January 22, 2004

PROHIBITED FOR ALL

Women ... you can't live with 'em, and you can't live with 'em. Ain't that the truth, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh?

Saudi Arabia's most senior Islamic cleric has condemned women who mingled unveiled among men at a business conference this week, saying their actions could cause "evil and catastrophe".

Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh, the grand mufti of the desert kingdom, made his comments after the country's top businesswoman called for reform and pictures of her supporters - without headscarves - appeared on newspaper front pages.

"Allowing women to mix with men is the root of every evil and catastrophe," he said. "It is highly punishable. Mixing of men and women is a reason for greater decadence and adultery.

"This is prohibited for all. I severely condemn this matter and warn of grave consequences."

In accordance with Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh’s wishes, Shani is presented here not mixing with men. Interestingly, this BBC report takes a considerably softer line on the Grand Super Ultra Mega Mufti; his threat is reduced to a mere "stern rebuke".

UPDATE. Er, it’s about the name ...

Prince Naif said women are more honored in Arab and Islamic societies than in the West. “In our society, we take care of them and provide them with all services,” he said. “At the Manpower Council, we deal with problems related to women with equality and justice,” he added.

You’d expect nothing less from the Manpower Council. Certain minor inequalities remain, however:

He said the ban on women driving was a social decision. “The evidence is that at the time of the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, some women tried to drive and this created a big social uproar. Many people opposed their action and there would have been a catastrophe if the government had not intervened.”

Imagine. They tried to drive.

Posted by Tim Blair at January 22, 2004 01:17 PM
Comments

I can see why the mufti is all upset! :p

BTW, that white bikini is a tad transparent, but I mean that in a good way.

Posted by: Cyber at January 22, 2004 at 01:38 PM

This is the opening of the approved Telegraph version:

Saudi Arabia's most senior Islamic cleric has condemned women who mingled unveiled among men at a business conference this week, saying their actions could cause "evil and catastrophe".

This is the opening of the evil BBC version:

Saudi Arabia's highest religious authority has issued a stern rebuke to women who appeared at a conference unveiled in the presence of men. Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul-Aziz al-Sheikh said the women's behaviour was shameful and warned of "grave consequences".

Thank goodness we've got Timmy here to detect and expose this sort of subversion! I would have missed it completely.

Posted by: Mork at January 22, 2004 at 01:44 PM

The Mufti, as quoted by the Telegraph:

"Allowing women to mix with men is the root of every evil and catastrophe. It is highly punishable. Mixing of men and women is a reason for greater decadence and adultery.

"This is prohibited for all. I severely condemn this matter and warn of grave consequences. I am pained by such shameful behaviour in the country of the two holy mosques.”

And by the BBC:

"I severely condemn this matter and warn of grave consequences.

"What is even more painful is that such outrageous behaviour should have happened in Saudi Arabia, the land of the two holy shrines."

You were saying, Mork?

Posted by: tim at January 22, 2004 at 01:59 PM

I was saying, Tim, that you are the only person in the world who is capable of detecting how the differences between the two articles add up to the BBC taking "a considerably softer line" than the Telegraph, so good luck to you!

Posted by: Mork at January 22, 2004 at 02:12 PM

Given the Mufti's admonition against women mingling with men, perhaps Andrew Sullivan could enlist the Grand Mufti in the campaign for gay marriage? Seems to be tailor-made, eh?

Posted by: Lewis at January 22, 2004 at 02:19 PM

If Tim Blair is the only person who can see how ripping all the inflammatory reactionary stone age cretinous stuff out of that and making Sheikh al-Frothi sound like the Rev. Ewan McGrumpley...

...and I also see it...

...Then logically I must be Tim Blair.

Posted by: Mike G at January 22, 2004 at 02:20 PM

Fuckin' Saudis . . . I can't wait until the Americans can hand Iraq over to the Iraqis, and get their military presence down to, oh, a few staging posts situated strategically near the borders with Syria, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Then they can get on with the real job of regime change in Saudi. On second thoughts, leave the fuckers in Riyadh - just grab the oil fields.

Posted by: steve at January 22, 2004 at 02:20 PM

...Then logically I must be Tim Blair.

Well, perhaps you are, MikeG.

But, as my mother used to say, it's nothing to be proud of!

Posted by: Mork at January 22, 2004 at 02:22 PM

"Allowing women to mix with men is the root of every evil and catastrophe,"

He's right you know. If it's got tits or tires it causes me nothing but problems.

