Saudi Arabia: Can this possibly be happening?

[Smarmie Doofus]

I thought I was as jaded and cynical as anyone here but......!!!!!!??????

>>>>Saudi Arabia is about to behead a 21-year-old man and then crucify him to display his body in public. This same country was just chosen to head a U.N. Human Rights Council panel. If it weren’t so serious this would be funny!

Ali Mohammed al-Nimr was arrested when he was 17 for participating in demonstrations against the government, then he was convicted under torture. But his case is not an exception in the kingdom -- Saudi Arabia has executed more than 100 people this year, that’s a rate of one every 2 days!

France has already requested that Saudis stop this execution, but the US, Germany, and the UK also have very cosy relationships with the regime. The best way to get urgent action is to channel our outrage to these leaders who can persuade their Saudi allies. Sign up now to save Ali, and then stop this human rights farce, his execution could happen anytime.>>>

There's an online petition:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/stop_saudi_beheadings_loc/?fzPDdcb&pv=103

[hifiguy]

1. SA is the anus mundi -

the asshole of the world.

Zombie apocalypse would be the best thing that could happen there.

[MADem]

2. The present head so-and-so in charge, Salman, is regarded as fishy.....

There is an INTERNAL COUP being fomented against him. Shit like this might be part of the reason.

The papers are cutely calling it a "regime change" -- an internal one, certainly -- but we're talking COUP, here.

We'll see if the princes who are trying to pull this off are successful, or if they end up crucified.

FWIW, you are missing a LINK to your story and petition.

[Fumesucker]

19. That does not change the fact that the current regime is a US ally...

[MADem]

21. No, it doesn't. But it's interesting that this coup plot is getting

play in major papers here, in UK, in France, all over the Middle East, etc.

We have no role in how the leadership is chosen, there. There are a shitload of princes, and there is a pecking order.

I would venture to say that pressure is being put upon Salman to step down to a cushy retirement--or else. We'll see if he can withstand the slings and arrows. I hope he does not prevail, frankly.

If I were Salman, in the meantime, while he tries to decide if a life looking over his shoulder, with power, is preferable to one relaxing by the pool, I'd change out my food tasters regularly--and I'd never once have a meal without one on the job.

[Rex]

3. They are our good friends like communist China.

We just look away when it is a friendly nation.

[Hoppy]

15. China is different. There are a billion people in China. If we can sell each one an aspirin...

[Jesus Malverde]

4. Yes

In fact the murderous Saudi regime is killing any opponents in a desperate bid to keep their Monaco lifestyle alive.

Appears they are killing people every two days.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-executions-amnesty-international-beheadings-death-sentences-rate-under-king-salman-10470456.html

According to a new 44-page report released by the charity today, at least 2,208 people have been executed in Saudi Arabia since January 1985.

Nearly half of those, 48.5 per cent, were of foreign nationals, who Amnesty said suffer disproportionately under the Saudi justice system because of a combination of xenophobic prejudice and a lack of Arabic to understand proceedings.

[WinkyDink]

5. Can we send Dubya? He'll give'em a kiss!

[snagglepuss]

6. Who are you to argue with Allah?

(surah 47:4): “When you meet the unbelievers strike their necks till you have bloodied them.”



“those who fight God and his Messenger” and fail to repent are “to be killed, crucified, have their hands and feet cut off on opposite sides, or to be banished from the land” (surah 5:33).

[hifiguy]

10. Sam Harris is right.

And anyone who can't see that is willfully blind and deluding only themselves.

[MisterP]

7. proxies tend to take after their puppetmasters

[gratuitous]

8. Sure it can be happening

And if the United States hadn't shot its credibility on this very issue over the last 15 years or so (and persisting to this day, cf. Oklahoma), we could publicly protest this barbaric act. As it is, we can only shrug and mutter, "Whaddaya gonna do?"

[whatchamacallit]

9. Shouldn't we have invaded those clowns after 9/11?

We've been played by both the US and Saudi governments.

[napkinz]

11. ...

[angryvet]

13. They are going to crucify him first

and then behead him. While I agree this is deplorable....you ought to try living there... the other order makes no sense.

[polly7]

14. Absolutely horrible, isn't it.

That poor man.

Here's a little more on our 'best friends' in the ME and the appointment to the Human Rights Council.

They are a sick, sick country (gov't).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1016132745

[Sunlei]

16. They have a death sentence that is more strict than the USA, thats for sure. But we place people in

horrible jails for decades, their families lives are ruined. Their communities are disadvantaged because of our criminal justice 'system' That's torture too for a lot of people.

[Bluenorthwest]

18. This is a kid jailed for protesting the government, arrested and tortured as a minor.

It is interesting that you are so willing to equate a 17 year old protester with those convicted of actual crimes in order to excuse an extreme example of abusive government.

[Fumesucker]

20. Look at the number of people released from death row in the US

I think it's a given that innocents have been executed in America.

[XemaSab]

17. If we were serious about ending human rights abuses, we'd go after them instead of Iran or wherever

What can it po$$ibly be about the $audie$ that make$ them $uch good allie$?