30/07/2009 / SAUDI ARABIA
Translation and subtitles by FRANCE 24.
In a conservative society like Saudi Arabia, this
guy should have expected to get aggressive reactions when talking publicly
about his sex life. People here are not used to such declarations. They were in
shock and did not understand why he did it since he must have known the
consequences. Many consider him stupid - some even said that he should be sued
for stupidity rather than debauchery! Others believe that he was tricked by the
LBC into saying things and that the show is into sensationalising news and does
not have a good reputation in the KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Besides, Saudis do get defensive when
outsiders criticise their society.
Talk openly about sex and risk jail
A 32-year-old Saudi man could face court for debauchery, premarital sex and for breaking the Islamic code after he was interviewed by a Lebanese channel about his sex life.
If found guilty, divorced father of four Mazen Abdul Jawad will face either 20 years in jail or between 13,000 and 20,000 strikes by horsewhip. It was his revelations on the Lebanese talkshow, "The Red Line" that have left the airline employee facing prosecution. Aired on July 15 on Lebanese channel LBC, his declarations about foreplay, sex toys and frigidity left the conservative Saudi population quite frankly stunned.
Around 100 of the most outraged of these people filed complaints about his actions to the court in Jeddah. Many also contacted his employer, Saudi Arabian Airlines, demanding that he be sacked.
In an interview with daily newspaper Okaz on Saturday, Abdul Jawad begged for forgiveness of the Saudi people, and blamed the incident on the channel. It was them, he said, that supplied the sex toys, and then aired the programme without blurring his face. LBC refutes the allegations, but itself has become a target for the conservatives, who call for it to be banned in the kingdom.
Contributors
The infamous interview
“People here think that you can do whatever you want as long as you keep it private”
Ahmed Al-Omran is a Saudi blogger from Riyadh.
In a conservative society like Saudi Arabia, this
guy should have expected to get aggressive reactions when talking publicly
about his sex life. People here are not used to such declarations. They were in
shock and did not understand why he did it since he must have known the
consequences. Many consider him stupid - some even said that he should be sued
for stupidity rather than debauchery! Others believe that he was tricked by the
LBC into saying things and that the show is into sensationalising news and does
not have a good reputation in the KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Besides, Saudis do get defensive when
outsiders criticise their society.
I was surprised that so many people acted on it and submitted complaints. Legally, I guess that their complaints do not stand in court. But if the public prosecutor decides to sue him, then it's a different story.
People here think that you can do whatever you want as long as you keep it private. This is hypocritical but it is prevalent in Saudi society. However, the country is changing and mentalities are too. The pace of change is slow and many, like me, are frustrated to see things evolving so slowly on the social and political levels but I think it's not hopeless, and I hope that in 40 years we won't be struggling with the same issues."
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Comments
Mazen Abdul Jawad
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Thu, 06/08/2009 - 16:09.Mr. Jawad should skip KSA and get a job on Oprah, Tyra, The Doctors, Dr. Phil, et al. There is nothing in this segment that couldn't and doesn't air on daytime TV every day in the rest of the world - except maybe North Korea! (Who knows).
The courts are completely misguided if they think that lashing Mr. Jawad 13,000 times (who's counting!) is going to a) stop other people from having perfectly healthy, active and consensual sex lives, and b) cure Mr. Jawad of his 'stupidity'.
The hypocrisy stinks. I live in a muslim country, I speak to muslims every day and I know that their eyes follow women as they walk by, and that they have the same sexual urges as everyone else, so why do the courts and 'the people of Saudi Arabia' blatantly lie and deny this - as if when they die The Prophet (PBUH) is not going to know what their inner thoughts have been. If that is your belief system, then live by it. If you find that you cannot live by it, then find something else, otherwise your whole life will be a sham.
Unregistered user
stupid saudis
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Tue, 04/08/2009 - 00:14.The saudis that think putting him to death is a logical answer should have rocks shoved down their throats, and then hanged by their testicles. [Deleted] It is ridiculous that he is getting persecuted for this. [Deleted]
Unregistered user
violent white scum
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 17/08/2009 - 10:44.[Deleted] You're a violent cracker aren't you? [Deleted]
Unregistered user
Moderation
Submitted by Sophie Team ... on Mon, 17/08/2009 - 10:58.While we appreciate constructive debate on The Observers, and are happy to explore any subject, we do not accept racist, sexist, hateful, insulting, non-constructive comments.
Please refrain this type of comment, they will be deleted.
Thanks,
Sophie, Team Observers
Sophie Team ...
just a thought
Submitted by moderate arab (not verified) on Wed, 19/08/2009 - 23:52.it is very intresting that your media covers these kind of stories about the Arab world..
like even the subject of the article
"Saudi Arabia: Talk openly about sex and risk jail"
nothing is fair about your media...
you are the ones giving racism and discrimination a new defintion...
it is getting obvious and tiring
i do not know why our media is not mis-leading people and brain washing them with bad articles and topics about france or even europe!!
when you try to find dirty and filthy and stupid news, u can find it in any country...
but its amazing that you guys always refer to arabs to find these kinds of stories..
and sophie, how come "hanging them from their tisticles" is constructive argument????
shame on you all.