Posted by: Arty at January 22, 2004 at 02:44 PM

I think the Ol' Mufti seems to have it about right! I recall in my youthful business career of having evil and decadent thoughts while mixing with particular unveiled women at business meetings. In fact, I also recall some evil and no small measure of catastrophe as a direct result thereof.

Posted by: Wallace at January 22, 2004 at 02:48 PM

Well, he does have the Hilary, Pelosi, and Dowd arguments.

Posted by: aaron at January 22, 2004 at 02:58 PM

Shani is one of the best pieces of political journalism I have seen for some time. I feel as if I could get very close to the position(s) that Shani so eloquantly argues ...

The true face of Australia, the image of her lips seems to convey a message to me - an urgent, must-be-done-now message ... I'm outa here guys

Posted by: Arik at January 22, 2004 at 03:19 PM

Bloody hell - a 'work' warning would have been nice Mr Blair. I had my PA looking over my shoulder when I opened that.

Posted by: Pig head Sucker at January 22, 2004 at 03:48 PM

This grand mufti is an old softy. Normally muftis demand that the men in attendance have their eyes plucked out for observing the women.

Posted by: perfectsense at January 22, 2004 at 03:48 PM

How does Shani get that orange thingy to stay precisely where it's needed. Allah be praised.

Posted by: GnuHunter at January 22, 2004 at 04:48 PM

I object to women mingling with explosives.

Posted by: Fred Boness at January 22, 2004 at 04:50 PM

How does Shani get that orange thingy to stay precisely where it's needed.

Garlic paste.

Posted by: Timothy Lang at January 22, 2004 at 05:05 PM

Speaking of names, I call that Prince perfectly appellated.

Posted by: Andrea Harris at January 22, 2004 at 08:16 PM

“The evidence is that at the time of the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, some women tried to drive and this created a big social uproar. Many people opposed their action and there would have been a catastrophe if the government had not intervened.”
You see, they don't BAN anything. They just restore order when a bunch of anonymous people make a fuss.
They don't want to destroy Israel either, but we wouldn't have such a BIG SOCIAL UPROAR if Israel didn't exist, right?

Posted by: Jacques Chirac at January 22, 2004 at 10:42 PM

Pigheaded Sucker -

What is a 'PA'?

Tim -

While I guessed that the link was not a good idea for us nun factory workers, a warning would be nice. E.g. "friendly, but not work-friendly."

Posted by: Bob71 at January 23, 2004 at 12:21 AM

Hey! We honor our women whether they like it or not.

Posted by: Sheikyh-yer-Booty at January 23, 2004 at 02:45 AM

These Arabs are so deep in the closet that if they were to kill all the homosexuals in Muslim countries they would start with the Muftis, Grand ones and all. What a bunch of backward, gynephobic neanderthals.

Posted by: hari at January 23, 2004 at 06:03 AM

Bob71

A PA is a Secretary (Personal Assistant). I don't know what they call themselves now, office managers I think.

Posted by: Pig head Sucker at January 23, 2004 at 08:07 AM

“The evidence is that at the time of the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, some women tried to drive and this created a big social uproar. Many people opposed their action and there would have been a catastrophe if the government had not intervened.”

And I thought the stuff about Saddam liberating Kuwait was a load of lies. I stand corrected.

On Tuesday, SBS showed "I met Osama". Some Saudi security person said that Osama offered to have jihadis expel Saddam from Kuwait, only to be turned down and have the Americans kick him out instead. Maybe Osama's just jealous of America.

Posted by: Andjam at January 23, 2004 at 10:28 AM

Look how oil money can spoil people and their thoughts. Strip the Arab countries of their oil and let them face the music. Most of them would have to work then 9-5 and even the women would have to work and sustaint their families. Let alone driving, cause with their educational qualifications they would not earn enough to purchase a basic car. They would not have some money to spare to fund Al-Qaeda or other extremists or keeping few more wives or many more girls at harem. They are living in a fools world having pathetic thoughts.

Posted by: Rezwan at January 24, 2004 at 06:36 PM

Are you saying that we should take all the oil away so they will be nicer, then? But then we will be corrupted by the evil oil! Ack! Quickly! To the solar powered moonbatmobile!

Posted by: Sortelli at January 24, 2004 at 06:51 PM