Where Is The Outrage Over Saudi Repression ?

This story is just sickening, and shows us just how skewed the priorities of the Bush administration are. Remember as you read this that the Bush family are close friends with the Saudi Arabian royal family, and although women have almost no rights in Saudi Arabia, you never hear a harsh word from the Bush administration about that country.

Last year a 19 year-old Saudi woman met with an unrelated male friend just to retrieve some pictures he had. The two were attacked by seven men, who raped both of them. The men were apprehended and given sentences ranging from 10 months to 5 years. Most of us would think that was an injustice by itself, but it gets worse. The woman was sentenced to receive 90 lashes for meeting with her friend.

Her lawyer appealed the sentences of the rapists, saying the sentences were too light for their horrific crime. He was successful in overturning their sentences and new sentences were passed of 2 to 9 years in prison. Then the court upped the sentence of the female victim. It is now 6 months in prison and 200 lashes. It was upped for "embarrassing" the courts. They also barred her attorney from defending her any further.

They have, in effect, punished her and denied her an attorney because she was female. If she had been a male, she would not have been punished. This is how the court system operates in Saudi Arabia, who just happens to be our friend and ally (at least as far as the Bush administration is concerned).

Add to this the fact that women cannot vote, drive, or testify in court in Saudi Arabia. They also need a man's permission to travel or have surgery, and are subjected to a very strict dress code. How can we, as a nation who supposedly believes in human rights, be a close friend and ally to such a country?

Compare this to how we treat our neighbor, Cuba. They have equal rights, free education and free healthcare for ALL of their citizens. Yet, we treat them as an enemy, while we embrace Saudi Arabia. It shows just how screwed up the priorities of the Bush administration really are.

They are not interested in human rights -- only money and oil.