Marnie Pearce - latest from Amnesty

[BizzieLizzie1]

www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=18171

but as foxy says: oil. all the moral chest-puffing in the world will deflate in the face of economic mayhem.

they get 'aid' in the form of military technology information - eg, send US pilots to train theirs in order to fly the aircraft the US military industrial complex sells them.

of course this 'aid' is a two way street because it gives their trainer pilots experience in flying in that environment and in that military theatre, it builds bonds between armed forces, that kind of thing.

this is just an example.

Wannabe -

"And even if she hadn't committed a crime (in dubai law) I thin that any woman marrying a man from a country where women are not equals, should do so in the knowledge that if things go wrong, there's a better than average chance they will lose the kids."

That it's a crime is why many people are supporting this case. Not only to help Marnie, but change these misognous laws. It's the least we can do here in the west with all our privledges.

Great point, Ballina.

It was international pressure that forced the government in Afghanistan to at least review that law that would have made women chattels of their husbands, unable to leave their homes without permission and forced to have sex every four days.

That story is truly horrifying.

However, I can understand why foreign governments have stood back and done nothing about it (including our own)

Because they know if they did they would be hypocrites. Of course thank god no crimes such as the one in the Guardian have gone unpunished. But other crimes that Joe Blogss on the street would have been punished heavily for "high profile" (MP's and footballers spring to mind) have frequently had little more than a slap on the wrist.

These double standards exist in our own country, all be in not on such a horrific scale, which is why it would be hypocritical to say to those other countries "look you have to treat everyone the same under your laws".

Obviously this is now straying a long way from what the thread is about - apologies.

Ballina, I understand and agree. However, if you give a man a fish you feed him for one day. you teach him to fish, you feed him forever.

publicity of her case is good in that it highlights the potential problem for all women in these states. but they may do one thing for her to let 'us' go away without ever intending to look at their statutes.

I don't think it even occurs to governments or politicians to care about hypocrisy. They do care about international relations and publicity.

now lets see if they can do the same for women in saudi where they are also chattels (but the balance of power is different between the two nations.)

And why has her closest supporter cut all ties?

this is straying a little away from the topic but any one ever wonder where the money for the loans are coming from? The one which our gov't and the US gov't borrows? Banks? Who banked the money? How much of it is actually oil money from those same repressive regimes?

I fear we are all chattels to these countries, one way or another.

Scary thought. But then again, I digress.

Privilege has nothing to do with it. Women in the West fought for their rights. Poor people fought for social justice. We have the country we fought for. Much like in India. The most desperate and underprivileged people fought for the country they wanted in the only way they could.

UAE has an exceptionally privileged population engaged in oppression. We can, as I say, cut ties, cut aid, at an official level, but that's pathetically unlikely.

FiveGoMadInDorset, where are you getting your evidence that Marnie's closest supporter has cut all ties? What exactly do you mean by that??

Here is the latest on Marnie's situation, according to the Sunday Mirror.

It would certainly appear that Marnie's campaigners have been successful thus far and that there is some light in the tunnel for Marnie and those little boys.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/04/25/jailed-dubai-mum-marnie-pearce-to-be-freed-by-pardon-to morrow-115875-21308231/

"publicity of her case is good in that it highlights the potential problem for all women in these states. but they may do one thing for her to let 'us' go away without ever intending to look at their statutes."

oh foxy - that's exactly what I was trying to say in my 1000 words of waffle

It was mentioned in the third post on this thread by someone who lives in Dubai.

"?And I want to thank the Sunday Mirror for helping to raise awareness of my case and keeping it in the public eye.?

But further down the thread it says:

"something's definitely afoot.
Here in Dubai, one of her closest supporters has suddenly cut all ties."

Iirc her closest supporter in Dubai was Sandy norman, and she has been constantly quoted in the press, and recently she hasn't, so this would lend some weight to the statement that she has cut ties with the campaign.

Begs the question as to why her closest supporter has cut all ties. It just sounds odd & leaves you wondering...

WEll there is nothing on the official site about this.

If, just if someone at Team Marnie has withdrawn, remember the place they are living in and what threats can be made to women. These women supporting Marnie in Dubai are treading a very thin line between becoming victimised by the sysyem themselves.

Wannabe, MrsMagoo, Sandy Norman and her team have led what would appear to be quite a successful campaign. There is very little evidence to suggest that she has cut any ties and I would seriously doubt it! Very little of Marnie's case is reported in Dubai anyway, as it is very restricted, so we would not expect to hear very much there.

To my knowledge, Sandy Norman was reported in the press as recently as Thursday to say that she is in direct contact with the authoriites in Dubai - and the message from their campaign team was that the handing in of the petition was suspended because of the developments and delicate discussions taking place in Dubai, so it probably isn't really surprising that she would not have been speaking to the press at this current time.

The important thing here is for Marnie and her children, is that according to the Sunday Mirror, Marnie is to be released today, that the deportation order has been lifted, and that she will now be able to remain in Dubai to fight her custody case. That's a result!!

There may have been "advice" from our end.

bloody hell, I hope the Mirror is right.

So, the husband apparently had an affair, yet it's Marnie who ends up in jail?

Yes, he did have an affair. With another western women apparently - herself married with 3 kids of her own

WTF does she think about what's happened to Marnie and the kids?

I think there is some very harsh judgement going on here.

The whole 'she knew the rules' agrument is a bit tough. I know the rules state that I shouldn't drive over 20 mph in my road but I still probably break it every day.

Personally I think Marnie probably WAS having an affair - but I still think ending up in prison and being told you won't see your kids until they are 18 is not reasonable punishment.

It's all very well and worthy to say that we should address the role of women in Islam as a whole - and, yes, we should - BUT individual cases, particuarly those involving westerners, will help to highlight the bigger picture.

I'm not for one moment saying Marnie deserved the punishment she is receiving, she certainly doesn't deserve to loose her babies, but what I am saying is surely she was aware that if she wasn't careful or acted in a way that was not acceptable out there that there would be repercussions & they could be severe?

Today's Mail on Sunday says she is to be released tomorrow?