 2006 6:50 PM EDT

{"commentId":285998,"authorDomain":"azzam"}

Azzam

I didn't imply that since Christianity is a minority that Saudi Arabia attack them and i don't really think they attack them now. And no matter what Saudi Arabia says, people cannot ban a belief system. Christianity (or any other religion or belief) cannot be "forbidden" from a country. One might say it is, but in reality, its not. If someone has the will to follow the beliefs of Christianity, they will, no matter what others say. Ideals cannot be silenced or destroyed.

we can round up around a few hundred thousand Muslims and lock some up and expel the rest.

I'm pretty sure this has and still does happen (on a smaller scale but the same concept none the less)

Saudi Arabia should shut up and let Danish newspapers publish any cartoons they wish. It is a hypocritical country, one that is locked in a time warp that is simply stagnating it.

It wasn't just Saudi Arabia that protested those cartoons, the majority of the world-wide Muslim population felt some offence by those cartoons. How is Saudi any more hypocritical than every other country on earth. At least Saudi doesn't claim "you have your freedom" and then find subtle yet impacting ways to limit said freedoms. Since you seem to continually jump to conclusions I should say that I'm not "anti-american". I very much appreciate the foundations and benefits of living in America. However, Saudi Arabia doesn't try to hide the ways it operates and manages everyday life. If you choose to move to Saudi Arabia, you probably know full well how the Saudi government will affect you and how they run themselves.

Too me it seems you just have a rash, un-insightful view of the nation as a whole.

{"commentId":285998,"threadId":"41501","contentId":"356336","authorDomain":"azzam"}

3 votes

#4.1 - Sun Sep 10, 2006 9:24 PM EDT

{"commentId":286165,"authorDomain":"borys"}

Bozzor

LOL! I have a very realistic view of Saudi Arabia. Have a read of www.arabnews.com and see how the government thinks.

Saudi Arabia does not attack Christians??? They do. Vehemently. Christians are not allowed churches, they are persecuted there, tortured even. Ideals cannot be silenced, but publicly stating them can result in harsh treatment.

America rounding up Muslims? Maybe a few hundred who have strongly suspected terrorist connections. But Muslims can, in New York city, protest against America and say that America will be conveted. Try seeing what happens to an American evangelist who does the same in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia is a country that simply is tolerated because of its oil. But the way women are treated, the way Christians are treated, is shocking and must be changed.

{"commentId":286165,"threadId":"41501","contentId":"356336","authorDomain":"borys"}

1 vote

#5 - Sun Sep 10, 2006 11:35 PM EDT

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Saudi Religious Cops Ban Dog, Cat Sales	Associated Press	Fri Sep 8	4
Ban on Pet Cats and Dogs in Saudi Arabia, Police to Enforce	FOXNews.com	Sat Sep 9	1
Saudi religious police outlaw cat, dog sales	The Washington Times	Sat Sep 9	1

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