A Russian woman and a Lebanese man were put on trial in Dubai for ... drinking orange juice!
In accordance with the Federal Penal Code of the United Arab Emirates, a public intake of food and beverages during daytime hours of the month of Ramadan is forbidden by Article 313. The article stipulates the punishment in the form of either a monetary penalty – up to 2,000 dirhems ($555) – or even a term of up to one month in prison.
The young people told the court that they were not Muslims and were thus unaware of the fact that their actions could be punishable.
The court took the mitigating circumstances into consideration, but found the defendants guilty, since ignorance did not exclude responsibility. The court ruled that the young people must pay the fine of 1,000 dirhems ($278) each.
They took all that into account and gave a proportionate fine. (having to go through court like that is sucky though for sure)
Hell, I got a 90 dollar ticket once for not having reflector tape on the front forks of my bicycle. Who knew that was a law? Guess what, I had to eat it anyway. (sadly, no I did not just make that up - they really are ticketing for that in Toronto)
Has anyone seen the ostentatious display of wealth in Dubai? Luxury Hotels constructed on reclaimed islands, palaces fitted with gold, etc. They paid for it from their oil revenues. They don't have other natural resources that they can sell. It seems they don't even want tourists. Ironic because who will stay in their luxury hotels. May be just the members of their royal families?
I agree with Mr. Pickens that we must get out of our dependence on foreign oil. He proposes wind power as a solution. I also agree. Wind in combination with solar, hydro-electric, and other natural resources as sources of our energy needs. Even garbage and animal wastes are now being used as enegy sources.
How'd you like to get a fine and/or jail time for having some beef jerky on a Friday?
I doubt it, but hopefully this'll make people think before endorsing politicians who coddle the 'religion right'.
(and I say that as a non-athiest myself)
If Ramadan was being done for the right reasons (a testament to one's faith and self-discipline) then a true believer shouldn't care what other people do or think.
If these kind of religious rules are being passed down from the state then they have lost their original purpose. If it doesn't spring from within then it is not true faith.
"The humor/outrage of this is primarily derived from ethnocentrism and the belief that our law is somehow derived from a “truer” source."
Yes, completely. But you know what, sometimes we have to lay aside our tolerance and relativism and say "this is bullshit".
Red
If America would jump off a cliff, would you follow? Hmm? I don't care what America's mom let's him do, this is my house and my rules. Now eat your dinner!
I wonder how they would feel if they where visiting the Vatican City in Rome on a Friday during Lent & were charged with a crime of eating meat on a Friday. Bet they would think it was a silly law.
On the other hand, we have idiots over here that get hysterical because we have "In God We Trust" on our money. If they spent 10 seconds in Islamoland, their heads would explode.
I even read a (i think old american, not sure.) law somewhere, that it's okey to beat your wife, as long as the stick used is not thicker than one's tumb.
What im saying: not all nations arive at the same law space in the same time.
more:
wel if your not allowed to eat all day, it sucks to see all the tourists eat :).
If you want to keep your Church and State separated here in the good olde USA, don't be fooled into voting for McCain / Palin, because they are all about making this a "Christian Ruled' Country. Imagine if it were against the law to NOT celebrate Christmas? Scarier than you even think.
Bum luck orange juice drinkers
"Imagine if it were against the law to NOT celebrate Christmas? Scarier than you even think." I can't even comprehend the scarierness of it all. Could you please elucidate? I would especially like to know how that could happen and just what, exactly, you think the powers of the President (or VP, as I'm sure this comment was aimed at SP) are?
Honestly, the fear-mongering that has gone on during this election, especially from the left, is astounding in it's lack of intelligence.
Love it or leave it, some countries have *gasp* religious based governments. Some have familial banking practices, some have education based employment. We're not all the same. Going into a country waving your flag as an excuse for breaking their laws is just plain inconsiderate.
google "bagel poppy dubai" to read about this.
sooo.. we were banned from putting up christmas decorations if they were visible to anyone outside. banned from eating outside as the article states also.
what really got me though, was going into the supermarkets around that time, the christmas displays were up in them...and santa was...
a short fillipino man in a beard. that was an amusing sight i say :)
Just like we are free to laugh at them for their backwards ignorance.
We are talking about Dubai here, people! F__ing Dubai! The most unholy exercise in waste, hubris and brainless materialism on the planet - and they dare to chide people for their consumer habits? Who's throwing stones in glass houses here? Who's being intolerant?
Casting the first stone...he without sin...etc.
(speaking of stonings - guess what's also legal in Dubai?)