Saudis order 40 lashes for elderly woman for mingling with men

A Saudi Arabian court sentenced a 75-year-old Syrian woman to four months imprisonment, 40 lashes, and deportation from the country for having two men not related to her in her home.

This incident occurred last year, but the woman, Khamisa Mohammed Sawadi, was sentenced only recently. She was dining with two unrelated men, “Fahd” and “Hadian.” She nursed Fahd when he was young, while Hadian accompanied Fahd and brought her bread. Because she was with two men not related to her, the country's religious police arrested both men. According to Islamic law, if a woman nurses a boy then he is considered to be a son. However, this interpretation didn’t sway the "Mutaween" or “The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” religious police. Saudis follow a strict interpretation of Islam called Wahhabism, also followed by Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Under their laws, they punish unrelated men and woman caught mingling. The religious police help enforce the laws, including dress codes, prayer times and segregation of the sexes. Women are also banned from driving and they need permission from men when they travel. The Saudi daily newspaper Al-Watan obtained the court’s verdict and said Khamisa Mohammed Sawadi, 75, was sentenced to 40 lashes, four months imprisonment and deportation from the Kingdom. The court also sentenced Fahd to four months in prison and 40 lashes, and Hadian was sentenced to six months in prison and 60 lashes. Mrs. Sawadi told Al Watan that she will appeal the case, but it is highly doubtful the Ministry of Justice will change their ruling. Saudi women’s rights group are very upset about this ruling. Wajeha Al-Huwaider, a rights activist, told CNN:

"It's made everybody angry because this is like a grandmother...Forty lashes -- how can she handle that pain? You cannot justify it."

There was another case in 2007 that sparked similar controversy. A 19-year-old woman was gang-raped by seven men. Initially she was sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in prison for meeting with an unrelated male. The seven rapists were given prison sentences ranging from 10 months to five years. After many in Saudi Arabia and other countries complained about the injustice, Saudi King Abdullah pardoned the girl and the unrelated male.