Ridiculous Saudi Arabia...

I am sure all of you remember the story not too long ago about the American woman arrested in Saudi Arabia at a Starbucks by the Mutaween. The Mutaween are the Saudi religious police controlled by the Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (CPVPV). This particular woman, Yara, is a managing partner in a financial firm and was having coffee with a colleague at Starbucks. It was widely reported that she was arrested, strip searched, forced to sign confessions, and told by the judge that she would burn in hell. Well, in light of the outrage that erupted within the kingdom and around the world the Mutaween have spoken up to explain the situation. The statement was reported to have contained the following:

"It's not allowed for any woman to travel alone and sit with a strange man and talk and laugh and drink coffee together like they are married, all of these are against the law and it's clear it's against the law. First, for a woman to work with men is against the law and against religion. Second, the family sections at coffee shops and restaurants are meant for families and close relatives." The statement also stated that the version of events, as reported, were incorrect, basically denying that she was strip-searched or forced into any confessions. The statement also accused her of wearing makeup, not covering her hair and "moving around suspiciously" while sitting with her colleague.

I have to seriously question the sanity of the Saudi officials who are in charge of the CPVPV. Do they actually think they are helping their case by saying that it is against the law for a woman and man to "sit and talk and laugh and drink coffee together like they are married" and that it is against the law for a woman to work with men and that it is against Islam. I suppose, by this same logic, two men talking, laughing, and drinking coffee together in Saudi Arabia are probably gay lovers who are secretly married? Saudi Arabia is there something we should now?

It is absolutely asinine for a Muslim country to display such intolerance when Muslims around the world are screaming that they are discriminated against in other countries. Per the Saudi information website:

"It is the fundamental assumption of the polity of Saudi Arabia that the Holy Qur'an is more suitable for Saudi Muslims than any secular constitution. This assumption must be viewed in the context of a nation which is completely Islamic. Hence, no churches, synagogues, temples or shrines of other religions exist. No proselytizing by other faiths is allowed. The entire Saudi population is Muslim; the only non-Muslims in the country are expatriates engaged in diplomacy, technical assistance or international commerce."

So, we are talking about a country that doesn't even allow other religions to freely practice. My parents lived in Saudi Arabia for several years and despite the fact that they were there in an official capacity for the United States of America my mom was still worried that her Christian books and such would not make it through Saudi customs. Yet, Muslims around the world want to ensure that their right to practice Islam is not impinged upon. How about some reciprocity? I think it would be great if Saudi Arabia allowed Christianity to come into their country. Hey, if they are so sure that Islam is the only true religion, I am sure they wouldn't mind Ravi Zacharias to come hold a few question and answer sessions in the kingdom. I have a feeling Ravi Zacharias would be the living embodiment of all that the CPVPV fears.

One need not look far to see the absolutely lunacy of Muslims today. How about the fact that Muslims around the world protested a few cartoons featuring "the prophet Muhammad". While some clerics took it a step towards "crazy" and issued fatwas calling for the death of the cartoonist. I don't know about you but this doesn't sound like behavior of people following a religion of tolerance to me.

I think Saudi Arabia and Islam is in serious trouble. When a country and a religion are ruled by naive and intolerant individuals, only trouble can follow. I am all for religious freedom in the United States, but I honestly believe Islam and especially radical Islam poses a clear and present danger to the very freedoms that we currently enjoy in the United States. Now I am not worried about the United States being taken over by Muslims...let's be honest that just isn't going to fly in the US of A. As long as some tough American men still have their guns no one is going to take over the United States and certainly Muhammad is never going to be on the back of a U.S. dollar. But, I do think that the spread of Islam is a serious concern to our interests around the world and we need to be extremly vigilant about what is going on in the world of Islam and in Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia.

Bottom-line if Saudi Arabia wants to arrest men and women for having a coffee together then I think it is about time that the American government and American businesses take some action. I personally think Starbucks should pull completely out of the kingdom and the U.S. government should seriously consider what we are doing for Saudi Arabia. If we are all about promoting freedom and democracy around the world - then we should start with Saudi Arabia.