Message To Saudi Arabia Fashion Police: Lighten Up!
Although it bugs me that too many Americans (especially Christians) hold unfavorable views of Muslims (see the post below), stories about excesses by fundamentalist Islamic clerics just add fuel to the fire. One of the uglier events occurred last March, when 15 schoolgirls died in a fire at their school in Mecca after Saudi religious police (the mutawa) allegedly prevented male rescuers from entering because the girls were not veiled. There is an interesting story on the BBC today about the Saudi interior minister telling the religious police to show more leniency and to respect people's privacy. It's an interesting read because it gives you an idea of the strong fundamentalist influence that exists in Saudi Arabia. They may be America's ally but they are one of the most oppressive regimes in the Middle East.