Police gaffe makes Muslims pray in wrong direction

Reuters ^ | April 13, 2007

[EveningStar]

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A Dutch police station trying to help Muslim detainees face Mecca for their prayers painted arrows in cells pointing in the wrong direction...

[RichInOC]

Well? They’re still facing Mecca...just the other way around.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Hey, Mac, which way to Mecca?

[rod1]

That is true if one assumes the earth is round. Of course the importance of Muslims having to pray in the correct direction (toward Mecca) wasprobably instituted by mullahs who thought the world was flat and there was only one option for direction.

[EveningStar]

I know! Give that cop a medal! :)

[pepperdog]

“a fatwa will be issued for the Dutch police?”

You think there is actually a group that they haven’t issued one of their Fat-Wahs against? I doubt it. Who keeps track of those things anyway? Is there a Fat-Wah board that dates and numbers them, perhaps stamps them accomplished at some point?

[Hugin]

Once we destroy Mecca and ban Islam, the issue will be moot.

[RightWhale]

Yes, there was a question. Without knowing how they figured it out, I would assume the direction would be forward in the direction of the orbit although it isn’t a major issue in reality. The time of the prayer has apparently been resolved with a PDA program.

[wgflyer]

“Bowing to the west...”

Hmmmmm.....if they were bowing to the west, what exactly might they have been pointing at Mecca?

[NautiNurse]

A Dutch police station trying to help...
The Segbroek police station in The Hague borrowed the idea

Things like this always happen when you allow the station, rather than those who work in it, to make decisions.

[Albertafriend]

The quran actually teaches that the earth is flat and some “scholars” in Saudi still teach this. However since the earth is round you can face any direction and still draw a direct line to Mecca or any other place.

[fishergirl]

No, you’re not the only one, I’m still laughing.

[Murtyo]

well the world is pretty much a sphere so one direction or 180 off it you end up facing the same place.

[Murtyo]

then what exactly is the Netherlands?

[Cuchulain]

From now on all muslim prisoners will be required by law to be issued GPS devices. Otherwise it would clearly be a total disregard to their civil rights.

[billybudd]

Yeah. Which is why I said:

They’re a tiny country anyway; allowing all these crazies in is just asking for trouble.

[NRA2BFree]

The true direction of their prayers is down.

LOL! You've got that right. ;o)

[Joe Bfstplk]

This calls for major media coverage and major reparations. (/sarc)

And when do weeks for apoligies begin...

[Brilliant]

I’m surprised they even put Muslims in jail.

[Gandalf_The_Gray]

I’ll bet they don’t even know the color of the prophet’s eyes.

Red, where do I pick up my prize?

Regards,
GtG

[InvisibleChurch]

No doubt you’re right, but sometimes I think they do things like that JUST to be difficult... kind of like our liberal pals.