To think it is time we took diplomatic measures re Saudi (UPSETTING)

[ArsenicFaceCream]

Apologies in advance if there is already a thread somewhere, I'm a bit surprised I can't find one)

I have just read an account of the beheading yesterday in Saudi Arabia.

The executed woman was beheaded with a sword.

She had been convicted of sexually abusing and murdering her stepdaughter (7 yr old).

She was Burmese but an SA resident.

Saudi authorities opted not to use painkillers/anaesthetic for this beheading, although it is sometimes used.

It took three strokes of the sword to accomplish the task as four policemen held her down.

She struggled and repeatedly screamed "I did not kill" until the end.

WHY are we dealing with these people?

And yes of course the us has due process - due process which is far more likely to find you guilty if you are black, poor or mentally I'll. A veneer of respectability does not mean cruel and unusual doesn't happen. And then none of that applies if you are in several categories of prisoner - Guantanamo being another sad indictment.

all that is bad. and many people (not the govt in the UK) have criticized the US for it, not least a lot of americans have. Much of the criticism of the US is by americans. For all it's faults, america has the best protections for freedom of speech.

in contrast, do you know the punishment for criticizing the Saudi regime is? Death. It's also death for drug dealing, drug possession, rape, murder, sorcery, apostasy, homosexuality, sodomy, blasphemy, witchcraft and banditry. there is actually a pretty big list. let's not forget that executions there are public. and if your crime is bad enough, they take your decapitated corpse and crucify it. in public.

perspective.

The house of Saud are a bunch of bastards.

Comparing saudi and the US is just ludicrous.

I can see RJ's point re Saudi and the U.S.

Saudi is of course a much more extreme regime but the U.S. isn't exactly a model country. Those stats on the number of executions in 2013 are interesting, but how many are awaiting execution on death row?

Are we going to be trying to free the citizens of North Korea any time soon?

I just think some people - liberals - will do anything to have a pop at the US. Yes the country is far from perfect but saudi is on a completely different scale. (though i suspect RJ actually knows that).

UK governments have grovelled to super-wealthy ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia since at least 1980: anyone remember the craven apology by Maggie's Foreign Secretary about the "Death of a (Saudi) Princess" TV documentary ?

The ruling elites of the USA and Saudi Arabia are united in greed - e.g. the Bush & Saudi royal families.

Saudi Arabia has:
. "Crimes" such as apostasy, advocating secularism, criticising clerics or the monarchy, adultery, homosexuality, women driving cars .....
. BARBARIC punishments like flogging , beheadings where they hack away at the fleeing victim

And
. Tortures its Shia Muslim minority Islam Times
. Their legal system treats "guest workers" particularly harshly, but rarely punishes Saudis who rape or torture their immigrant servants
. Is the largest source of funding for Wahhabi terrorist groups and is exterminating other forms of Islam, e.g. Guardian

oil

"Saudi Arabia

Their ambassador marched in France on the Charlie Hebdo March.

At the same time, Raif was receiving 50 lashes - only 950 to go and 10 years in jail for starting a website on secularism."

Maybe the Saudi ambassador was marching as an individual. A different group of saudis sentenced Raif to the 1000 lashes and 10 years in jail.

It is important to judge any human being on their merits as an individual.

What really gets to me is that not only is it immoral, it is also extremely stupid.

We are losing the battle for the hearts and minds of the muslim community, and our insistence on supporting the house of Saud is a not insignificant factor in it.

Not to mention the fact that they are busy spreading havoc around the middle east and financing all sorts of extremist organisations.

And the cost of that is very well recognised.

So we continue to work against our own selfish best interest, short, medium and long term.

Sometimes I think the extinction of the human race is inevitable, and that it will serve us right. :(

Saudi is currently building a wall to keep ISIS out, they are also enlisting Imams (sp) to be very clear on the interpretation of Islam is not in line with its true meaning.

They are bombing Isis as well and in the fight against them.

Can all those calling the US just as bad really say hand on heart that they would not be more frightened of facing Saudi justice versus the US ?

I would much rather face US justice.

• who no doubt is highly embarrassed about all the protest and criticism that has been going on around the world. Its a start although by no means is a positive outcome guaranteed.

Indeed and with ISIS wanting MECCA, their biggest target, they need our support and the US support.

Maybe it is a good time to call them up on abuses as for once - they need us too, as well as we need them for oil?

Yes of course Kim its a totally hypocritical situation but ISIS are the big threat right now globally, and saudi is a muslim country who also wants to stop them.

The case of the man sentenced to repeated lashings very much on my mind. It is difficult to feel impotent in these sorts of situations. Agree we shouldn't be trading with a country with this sort of régime. Its no surprise sometimes when we take a strong stand with some issues and turn a blind eye to others. Often linked to our own country's economic advantage.

Hmm, well there's a lot of evidence that the Saudis are funding ISIS. Islamist terrorism has long been interlinked with Saudi money.
Where were the 9/11 hijackers mostly from too?

It's sad that after living half of my life in Saudi Arabia, these things do not surprise me. Outside of ex-pat life, which is primarily safe, it is a cruel and unforgiving place. Every week things like this go on, usual on a Friday, and crowed gather to watch every single Friday. This place is not for any kind of westerner, its is corrupt and is so at its core.