Saudi king pardons rape victim

[GaryC 7]

By ABDULLAH SHIHRI, Associated Press Writer 18 minutes ago

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - A gang-rape victim who was sentenced to six months in prison and 200 lashes for being alone with a man not related to her was pardoned by the Saudi king after the case sparked rare criticism from the United States, the kingdom's top ally.

Outrage over the sentence prompted unusually strong comments from President Bush, who said that if the same thing had happened to one of his daughters, he would be "angry" at a government that didn't protect the victim. The White House called the sentence "outrageous."

In past weeks, Saudi officials have bristled at the criticism of what they consider an internal affair — but also appeared wary of hurting their image in the United States.

Bush's National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the White House thinks the Saudi king "he made the right decision" by pardoning the woman.

With the pardon, King Abdullah appeared to be aiming at relieving the pressure from the United States without being seen to criticize Saudi Arabia's conservative legal system, a stronghold of powerful clerics adhering to the strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islam.

Justice Minister Abdullah bin Mohammed al-Sheik said the pardon reported by Saudi media Monday does not mean the king doubted the country's judges, but that he was acting in the "interests of the people."

"The king always looks into alleviating the suffering of the citizens when he becomes sure that these verdicts will leave psychological effects on the convicted people, though he is convinced and sure that the verdicts were fair," al-Sheik said, according to the Al-Jazirah newspaper.

"Certainly, we're pleased that that action occurred," State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said. "I think everyone was rather astonished by the initial verdict and I hope this puts this case to rest. We're glad that this particular case has been dealt with and that the king has taken the actions that he has."

The victim — known only as the "Girl of Qatif" after her hometown in eastern Saudi Arabia — was in a car with a man in 2006 when they were attacked and raped by seven men.

She was initially sentenced in November 2006 to several months in prison and 90 lashes for being alone in a car with a man with whom she was neither related nor married, a violation of the kingdom's strict segregation of the sexes.

The woman, who was 19 at the time of the rape, has said she met the man to retrieve a picture of herself from him because she had recently married.

The seven men who were convicted of raping both the girl and the man were initially sentenced to jail terms from 10 months to five years. Their sentences were increased to between two and nine years after the appeal.

The case sparked increased international outcry recently after the court more than doubled the sentence last month to 200 lashes and six months prison in response to her appeal. Joining the U.S. criticism, Canada called the ruling barbaric.

Earlier this month, Bush expressed his anger over the sentencing.

"My first thoughts were these," Bush said. "What happens if this happens to my daughter? How would I react? And I would have been — I'd of been very emotional, of course. I'd have been angry at those who committed the crime. And I'd be angry at a state that didn't support the victim."

The controversy erupted as the United States was trying to ensure Saudi Arabia's participation in the November Mideast peace conference in Annapolis, Md. — which the kingdom attended.

In the U.S. ahead of the conference, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal was visibly irritated when he was asked about the case by journalists. He said that the storm being raised over it was outrageous, but also promised the sentence would be reviewed.

The kingdom's Justice Ministry has defended the sentence, saying the girl was having an illicit affair with the man.

Al-Sheik said Abdullah was the only official who could issue a pardon, and he did so despite the government's view that the Saudi legal system was "honest" and "fair."

"The king's order consolidates and confirms what is known about the Islamic courts," al-Sheik told Al-Jazirah. "Efficient judges look into different cases and issue their just verdicts and those convicted have the right to appeal."

Attempts to reach the woman's lawyer by telephone went unanswered Monday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071217/ap_on_...t5VqJlU8k.s0NUE

[Nagishkaw 510]

That was awfully nice of him.

[almaty 19]

i agree..that chopf##k only did it cause of international bad PR....if it was suzie abdul from a small villages..she be getting strapped right now

[Ban Hammer 13,360]

That was awfully nice of him.

agreed

[Caladan 19]

We need to stop being allies with lunatic theocracies. Because ten bucks says this gets played as appeasing the West and shari'a continues as usual with no real reform.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

We need to stop being allies with lunatic theocracies.

I disagree. Saudis have oil and our access to oil is a helluva lot more vital than some loser Saudi chicks right to not be raped.

[almaty 19]

We need to stop being allies with lunatic theocracies.

I disagree. Saudis have oil and our access to oil is a helluva lot more vital than some loser Saudi chicks right to not be raped.

...thank you mr. empathy

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

We need to stop being allies with lunatic theocracies.

I disagree. Saudis have oil and our access to oil is a helluva lot more vital than some loser Saudi chicks right to not be raped.

...thank you mr. empathy

I can't fill my gas tank with empathy. Empathy isn't gonna get me to work every day.

[almaty 19]

We need to stop being allies with lunatic theocracies.

I disagree. Saudis have oil and our access to oil is a helluva lot more vital than some loser Saudi chicks right to not be raped.

...thank you mr. empathy

I can't fill my gas tank with empathy. Empathy isn't gonna get me to work every day.

lol.. i agree with that...and i have no issue with USA being friends with whoever, serves the national interest..

[Ban Hammer 13,360]

We need to stop being allies with lunatic theocracies.

I disagree. Saudis have oil and our access to oil is a helluva lot more vital than some loser Saudi chicks right to not be raped.

...thank you mr. empathy

I can't fill my gas tank with empathy. Empathy isn't gonna get me to work every day.

you'll never make it as a true liberal

[Caladan 19]

We need to stop being allies with lunatic theocracies.

