These two news stories are just too "Orwellian" . . . the oppression and rigid control of the Party, which prohibits free thought, sex, and any expression of individuality. Creepy. Fundamentalists of all sorts cannot be allowed to gain control of free, secular governments. That is why we as atheists must be ever vigilant.KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A Malaysian state plans to recruit "spies" from the public to snoop on unmarried lovers and report them to Islamic religious authorities, a newspaper said Tuesday.It's not only Malaysia, Saudi Arabia has "religious police" to keep people in line even if they are not Muslim:
The Terengganu state government plans to enlist the part-time spies to look out for un-Islamic behavior, such as unmarried couples kissing or holding hands, the Star daily said."Some of these 'spies' could be waitresses or even janitors at hotels acting as auxiliary undercover agents for our religious department," the head of the state government's Islamic and welfare committee, Rosol Wahid, was quoted as saying.
"Accurate details are required for the enforcement officers to act, otherwise they could be pouncing on married couples."
Last October, religious police in another part of this mainly Muslim country caused an outcry when they mistakenly raided the rented holiday apartment of a Christian American couple on suspicion that they were unmarried Muslims in "close proximity."
20 face lash, prison for dancing in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - A Saudi Arabian judge sentenced 20 foreigners to receive lashes and spend several months in prison after convicting them of attending a party where alcohol was served and men and women danced, a newspaper reported Sunday.
(snip)
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which it bans alcohol and meetings between unrelated men and women.The religious police, a force resented by many Saudis for interfering in personal lives, enjoys wide powers. Its officers roam malls, markets, universities and other public places looking for such infractions as unrelated men and women mingling, men skipping Islam's five daily prayers and women with strands of hair showing from under their veil.
*shiver*
9 comments:
RE: "Islamic spies to snoop on lovers"
Obviously I see this as appalling, but what I also consider quite frigntening is the fact that "the christian religious gestapo" wouldn't be above doing the same thing.
State and Religion must be seperated they cannot be allowed to interact or we get this kind of behaviour!
beepbeepitsme:
Not only would the "christian gestapo" not be above such nefarious tyranny, but, such individuals as Falwell and Robertson have effectively claimed that, when Christian fundamentalists obtain an American theocracy, such policies will be pursued. Which, when one juxtaposes such policy with their call for the assassination of political leaders they disagree with, is one of the more mild components of their monstrous agenda.
The 'Love Police'? I just roll my eyes at the ceiling.
Radical Islam (hell, radical ANYTHING) is just wackadoofery.
BBIM's right, though:
Obviously I see this as appalling, but what I also consider quite frigntening is the fact that "the christian religious gestapo" wouldn't be above doing the same thing.
They actually USED to do this sorta thing. All those old 'blue laws'.
Obviously I see this as appalling, but what I also consider quite frigntening is the fact that "the christian religious gestapo" wouldn't be above doing the same thing.
Which has happened already with the Salem witch hunts, just for one example. Relatives could have a beef with a family member and report them for whatever ficticious wrong-doings they can dream up and what defense is there against it? None. One word against the other, and the superstitious/powerlords are looking for a reason to roast someone, so there is little hope for the accused.
What happens in radical islamic, and even in moderate islamic is quite frightning. Beheadings, stonings, hangings from cranes simply for being homosexual, cutting off hands, arms and legs -- and this crap is happening NOW. It's in the present. And it has me a bit concerned that we have radical muslim mosques in this country who condone this crap.
Like the xian fundies, the only thing stopping them in the western world are our laws. Extremists must be kept out of government. This last election has shown that people do not want this kind of xian extremism. GW will soon be gone, too. I just hope people are not too "tolerant" of radical muslims in the name of multiculturalism. This is a religious matter much more than a cultural one.
State and Religion must be seperated they cannot be allowed to interact or we get this kind of behaviour!
damian, exactly!
I remember reading several years ago some guy who died in Malaysia from this crap. He was in the apartment of a lady friend, and apparently the morals police got wind of it and went to the apartment. The poor guy climbed out the window to hide and apparently lost his grip and fell to his death.
The poor guy climbed out the window to hide and apparently lost his grip and fell to his death.
Tommy, how horrible! But what would they have done to him if they had caught him alive?
They probably would have beat him up a little and hauled him before a cleric for sentencing.
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