[Vision2020] An Argument Against Theocracy
Art Deco aka W. Fox
deco@moscow.com
Fri, 2 Apr 2004 11:57:46 -0800
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International
Saudi clerics lead prayer for rain, saying sin to blame for drought
Associated Press
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Saudi clerics across the kingdom led worshippers in
prayers for rain Thursday, blaming a recent drought on sinfulness, including
women who unveil themselves or mingle with men.
Thursday's prayers come as Saudi Arabia reported less than normal rainfall
over the winter months.
Addressing hundreds of worshippers in Mecca, Grand Mosque cleric Abdel
Rahman bin Abdel Aziz al-Sudeis said Muslims should purify their hearts of
"envy, jealousy, hatred, breaking off
(relations), quarrels and enmity for trivial reasons," and ask for God's
forgiveness to end the drought.
"There is no sin without misfortune, and there is no lifting of
punishments without repentance; the sins are dangerous because whenever they
exist, destruction follows," al-Sudeis said.
He singled out women, saying their sins included "bedecking, unveiling,
mingling (with men), being indifferent with hijab (the veil)."
Khaled al-Maeena, editor of the English daily Arab News, worried that
al-Sudeis' comments could be wrongly interpreted by some listeners.
"It is not a healthy sign, as we want women to play their role and to be
active in the society," he said.
Saudi Arabia, which practices a strict interpretation of Islam, forbids
the mingling of men and women in public. Women must be covered head to toe,
except for their faces and hands, when outside their homes.
However, there have been signs of change: businesswomen attended a recent
international economic summit alongside businessmen; Saudi anchorwomen have
debuted on a new satellite channel, and more women are speaking out in
newspapers and television programs to call for more rights.
Last November, when the rains were late in starting, the king called for
special prayers. Clerics at the time blamed the delayed rainfall on Saudis'
sins.
Though farming communities have suffered from the decreased rain, most of
Saudi Arabia's 19 million people get their water from deep water wells and
seawater desalination plants.
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<P><FONT class=3Dlabel>International</FONT></P>
<P><B><FONT class=3Dmednews>Saudi clerics lead prayer for rain, =
saying sin=20
to blame for drought</FONT></B><BR><FONT =
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<P><FONT style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt"=20
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<P>RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Saudi clerics across the kingdom led =
worshippers=20
in prayers for rain Thursday, blaming a recent drought on =
sinfulness,=20
including women who unveil themselves or mingle with men.=20
<P>Thursday's prayers come as Saudi Arabia reported less than =
normal=20
rainfall over the winter months.=20
<P>Addressing hundreds of worshippers in Mecca, Grand Mosque =
cleric Abdel=20
Rahman bin Abdel Aziz al-Sudeis said Muslims should purify their =
hearts of=20
"envy, jealousy, hatred, breaking off=20
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>(relations), quarrels and enmity for =
trivial=20
reasons," and ask for God's forgiveness to end the drought.=20
<P>"There is no sin without misfortune, and there is no lifting of =
punishments without repentance; the sins are dangerous because =
whenever=20
they exist, destruction follows," al-Sudeis said.=20
<P>He singled out women, saying their sins included "bedecking, =
unveiling,=20
mingling (with men), being indifferent with hijab (the veil)."=20
<P>Khaled al-Maeena, editor of the English daily Arab News, =
worried that=20
al-Sudeis' comments could be wrongly interpreted by some =
listeners.=20
<P>"It is not a healthy sign, as we want women to play their role =
and to=20
be active in the society," he said.=20
<P>Saudi Arabia, which practices a strict interpretation of Islam, =
forbids=20
the mingling of men and women in public. Women must be covered =
head to=20
toe, except for their faces and hands, when outside their homes.=20
<P>However, there have been signs of change: businesswomen =
attended a=20
recent international economic summit alongside businessmen; Saudi=20
anchorwomen have debuted on a new satellite channel, and more =
women are=20
speaking out in newspapers and television programs to call for =
more=20
rights.=20
<P>Last November, when the rains were late in starting, the king =
called=20
for special prayers. Clerics at the time blamed the delayed =
rainfall on=20
Saudis' sins.=20
<P>Though farming communities have suffered from the decreased =
rain, most=20
of Saudi Arabia's 19 million people get their water from deep =
water wells=20
and seawater desalination plants.=20
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