why are we sitting by and letting torture happen to women?

Question

sadi arabia is going to lash a women because she was raped and she did not have permission to be out.. is this what we want our young people to see. free women all over the world....

Answer 1

Yep, she was gang raped. I saw that report while I was on the computer reading the posts on here...made me think how we're wasting our time on so much insignificance while people are struggling with REAL issues. I'm not sure what we can do other than starting an email chain, at least informing people and having them sign...I know it's minor but we need to start from somewhere.


EDIT: Wow, I can't believe the comments. This is a humanitarian issue, not a "feminist"/ "you vs me" issue!

EDIT:
Zen, we have a law that protects people here. We don't have laws that sentence rape victims to torture, where do you live???

And I thought feminism was concerned with equal rights for WOMEN, not white or American/Western women only. Please inform me if I missed something. The "that's not us, that's them" attitude is disgusting me! We are all the same race; THE HUMAN RACE! You see another person being tortured or in pain, as a human with a heart and mind, you automatically react. I'm not sure about those who don't...actually, I do...you genuinely disgust me...

EDIT:

The Planet Aphasia is right. Going through international organizations is the best way and raising awareness. And for the rest, please save those talks for when the government invades other countries, starts civil wars in the name of "democracy", then leaves them to themselves to "fix the problem". Step up and speak up then, no need to get sharp and outspoken about an innocent rape victim.

Answer 2

First off, lets clear up the facts. She was lashed for breaking the law about being out with men without a male relative to offer his protection, not because she was raped---this is not to say that these facts makes this incident any less heinous when viewed from our Western eyes. The number of lashes given was doubled from the original sentence because the judge thought she was trying to get media attention afterwards. The men who did the raping also were sentenced to lashings.

Their laws go back unchanged for centuries and if they are going to change, the movement has to come from within. Part of the reason why people in that part of the world hate us so much is because they don't like the fact that our Western ideas are filtering into their society. And indeed, the seeds of change have been planted otherwise this woman wouldn't have been trying to get media attention. But it's going to take decades before more civilized changes in their laws will come about. It's not like we can go over there and demand changes over night. For us over here in the states, probably getting involved in organizations that work on international human rights would be the best way to help. And the International Summit of Women Leaders that took place this week in New York, I have no doubt, have identified the women in the mid-eastern countries who are most likely able to lead the charge.

Answer 3

I have to agree with Lioness and say I'm dismayed by the comments that demonstrate an "us/them" dichotomy, and try to minimize this issue by saying "women aren't the only ones" and "the world doesn't revolve around women." THAT disgusts me. We tolerate YOU bringing up "men's issues" all the time. You would never see anyone say here say "So? Women get raped, too," or "The world doesn't revolve around men," if we were talking about prison rape. All I have to say to those people is...try not to be anymore of an @$$hole than you absolutely HAVE to be, K?
This IS a HUMAN rights violation issue, and all HUMANS should be concerned. And yes, this kind of thing happens all over the world, to men and women. We should ALWAYS be concerned, and have compassion. We CAN write letters to our government, and encourage them to make these issues part of international policies, and we can support international organizations that work to put a stop to this kind of thing (as well as Darfur, Burma, etc.) such as Amnesty International. When someone else's rights are violated in this way, YOUR OWN rights are threatened, even if they are half a world away, and a different gender (maybe putting it in this perspective will help the chronically selfish understand these things better).
Shame on the U.S. for tolerating this kind of thing from a so-called "ally" in the name of cheap oil. It's intolerable.

EDIT--And False Oracle and Ire make a very good point about our own country setting an example with this...and failing miserably. How ARE we (as a nation) supposed to condemn this human rights violation when WE commit these atrocities ourselves? We're hardly any better. How sad.

Answer 4

It sickens me to think that people are being tortured around the world. However, I believe that the fight against torture needs to begin at home. This is especially true in the USA where detainees are held without charge for significant periods of time and reported to have been submitted to torture. Not to mention the US flauting Geneva conventions by photographying detainees and humiliating them.

I don't mean to mitigate what is happening to the women in Sadi Arabia (it is indeed terrible), but Americans can do more to influence changes to their own country's policies on torture.

EDIT: The USA is in a good position to show leadership on the issue of torture (not just against women) but is currently failing to do so.

Answer 5

Saudi Arabia is an independent country. What is it you propose to do, attack Saudi Arabia or something?

edit:
The last time you posted this same question I gave you the following advice - same as Planet (above) now gives to you:
" For us over here in the states, probably getting involved in organizations that work on international human rights would be the best way to help."

Support the work Human Right's Watch and Amnesty International - DONATE.

edit:
One very serious concern involves the credibility of the USA regarding human rights issues - the US has lost credibility worldwide by totally ignoring international law like the Geneva Conventions (for example).

Answer 6

That kind of stuff is apart of what makes me ashamed to be apart of the human race.. And then some of the answers here enforce that even more.

I heard about that a few days ago, I think..

Answer 7

American women participate in violence everyday - its called abortion.

American women who decry women being treated according to the laws of a sovereign nation but do little to stop the hatred of children and males in our society, are hypocrites.

Answer 8

Shouldn't the woman of Saudi Arabia start standing up for their own rights? How can they stand by and watch that happen? I would think even some of the men would be against this type of treatment towards another human being.
They are all adults over there and they are the ones that should change their crazy laws not anyone else.

Answer 9

Because feminism has steadfastly allied themselves with the far left. ( Notice I do not use liberal and conservative). The far left has a fascist agenda. Fascists never criticize each other.

Answer 10

Why can't we do more for the victims in our own country?Sexual predators are living in my neighborhood in houses the same block where children play. Sure, they've done their so called time and are registered, but lets not forget the little girl who was taken from her trailor, raped, and buried alive. Someone's not keepin' tabs on those fu*kin' freaks!