Female Saudi Reporter Lashed for Sex Talk

As a "Deterrence," Saudi Court Sentences Journalist to 60 Lashes for Involvement in TV Discussion of Sex

(AP)  A Saudi court on Saturday sentenced a female journalist to 60 lashes after she had been charged with involvement in a TV show in which a Saudi man publicly talked about sex.

Rozanna al-Yami, 22, is believed to be the first Saudi woman journalist to be given such a punishment, but there were conflicting accounts about how the court issued its verdict.

Al-Yami, who worked as a coordinator for the program but has denied working on the sex-show episode, told The Associated Press it was her understanding that the judge at the court in the western city of Jiddah dropped the charges against her. They included involvement in the preparation of the show and advertising the segment on the Internet.

But she said he still handed down the lashing sentence "as a deterrence."

"I am too frustrated and upset to appeal the sentence," said al-Yami.

Al-Yami refused to provide contact details for her lawyer to ask about the legal proceedings, including the basis in Islamic law for the punishment and whether the charges were really dropped.

Sulaiman al-Jumeii, the lawyer for the man who appeared in the TV show, said such "physical punishment is not an indication of innocence or a drop of charges."

"If the judge had dropped the charges, then why did he give her the 60 lashes?" he added.

Abdul-Rahman al-Hazza, the spokesman of the Ministry of Culture and Information, told the AP he had no details of the sentencing and could not comment on it.

In the program, which aired in July on the Lebanese LBC satellite channel, the man, Mazen Abdul-Jawad appears to describe an active sex life and shows sex toys that were blurred by the station. The same court sentenced Abdul-Jawad earlier this month to five years in jail and 1,000 lashes.

Al-Jumeii maintains his client was duped by the TV station and was unaware in many cases he was being recorded.

On Saturday, he told the AP that not trying al-Yami before a court specialized in media matters at the Ministry of Culture and Information was a violation of Saudi law.

"It is a precedent to try a journalist before a summary court for an issue that concerns the nature of his job," he said.

The case has scandalized this ultraconservative country where such public talk about sex is taboo and the sexes are strictly segregated.

The government moved swiftly in the wake of the case, shutting down LBC's two offices in the kingdom and arresting Abdul-Jawad, who works for the national airline.

Three other men who appeared on the show, "Bold Red Line," were also convicted of discussing sex publicly and sentenced to two years imprisonment and 300 lashes each.

[addict42]

The Saudis are the absolute worst of the worst.

[queenofclubs]

Good grief. Saudi Arabia needs to get into the 21st Century. Interesting how they think talking about sex is taboo, but they have no problems with being violent!

[noloyalisti]

I think we should invade and occupy Saudi Arabia don't you? I mean they have a brutal sheik who violates Christian values and human rights on a daily basis. And their oil fields are already developed. And their citizens did the 911 attacks if you are naive enough to believe the US government conspiracy theory. I think they need a good old does of American Shock and Awe, don't you?

[Iamthemango]

It's always the women who suffer the most under islamic law. Islam is a nasty, misogynistic belief system. When are the women going to wake up and reject this treatment?

[Overruled1]

I have to agree with most of the posts here, the Saudi Arabian religious run state is an enemy of democracy.
The only reason we as Americans have put up with these barbarians who disguise themselves as civil is the oil they sit on....which someday soon will come to a decisive end....And so will our patience. On that day I will remember the WTC.

On a side note, rumors of a soldier burning a koran caused a massive protest which an American flag was burned.
I have no sympathy for their beliefs as it seems too hypocritical for them to be displaying emotions over a burnt so called holy book, but we put up with the flag burning....which to me is holier than the koran or the bible. Both are full of lies and have been the tool which has created hateful policy.

On a personal note, damn the oil. They can have it. We do need to continue with alternative fuel research. We must also start the process of removing all gasoline engines from mass production vehicles asap.

[ShazmiAngels7]

by orinfagel October 25, 2009 10:15 AM EDT
Yes I can, Muslims are barbarians! The cut peoples' heads off and send children into the masses with suicide bombs. Guess that makes it pretty political!
-------------------------
Yes you can't ,No we can't ...

The only barbarian the history books talks about is the Viking barbarians and its remnants like yourself...It also talks about the germanic tribes which were considered barbarians and the romans had to conquer them to become civilized and productive ...
Now your true barbarian ancestor owe a great deal of gratitudes to Islam for getting them out of the dark ages in the Eleventh century by setting up the first university in spain thus leading generation of dimwits like yourself to be able to read and write ...Your ignorance is your own fault not the fault of Islam per say learning the true nature of things is good for mind body and health misguided spirit....

