Punishment in Saudi Arabia

The Middle East, especially muslim countries, have customs that are looked at as strange, because they are not of our own. In Saudi Arabia, there was an elderly woman, punished because she had "mingled" with two men, who were not related, in her home. The Penalty for her was 40 lashes and and four months imprisonment. One of the men claimed, that even though they are not blood related, she took care of him when he was a baby, he was sentenced with 40 lashes and four months imprisonment. The other man had no connection to the woman and was sentenced 60 lashes and 6 months in prison. 

Saudi Arabia, in brief, is a muslim country, in which, women are not allowed to mingle with men other then family, and they are not allowed to drive cars. Women have to be covered from head to toe, and have to have a man's permission to travel(like going into town). Men on the other hand have no restrictions, or very few. There are laws in place for prayer, but that applies to everyone. 

When I read this article, my first reaction of the punishment that was given to the elderly woman was harsh. The woman was 75 years-old and I doubt she was trying to make a living selling her body. It goes to show how punishment varies by country, religion and customs. You would never see such a punishment for a woman in the United States or Western Europe. Actually, come to think of it, it is respectful to pay an elderly person a visit and help them with food and clothing. 

After reading this article I looked up women and punishment in the Middle East and came up with all sorts of information. Some examples are of Women who were raped, faced 200 lashes and six months imprisonment. A girl was raped and she was put in jail and beaten. I also looked up some more information of Saudi Arabia's punishment laws, and the one website explained that they still use Corporal Punishment, there are amputations in the prisons as well as torture. This, of course, was frowned upon by the UN, as well as the restrictions that were placed on women, not allowing them to have any autonomy. 

After learning this information it occurred to me that rules and regulations regarding punishment varies by culture, customs, and religion. In the United States, our culture and customs do not allow there to be torture in prisons and beating of women. I am sure in African it is different and in Europe it is similar to our own customs. It is amazing, how being apart of a different world, will show you the difference in punishment and levels of morality.