Disassembled... - NEWS: Saudi lawyer suspended for defending gangrape VICTIM...

10:06 am - NEWS: Saudi lawyer suspended for defending gangrape VICTIM...

I shit you not...

Saudi lawyer suspended for defending gangrape VICTIM...!!"

JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 21 -- Saudi officials have revoked the license of human rights lawyer Abdul-Rahman al-Lahem, who has handled the country's most controversial cases and defended a gang-rape victim sentenced to jail time and [200] lashes.

This lawyer is an amazing human being. Check out a few of the other controversial cases he has taken up in the name of fighting the archaic political/religious institutions of Saudi Arabia, and the violence, intolerance and horrific human rights that only royalty and religion can create:

a school administrator suspended for criticizing the religious establishment
a man convicted of promoting homosexuality for saying it was genetic
three political reformists seeking a constitutional monarchy
the first Saudis suing the country's powerful religious police

People like this give me hope...

hat-tip: Ed Brayton

Tags: anti-stupid, culture and politics, in the news

(Leave a comment)

From:	meclamta_eda
Date:	November 26th, 2007 03:20 pm (UTC)

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Sigh.

They were probably looking for a way to get him for a while. He stands out...

I must remark, however, that I don't think religion and royalty are to blame par se, its sick and dysfunctional religion and royalty that are the cause.

There just haven't been many visible healthy versions of those things in this world for quite some time now...

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From:	lemurgoddess
Date:	November 26th, 2007 03:44 pm (UTC)

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I would agree fully. It is, in reality, the mindlessness that breeds this sort of foolishness (whether religious, political, or otherwise). However, I also would argue that environments that are saturated in far-reaching, absolute authority like royal and religious instituations will more likely breed (and encourage) the unquestioning fanaticism that allows this shit to be perpetuated.

There is a reason that political (royal) and religious powers have a long history of subduing and silencing the scientists, artists, and philosophers...

BTW: Is that you in your icon? You have incredible eyes! O.O

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From:	meclamta_eda
Date:	November 26th, 2007 07:26 pm (UTC)

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Those are indeed mine very eyes.

I suppose there is merit to your words.

I practice within the context of the Sacred King tradition. Within that, many never ruled over more than hundreds of people.

The whole thing got complicated when Civilization made it possible to have thousands under your command.

Humans just aren't made to manage that many humans...

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From:	sa_fermata
Date:	November 26th, 2007 04:56 pm (UTC)

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If only they didn't have a vast amount of oil this would be condemned.

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From:	jessie_c
Date:	November 26th, 2007 05:18 pm (UTC)

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And if they weren't in bed with shrub it wouldn't have been Iraq that got invaded. Fundy-mentals stick together, No matter what they say their religion is, it's really power that's important to them.

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From:	sa_fermata
Date:	November 26th, 2007 05:56 pm (UTC)

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...No matter what they say their religion is, it's really power that's important to them.

True dat.

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From:	thesaj
Date:	November 27th, 2007 12:40 am (UTC)

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No good deed goes unpunished...

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1687755,00.html?cnn=yes

(Do you think they'll accept the plea that the bear was named after Muhammed Ali and not the prophet?)

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From:	lemurgoddess
Date:	November 27th, 2007 02:19 am (UTC)

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Oh... my... God... That part of the world is a scary, scary place.

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From:	aesmael
Date:	November 27th, 2007 01:06 am (UTC)

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It seems like most of the coverage of this case has been focusing on the fact her sentence was increased after appeal, but this is important too. Why even bother having trials if lawyers are going to be suspended for defending their clients.

I do disagree that only royalty and religion can create such awfulness, but they are contributing systems of thought.

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From:	lemurgoddess
Date:	November 27th, 2007 02:20 am (UTC)

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I never said only royalty and religion can create such things... only that having all-powerful institutions tends to lend itself well to anti-modern and anti-intellectual environments.

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From:	aesmael
Date:	November 27th, 2007 04:44 am (UTC)

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You did... or that was how I read it. But I know from your previous posts you did not mean it so... *sigh* Sometimes I need a reminder to be precise.

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From:	lemurgoddess
Date:	November 27th, 2007 05:11 am (UTC)

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Well... I can understand how you might read it that way. But, that wasn't my intention.

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From:	krank_kether
Date:	November 27th, 2007 02:05 am (UTC)

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i really fear the middle east.

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From:	lemurgoddess
Date:	November 27th, 2007 02:21 am (UTC)

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*nods*

That place totally freaks the fuck out of me. O.o

I'd be killed for sooooooooooo many things there...

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From:	krank_kether
Date:	November 27th, 2007 02:49 am (UTC)

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you and me both... but that's what makes us cool here >:o)

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From:	lemurgoddess
Date:	November 27th, 2007 03:56 am (UTC)

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DAMN STRAIGHT, SISTAH!

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From:	sylphae_minuo
Date:	November 27th, 2007 03:58 am (UTC)

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I have following the news we get of this case with much interest. I am truly scared by cultural misogyny. I am further scared that our country has picked them to be allies.

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From:	lemurgoddess
Date:	November 27th, 2007 04:01 am (UTC)

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EXACTLY! It totally freaks me out that we align ourselves with nations that "religiously" support such social injustices! O.O

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From:	sylphae_minuo
Date:	November 27th, 2007 04:12 am (UTC)

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My faults with the current administration are many. Most to distill down to fundamental thought patterns. I find they are destructive. Most fundies scare the shit out of me. Frankly they all want to kill me, or people like me.

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