[ShazmiAngels7]

by earth5661 October 25, 2009 2:02 AM EDT
Any excuse made by posters like Shaz are ridiculous.

Islam has never gone through a schisim or a reformation of any sort like every other religion in the world. The founding basic tenets are still in the Koran and if you read it you will find out how bi-polar it is.
One sentence is basically love thy neighbor and the next is slay or tax any non-believer or simply sharia law.

It amazes me you have one part of the world going to the future and space travel and the other still in the stone age hoping for 72 virgins.
---------------------------------

Fool how can Islam go through any reform when as a matter of fact their is no really Islamic world left ...Do you understand the meaning of the word Islam Earth worms ...It means submission to God your creator even a dimwit like you is created by him for reasons unknown to mankind...lololol

That bipolar koran also talks about the wackjob children of israel and it also talks about in detail about "Mary" the mother of Arab dude jesus"with a loyal donkey who was discovered by those viking barbarian remnants and declared him their God jesus christ ...unbelievable ignorance ...You must refering this stone age weren't you Earthy...

Lets talk about Torah the book of the jews which delusionally talks about that the Earth to be 6 thousand years old and that paedophile Abraham lived to be 800 years ...And thumping that filthy whaling wall brings you close to God yahway the lord of no way ...Now thats the real stone age ,Are you getting the gist of the true nature of things Earthy darthy ....

[orinfagel]

The headline says she was lashed. Does that mean she has already been lashed or is this just a CBS usual faux pas?

[ShazmiAngels7]

by sam-kiley October 25, 2009 5:47 AM EDT
by earth5661 October 25, 2009 1:55 AM EDT
Shaz,

Are you refering to the same Mohammad that had sex with a six year old ?


Are you refering to the same Mohammad who couldn't read or write ?

Are you refering to the same Mohammad who basically felt it was his duty to conquer with the sword and ask questions later ?
------------------------------

YES?I am refering to the same mohummad who married a 40 years old woman as his first wife ,who was much older than him ...You must be refering to your own behaviour with 6years old's Earth worms or that paedophile Abraham who had 13 year old girl as his wife, and claim it as his daughter to hide the real facts from the Egyptian pharaohs...Oh I totally forgot about that slimebolts King david who cause the jews to thump that filthy thumping wall in the gay city of jerusalem...

[ellensmithee]

You Moslems are barbarians.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

This is not a political article. Can't you morons stay on topic, or are your brains so very limited, you must default to the authomatic programming you've been given?
Grow up, you bunch of political addicts.

[orinfagel]

Yes I can, Muslims are barbarians! The cut peoples' heads off and send children into the masses with suicide bombs. Guess that makes it pretty political!

[brian1920]

It is interesting that none of the rabid Liberals are screaming about " torture". The lashings inflicted in Saudi Arabia , Iran, Indonesia, and Malaysia do permanent physical damage and are much harsher than " waterboarding". Where is the world's outrage over this "torture" in muslim countries? The silence says it all. Obviously the liberals here and in the rest of the world just do not care about these things and the entire "outrage" by liberals was nothing but a political stunt.

[slownewsday-05]

You don't have to be a liberal to be against torture.

Those who said they were against torture were against us doing it, because it's our government. This article is about a foreign government...

Truth is, the main reason that many I know are against waterboarding is the fact that we sentenced those who did it to our troops to 15 years hard labor. Google it. I'm just against the hypocrisy, personally.

[bill0bob]

"...none of the rabid Liberals..." -- brian1920 October 25, 2009 8:15 AM EDT

What T. F. is your problem, moron? You blame "liberals" for EVERYTHING, with no rhyme or reason. Liberals are NOT the ones who have been making excuses for torture!

In case you've forgotten, dimwit, the Saudis are GW Bush's good friends, and his daddy's friends before that. Here's a picture of little Georgie holding hands with Saudi Prince Abdullah:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0426/csmimg/04-26_DU.jpg

And Little Georgie even KISSED THE PRINCE!

[fleabag75]

Ok. Contest time!!!!! The news report has it that game 6 of the baseball playoffs was canceled last night. You people have 30 minutes to show it was Obamas fault. From what I read I know you can do it!!! The top 30 reasons will win a prize. I will check back in 30 minutes to declare a winner. Ready? GO!!!!!!!

