Posted on 05/16/2006 12:25:57 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - King Abdullah has told Saudi editors to stop publishing pictures of women as they could make young men go astray, newspapers reported Tuesday.
The king's directive, made in a meeting with local editors, caused surprise as the monarch has been regarded a quiet reformer since he took office in the ultra-conservative country last August.
In recent months, newspapers have published pictures of women — always wearing the traditional Muslim headscarf — to illustrate stories with increasing regularity. Usually the stories have had to do with women's issues. The papers have also started publishing a range of views on causes that are not generally accepted in Saudi Arabia — such as women having the right to drive and vote.
The king told editors on Monday night that publishing a woman's picture for the world to see was inappropriate.
"One must think, do they want their daughter, their sister, or their wife to appear in this way. Of course, no one would accept this," the newspaper Okaz quoted Abdullah as saying.
"The youth are driven by emotion ... and sometimes they can be lead astray. So, please, try to cut down on this," he said.
Although the king has broached topics — such as women eventually acquiring driving licenses — that were previously seen as nonstarters, his instruction to editors indicates that Islamic conservatives remain a powerful force in the kingdom and brake on reform.
The country adheres to a strict interpretation of Islamic law. Women are not allowed to vote and stand in municipal elections — the only type of election permitted in the kingdom.
The king also called on editors to stop printing stories that portray the country in a negative light.
"Don't write anything that can be harmful to the country. Some reporters, they want to stand out and they end up going too far and this should not be allowed to happen," Abdullah said according to Okaz.
The king added that newspapers should ignore the foreign press, especially when what it publishes is "against Islam or against Arabs."
All media in Saudi Arabia are either state owned or state guided.
With all their wealth you'd think they could spring to put some saltpeter in their pita.
pictures of females could make young men go astray. yeah, blowing yourself up for 72 virgins is just fine though
Uhhhh....okay, so what about the young women who could be led astray by pictures of young men? Don't they count? Aren't they led by emotion?
One day, maybe in the next century, these countries that repress women and keep them down and ignorant will realize that they are wasting the talents, intelligence and ambitions of half their population. Maybe that's why their countries continue to be third-world backwaters, despite enormous oil wealth - ya think??
"Boy, look at the eyebrows on that one!"
Jeeze I didn't realize Arab men had no control! Maybe we should send them some diapers!
I think they need to stop putting so many pictures of Middle Eastern Men. THAT is turning the women on BIG time.
They're just victims of Yankee imperialism and decadent American ways, dontcha know.
Such weak men in such a weak faith...
LOL...that one sure seems to have a rather pronounced Adam's apple.
Not exactly a firm decree. Sounds like the King Abdullah is getting some heat from Wahabi fundamentalists, and paying them some half-hearted lip service. 20 years ago, newspaper editors who published pictures of women would simply have been hauled off to prison -- there was none of this "pretty please" waffling.
Proving once again that Muslim men are animals with absolutely no self control.
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Or beekeepers
This is a country where the religious police still employ electric cattle prods on women whose ankles peek out from beneath their obligatory black tents. The occasional female eyebrow visible in a newspaper photo represents huge progress.
It's important to keep the young men virgins until they blow others and themselves up.
And, mama mia, just look at the nose on that one on the right!
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