Unregistered user
Umm, excuse me? We give
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Wed, 26/08/2009 - 15:23.Umm, excuse me? We give discrimination a new name?
Arabs in the middle east regularly murder gays. And don't get me started on how they treat women.
But I do agree, western media demonizes arabs. Just look at the lockerbie "bomber" story...completely mishandled by the media. You are also right, lots of incredibly gruesome acts take place in Africa and South America, but are not covered. That's because no one cares about those continents, sadly.
Unregistered user
its me again
Submitted by moderate (not verified) on Sat, 29/08/2009 - 12:59.i dont know why u r widen this discussion to gays and women!!
but if i were u
i would look at statistics of domestic violence in different continents!!
compare the middle east and europe
and about gays, this is a red line to us
i dont recall killing them!! but making them decision makers and leaders this would not even be discussed...it is off the topic
we wont allow gays to hav the rights and pride they get in americas and europe
NO WAY
and again, statistics can show u who is really bombing
go get ur info and details straightened
Unregistered user
Talk openly about sex and....
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 03/08/2009 - 18:18.God Bless him and may he be treated lightly by those fascistic relious nuts at home. He is the change that is coming thank God.
Unregistered user
mazen abdul-jawad
Submitted by carolyn zuniga (not verified) on Sun, 02/08/2009 - 17:17.this guy is honest.saudi arabia should get on board with this dude!he could teach other men how to treat women.especially when it comes to pleasing women in the bedroom.alot of men every where dont take the time for foreplay they just want to please them selves.sex should not be one sided.whats good for the goose is good for the gander!
Unregistered user
saudi talking about Sex going to Jail
Submitted by MuslimBeard (not verified) on Thu, 30/07/2009 - 19:23.First of all i have visited KSA for Umra and Haj, it is the biggest Munafeekeen religious establishment in the modern world. All of them are doing what this young man talks about so whats the problem. The Prophet (PBUH) did not seem to mind having sex with someone after killing her brother, her father , and her Husband after a battle while Abu Zayed ( ? not sure of the name was guarding his tent) or when he decided to marry his Cousin after having her divorced from his adopted son for what ever so so called apologists may make excuses for him, or having a bath with Bibi Aisha , while she was still 9 years old or suckle the breasts of his wifes when they where having periods, all these things are written in the Hadiths of Bukhari, including the fact that PHUB on him he had stamina of 30 mens ! So why do we muslims treat our women (specially Arabs and pakistnese) as cattle and I ask what has this young man done wrong ? sure he was stupid ! but atleast he was honest about his sexual perversion, he may need help medically or help not not loose his job or be proescuted.
Unregistered user
ASHAME on you BEARD MAN
Submitted by Jaffar (not verified) on Sun, 09/08/2009 - 17:43.MuslimBeard ??
you are the real Shaitaan !!
you are not a MUSLIM at all, we all know !!
[Deleted]
Unregistered user
AShame on you Beard Man
Submitted by MuslimBeard (not verified) on Tue, 11/08/2009 - 18:59.Jaffer Jerk (ignorant man)
why don't you refute ! and challenge what i have written instead of attacking mr personally which all you weakly ee-maan-ad people do. I assume you also support defend the Taliban , for cutting throats of people as speedly Islamic justice or a male canning women for suspeccted unsubstianted allegations of zinna , All you can say is that I am a shaitaan, come on Jaffar we are a 1.5 Billion people around the world we should be able to take real criticism like all other religions, we can defend our Religion without out bullshiting about it ! Stop being a weakling take it like a man and defend your beliefs without calling me a Shaitan , Get some of your Ulema's to refute what I am saying !!! even the Wahab's claim that (PHUB) was a messanger of Allah and just another human being like the rest of us but with a higher calling !
Unregistered user
saudi talking about Sex going to Jail
Submitted by unknown Me (not verified) on Mon, 10/08/2009 - 16:55.I am not a muslim but i am aware of muslim culture and Saudians in particular. It is not wrong to educate people about sex and all. But to puplicly inform a muslim country and a person coming from the same religion was not acceptable for you. You should know more about yourselves better than other culture. If you are a muslim living in the Uinted States you would not care or reacted that much. It was done in a wrong place and being told by the person who is more liberated and open minded. Before we judge anyone, our fellow men we have to see ourselves in the mirror first. Who is satan and not.. if we are for one are the one's who is the satan ourselves. Ask yourself if you have been perfect being that you are judging this person. I am not saying he is right. But what made you think he is SAtan and you are not. Look at around you. perhaps all through out you life did you become so perfect that you don't insult someone.. or did you feed the poor.. at some point of your life you never engaged into premarital sex? or look at a sexy photo? or even fantasized of sex? Do you beat your wife? Maybe this guy is too brave to tell that at the age of 14 he is doing sex but do you think he is alone? How many are like him? No one else shared an experience like he did and he honestly tell about his experience?
We are not God to judge one another. Let God do his task.. To judge us all. excluding you. Whether its dicrete or not... you only know and God knows who is good inside and out!
Unregistered user