Saudi Arabia
The Sydney Morning Herald recently published a story about Saudi Arabia. It wasn’t about oil or the desert but was about cats and dogs. Saudi Arabia’ religious police in Riyadh, the capital city, have banned the selling of cats and dogs as well as banning exercising them in public. The reason…..men are using them to make passes at women which disturbs families.
There are approximately 5000 religious police or clerical police in Saudi Arabia and they are also known as the Mutaween. The role of the Mutaween is to enforce the ancient religious laws.
They have the power to arrest unrelated males and females caught socializing or arrest anyone engaged in homosexual behaviour or prostitution. They enforce Islamic dress-codes and store closures during the prayer time. They enforce Muslim dietary laws and seize banned consumer products.
It seems extreme to be sending notice to shop owners that no cats or dogs can be sold leaving children and families without pets. All of it is being done in the name of religion.
The practice of any religion other than Islam is forbidden in Saudi Arabia. Meetings held privately in people’s homes, among friends, are also banned.
August 02 2008 02:45 pm | General Religion
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