I disagree. Saudis have oil and our access to oil is a helluva lot more vital than some loser Saudi chicks right to not be raped.

Not having an 'ally' be the main supporter of radical Islam is a helluva lot more vital than our need to drive big cars. We should be pushing for energy independence so we can tell them to piss off.

[GaryC 7]

We need to stop being allies with lunatic theocracies.

I disagree. Saudis have oil and our access to oil is a helluva lot more vital than some loser Saudi chicks right to not be raped.

...thank you mr. empathy

I can't fill my gas tank with empathy. Empathy isn't gonna get me to work every day.

Instead of all the BS energy bills the government tries to shove down our throats they should push for this. Then we can tell the entire middle east to kiss our butts.

Fuel-Cell Vehicles

fuel cell engineA fuel cell produces electricity directly from the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. The only byproduct is water. A fuel-cell vehicle utilizes the electricity produced by the fuel cell to power motors at the vehicle's wheels. Fuel-cell vehicles are similar to battery-electric vehicles in that they are powered by electricity, but they do not have to be recharged like battery vehicles. Fuel-cell vehicles have onboard storage tanks that could be filled at hydrogen filling stations, similar to gasoline vehicle refueling.

What Are the Pros and Cons?

Air pollution.

Vehicles that run on pure hydrogen are true zero-emission vehicles. Some vehicle manufactures, however, are developing fuel-cell vehicles that can run on hydrocarbons, such as methanol (a liquid fuel derived most commonly from natural gas) or gasoline. Using hydrocarbons to operate fuel-cell vehicles would result in tailpipe air pollutant emissions, reducing fuel cells' overall environmental benefits.

Global-warming pollution.

Run on pure hydrogen, fuel cells consume no fossil fuels and emit no heat-trapping gases (which contribute to global warming). However, it is extremely important to factor in any global warming emissions associated with the production of hydrogen. Pure hydrogen gas does not occur in nature in concentrated amounts, meaning that hydrogen must be produced. A number of various technologies exist to extract hydrogen from sources such as water, natural gas, coal, and biomass, among others. The different hydrogen sources and production methods determine the amount of heat-trapping gases and other environmental issues associated with hydrogen production. Advances in hydrogen production are needed to minimize and eliminate global warming emissions. Research needs to continue on producing hydrogen from renewable resources, including wind and solar power and more advanced technologies.

Cost.

Today’s fuel-cell vehicles are mostly produced as prototypes or in very small quantities. As mass production often correllates to cost competitiveness, current costs are quite high. But the interest of automakers worldwide in developing these vehicles signals their belief that fuel cells will be competitive with conventional-technology vehicles. Increasing experience with advanced hybrid-electric vehicle technology and production will help lower the cost of future fuel-cell vehicles. Hybrid-electric vehicles use electric motors and advanced battery technology, both of which will be beneficial in fuel-cell vehicle development.

Performance and range.

As with other electric-drive vehicles, fuel-cell cars are quiet, smooth, and fun to drive. A remaining challenge for fuel-cell vehicle developers is storing hydrogen onboard the vehicle. Because hydrogen is a gas, as opposed to a liquid fuel, a larger volume of it is needed to travel the same distance as with a tank of gasoline. A number of hydrogen storage technologies are being pursued to provide fuel-cell vehicles with a driving range equivalent to today’s cars.

Market Availability.

Fuel cells have moved remarkably quickly from laboratory to road. Fuel-cell transit bus demonstration projects were completed in both Chicago and Vancouver, and similar demonstrations are occurring in various cities boty nationwide and around the globe. In California, automakers, fuel companies, and government agencies are working in partnership to test fuel-cell vehicle technology and are expected to produce more than 60 demonstration vehicles over the next few years. Also, the California ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle) Program will require auto manufacturers to sell increasing numbers of zero- emission vehicles over the next decade, further encouraging the development of fuel-cell vehicles. Still, a number of durability, performance, and cost issues must be overcome before fuel-cell vehicles are ready for mass production. Most of the major automakers have stated their intention to begin selling fuel-cell passenger vehicles by the end of the decade.

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/cars_...l-vehicles.html

Edited December 17, 2007 by GaryC

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

We need to stop being allies with lunatic theocracies.

I disagree. Saudis have oil and our access to oil is a helluva lot more vital than some loser Saudi chicks right to not be raped.

Not having an 'ally' be the main supporter of radical Islam is a helluva lot more vital than our need to drive big cars. We should be pushing for energy independence so we can tell them to piss off.

Energy independence? I'm all for it. Think it'll happen tomorrow?

No? Then let's stay friends till it does.

We need to stop being allies with lunatic theocracies.

I disagree. Saudis have oil and our access to oil is a helluva lot more vital than some loser Saudi chicks right to not be raped.

...thank you mr. empathy

I can't fill my gas tank with empathy. Empathy isn't gonna get me to work every day.

you'll never make it as a true liberal

I have no home I love oil and illegal immigrants.

[Caladan 19]

"Friends till it does" implies "we're working towards it." I'd like to see more of the latter, like a man-on-the-moon-by-the-end-of-this-decade kind of project.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

"Friends till it does" implies "we're working towards it." I'd like to see more of the latter, like a man-on-the-moon-by-the-end-of-this-decade kind of project.

I agree, I would like to see that as well