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| Arabia |
| Victims Say Lifestyle Was Under Scrutiny |
| 2003-11-12 |
| Residents of the mainly Arab residential compound attacked by suspected al-Qaida suicide bombers said Wednesday they knew their Westernized lifestyle was under scrutiny — they’d received a surprise visit from Saudi religious police suspicious that men and women were mixing at a party. Well, you can’t have that. The choice of target in the attack, which killed 17 people, mostly Arabs and Muslims, has baffled many in the region — and indicates al-Qaida’s rage may be directed as much at Muslims seen as having slipped from the religion’s true path as at Western "infidels." No suprise here. Saudi and U.S. officials have blamed Saturday’s attack on al-Qaida, a sworn enemy of the Saudi ruling family, which it accuses of being insufficiently Islamic and too close to the United States. On Tuesday, a purported al-Qaida operative claimed responsibility for Saturday’s bombing, saying in an e-mail that al-Qaida believed "working with Americans and mixing with them" was forbidden. The e-mail was sent to the London-based Arabic weekly Al-Majalla. Most of the residents of the al-Muhaya compound were Lebanese. Seven Lebanese were among the dead; other victims came from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Sudan. Muhaya was typical of compounds housing members of the large contingent of foreign workers in Saudi Arabia: a place where non-Saudis could escape rules banning alcohol and mixing of men and women in public and requiring women to cloak and veil themselves when outside their homes. Muhaya had a coffee shop where residents of both sexes chatted over water pipes and watched foreign movies and other entertainment on a big screen television. It was located next to a pool where women swam in bikinis. The horror! Agents of the Saudi religious police — the Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice — roam Saudi streets and shopping malls berating or even manhandling those who violate the social code. Its chief holds the rank of Cabinet minister in a kingdom where the royal family retains power in part with the support of conservative religious authorities. Seven bearded, robed religious police officers visited the Muhaya compound three months ago, saying they had reports of an "un-Islamic" party being held there, residents told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The religious police scuffled with compound guards who barred their entry until the compound owner arrived. During the delay, residents of both sexes slipped out of the complex coffee shop. The religious police were eventually allowed in and headed straight for the coffee shop. They left after finding it closed. "We’ll be back!" The Associated Press placed several calls Wednesday to the religious police, but the calls were unanswered. Out looking for someone to beat Muhaya residents said religious police had visited about four years earlier, also saying they had heard a party was being held. Residents said most compound parties are birthday gatherings for children. They said some residents may have alcohol in their homes, but it was never consumed in public. One resident, who gave only his first name, Rashid, said he always wondered whether compound activities were being watched from the surrounding mountains. Some residents of the compound, located in a ravine, believe the attackers came from the mountains. Saudi investigators say at least one attacker was in a bomb-packed vehicle, while others may have entered on foot. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #5 You know the best way to deal with religious police? Shoot them in the head, then douse them in gasoline and light them on fire. No, it's not supposed to be a joke. Why did you think it would be? |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2003-11-12 7:37:59 PM |
| #4 al-Qaida believed "working with Americans and mixing with them" was forbidden. Guess we'll have to shut down Islam and all its branches, then, 'cause we're not going to go without a fight. If al-Qaida believes they can drive us out by blowing up other Muslims, they must really be arrogant. Maybe it's time to melt some of those mountains on the Afghan-Pakistan border. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-11-12 6:00:47 PM |
| #3 Those Really. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-11-12 5:41:12 PM |
| #2 Were the vice squad casing the joint,perchance? |
| Posted by: El Id 2003-11-12 5:07:42 PM |
#1 The Associated Press placed several calls Wednesday to the religious police, but the calls were unanswered.There is something so Draconian about that line. It just reads like it came directly out of 1984. It's time to dismantle the kingdom. World wide terrorism will recede as a result. |
| Posted by: ISLAM SUCKS 2003-11-12 4:57:08 PM |