[stuart-johns2]

Fox News, like mcuh of corporate America today, use deceptive business practices. Do you like being controlled by the press?

[stuart-johns2]

by Kabul_Is_here October 25, 2009 6:58 AM EDT
Couldnt agree more. Now tell that to your beloved EMPEROR ObamBam so he may quit bowing to their king and supporting their evil religion.
--------------------

Do mean President Barrack H. Obama? Last I checked we had no Emperors in America and I don't know who ObamBam is.

Like I said, guys like you cannot think for yourselves and are drawn to things like Fox News who see a conspiracy in everything. Because you don't choose to think for yourself, you are drawn into that drama.

To me, you oppress yourself in much the same way The Saudi's oppress their women.

[skeetiepetie]

It seem that the liberals believe in their new messiah. Maybe you would rather use that name instead of emperor

[stuart-johns2]

Kabul_Is_here = Cabal is here.

[stuart-johns2]

The Saudi religion is class warfare. It discriminates against woman. I just don't see God as being for that. Women should treated better. All of mankind should be treated by those in power as they themselves would want to be treated. Anything else will eventually destroy a nation. The people will rise up, revolt, and rightly so.

The woman of Saudi Arabia and throughout much of the Middle East especially, need to rise up and stop allowing themselves to be oppressed by unscrupolous men who hide behing an invalid and perverse religion.

[sandy19731]

Hey, these people are our allies, it's OK if they do stuff like this. We invade countries for totally other kinds of reasons.

Oh yes, and the Saudi's WERE involved in the 9/11 attacks, but it's OK if they do stuff like that. WE invade countries for totally other kinds of reasons.

I just keep forgetting what those reasons are.

[sam-kiley]

by earth5661 October 25, 2009 1:55 AM EDT
Shaz,

Are you refering to the same Mohammad that had sex with a six year old ?


Are you refering to the same Mohammad who couldn't read or write ?

Are you refering to the same Mohammad who basically felt it was his duty to conquer with the sword and ask questions later ?

bonjour la démocratie et la liberté de l'expresssion qui vous permettent de porter atteinte a des prophétes de dieu..vous devriez avoir honte
je suis écoeurée...

nous autres musulmans avons toujours respecté les prophétes jesus et moïse et tous les autres prophétes..réspecté les livres saints thora et bible.qu'en est-il pour vous....

encore des idées préconçues toutes faites sur la religion musulmane
au lieu de juger..vous qui prétendez etre civilisés ..tolérants...etc..prenez le temps de connaitre cette religion au lieu de la mépriser simplememnt parcequ'elle est différente, nous connaissons assez sur les deux autres religions monothéistes...pour les respecter..faites autant...merci et au revoir..

[jaykay3141]

Je comprend bien le français ... je mépris ceux qui veulent tuer les gens seulement car ils sont différents, même les musulmanes ou les chrétiens. Souvenez, QUI a écrasé les avions à Nouvelle-York il y à 8 ans???

[sam-kiley]

bonjour
by Noval53 October 25, 2009 4:20 AM EDT
One day Islam will rise from the middle ages and treat all people as equals.
aux yeux de l'islam les gens ont égaux...l'islam a honnoré la femme musulmane.. l'islam est la premiére religion qui a honoré et donné a la femme ses droits et personne n'osera nier cette réalité...
certaines pratique relévent de certaines traditions qui n'ont aucune relation avec la religion musulmane..
ce qu est arrivé a la demoiselle est malheureux..incompréhension.malentendu..peut etre.. au revoir

[Noval53]

One day Islam will rise from the middle ages and treat all people as equals. One day a Moslem won't hate "infidels", but will be a tolerant and a loving neighbor. Or one day Islam will be at war with the rest of the world. Hmmm; wonder which is more likely?

[nextgenman09]

The second one if Christians work themselves up into a lather anymore waiting for Jaysus to come back on the clouds for the Rapture.

[agbruhn]

The world today runs from one extreme to another and we all watch and wonder what happened?

Is there a happy middle ground?

On the one side, we have the worst overt disgusting sexual activities this side of the Alantic.

On the other side, there is the stone age mentality of abuse of sexual behavior in general.

Remember the good old days? Ozzie and Harriet?

Better yet, Father Knows Best?

Or, Eight Is Enough?

All TV shows had respect among men and women!

Now, there is war among men and women and it takes place on both
sides of the Alantic.

Who brought this new wave of discontent to the NEW WORLD ORDER?