American businesswoman imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for going to Starbucks with unrelated male colleague

[Peikko 1,575]

Yara, who does not want her last name published for fear of retribution, was bruised and crying when she was freed from a day in prison after she was strip-searched, threatened and forced to sign false confessions by the Kingdom's “Mutaween” police.

Just a thought, but is it normal for this to be the treatment of un tried prisoners charged with this 'crime'? I realise that the human rights record of the Saudis is pretty ####### but still.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I don't have a problem with Starbucks itself. My issue is with the pretentiousness of the customers who tend to go there. It seems a lot of people just "hang out" at their local Starbucks in order to feel trendy and say: "Hey, look at me! I'm drinking my Super Whammy Double-Whipped Loco-Mocha Espresso with Caramelized Sugar Sprinkles!"

In a Venti-sized please.... LOL

Or the idiots that want a double-espresso BUT decaf cappuccino with NO FOAM.... Hey a-hole! Cappuccinos are 2/3 foam. If you don't like that, have a latte.

[kaydee457 13]

Yara, who does not want her last name published for fear of retribution, was bruised and crying when she was freed from a day in prison after she was strip-searched, threatened and forced to sign false confessions by the Kingdom's “Mutaween†police.

Just a thought, but is it normal for this to be the treatment of un tried prisoners charged with this 'crime'? I realise that the human rights record of the Saudis is pretty ####### but still.

I've never been jailed in Saudi but I remember reading a story about a woman in the UAE, a Brit, that was arrested whilst leaving the country, in the airport for having medicine prescribed to her by a U.K. doctor. The drug was codine, which is illegal in the UAE.

She was jailed for nearly three weeks, absent any rights to make calls, have legal representation until she was brought before a shria judge. So basically, once taken into custody you essentially are at their mercy.

I had a co-worker in the UAE that "disappeared" for about a week only to find out that he had gotten himself drunk and was transported to the nearest Police Station by the very taxi driver he hired to take him home!

Public drunkeness is not tolerated. He had a similar story; no phone calls, and no legal representation until brought before a judge. His wife was frantic over his disapearance!

Edited February 8, 2008 by kaydee457

[Fandango 1,439]

For Yara, it was a matter of convenience. But in Saudi Arabia, public contact between unrelated men and women is strictly prohibited.

I hate to say it but she should have understood the local customs, and if she didn't then she should have gone out of her way to do so.....particularly if you're on business trip....it sounds like she may be assigned to an office there?

Anyway, it's their country and I'm always amazed at how westeners, particularly Americans, are arrogant enough to believe that they have to be treated differently.

Unfortunately, they don't get treated differently as this woman found out!

As a writer, it frightens me that some people have reading comprehension skills as poor as yours.

I happen to agree with him...cept for the 'business trip' bit. She is residing there, and even though she is American, she is living in a foreign country and must abide by that country's laws. Harsh punishment? Absolutely. But it is what it is.

[PlatyPius 5]

Hell with her. She deserves it for being ignorant/flippant about their laws.

[kaydee457 13]

For Yara, it was a matter of convenience. But in Saudi Arabia, public contact between unrelated men and women is strictly prohibited.

I hate to say it but she should have understood the local customs, and if she didn't then she should have gone out of her way to do so.....particularly if you're on business trip....it sounds like she may be assigned to an office there?

Anyway, it's their country and I'm always amazed at how westeners, particularly Americans, are arrogant enough to believe that they have to be treated differently.

Unfortunately, they don't get treated differently as this woman found out!

As a writer, it frightens me that some people have reading comprehension skills as poor as yours.

I happen to agree with him...cept for the 'business trip' bit. She is residing there, and even though she is American, she is living in a foreign country and must abide by that country's laws. Harsh punishment? Absolutely. But it is what it is.

Where is it that we disagree?

[Fandango 1,439]

For Yara, it was a matter of convenience. But in Saudi Arabia, public contact between unrelated men and women is strictly prohibited.

I hate to say it but she should have understood the local customs, and if she didn't then she should have gone out of her way to do so.....particularly if you're on business trip....it sounds like she may be assigned to an office there?

Anyway, it's their country and I'm always amazed at how westeners, particularly Americans, are arrogant enough to believe that they have to be treated differently.

Unfortunately, they don't get treated differently as this woman found out!

As a writer, it frightens me that some people have reading comprehension skills as poor as yours.

I happen to agree with him...cept for the 'business trip' bit. She is residing there, and even though she is American, she is living in a foreign country and must abide by that country's laws. Harsh punishment? Absolutely. But it is what it is.

Where is it that we disagree?

From reading your post, it sounded like you thought she was on a biz trip there...nevermind, I see that I prolly misread!

[kaydee457 13]

For Yara, it was a matter of convenience. But in Saudi Arabia, public contact between unrelated men and women is strictly prohibited.

I hate to say it but she should have understood the local customs, and if she didn't then she should have gone out of her way to do so.....particularly if you're on business trip....it sounds like she may be assigned to an office there?

Anyway, it's their country and I'm always amazed at how westeners, particularly Americans, are arrogant enough to believe that they have to be treated differently.

Unfortunately, they don't get treated differently as this woman found out!

As a writer, it frightens me that some people have reading comprehension skills as poor as yours.

I happen to agree with him...cept for the 'business trip' bit. She is residing there, and even though she is American, she is living in a foreign country and must abide by that country's laws. Harsh punishment? Absolutely. But it is what it is.

Where is it that we disagree?

From reading your post, it sounded like you thought she was on a biz trip there...nevermind, I see that I prolly misread!

Well, you really need to polish your reading comprehension skills lest Alex+R, the self proclaimed "writer", will lambaste you for not getting it..

Edited February 8, 2008 by kaydee457

[Alex+R 0]

The point was that she lives there, so she's probably aware of the country's many customs. She's not some ignorant person on a business trip just because that gives you a reason to talk about having been there.

But mostly I'm just disgusted by your approval of law above anything else, even if it's really, really offensive law.

[Peikko 1,575]

Some people have a very low opinion of the concept of human rights...and not just in Saudi Arabia...I was about to put a very strange freudian slip in there.

[kaydee457 13]

The point was that she lives there, so she's probably aware of the country's many customs. She's not some ignorant person on a business trip just because that gives you a reason to talk about having been there.

But mostly I'm just disgusted by your approval of law above anything else, even if it's really, really offensive law.

Finally, the root of the argument....You're indignant over my acceptance of the laws in Saudi Arabia? Well, I'm not an advocate of shria law, but I'm old enough to understand that if you visit their country, IT'S their country and their laws!

Listen, Alex+R, welcome to the real world!

Let's hope that upon graduation you lock down a job that'll give you some real world perspective.....

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Strikes me that a country that imposes and enforces laws like that, probably doesn't do a very good job of investigating or prosecuting actual crimes.

In other words... you don't need to actually break the laws to find yourself under lock and key if all that's required as an indictment is rumour and innuendo.

Edited February 8, 2008 by Number 6

[Peikko 1,575]

I think the 'it's their country and their laws' argument is histerical. Colour me cynical.

[kaydee457 13]

I think the 'it's their country and their laws' argument is histerical. Colour me cynical.

LOL.... Not by any stretch of imagination, but nevertheless it's true- it's thier country!...........

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think the 'it's their country and their laws' argument is histerical. Colour me cynical.

Yep. And that statement cant' really stand without some sort of assumption that a country that imposes these laws is actually half-decent at the due process of law.

Hey its not like you actually need to have done something to wind up on the wrong side of the law in Saudi Arabia. Its one of the most racist countries going.