Barbie Deemed Threat to Saudi Morality

NW Cable News ^ | 09/09/03 | Staff Writer

[bedolido]

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- Saudi Arabia's religious police have declared Barbie dolls a threat to morality, complaining that the revealing clothes of the "Jewish" toy - already banned in the kingdom - are offensive to Islam.

The Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, as the religious police are officially known, lists the dolls on a section of its Web site devoted to items deemed offensive to the conservative Saudi interpretation of Islam.

"Jewish Barbie dolls, with their revealing clothes and shameful postures, accessories and tools are a symbol of decadence to the perverted West. Let us beware of her dangers and be careful," said a poster on the site.

The poster, plastered with pictures of Barbie in short dresses and tight pants, and with a few of her accessories, reads: "A strange request. A little girl asks her mother: Mother, I want jeans, a low-cut shirt, and a swimsuit like Barbie."

Such posters are distributed to schools and hung in the streets by the religious police, or muttawa, an independent body affiliated with the office of the Prime Minister.

Vice police officials were not available for comment Monday.

Sheik Abdulla al-Merdas, a preacher in a Riyadh mosque, said the muttawa take their anti-Barbie campaign to the shops, confiscating dolls from sellers and imposing a fine.

Although illegal, Barbies, the creation of California-based Mattel Inc., are found on the black market, where a contraband doll could cost $27 or more.

"It is no problem that little girls play with dolls. But these dolls should not have the developed body of a woman, and wear revealing clothes," al-Merdas said.

"These revealing clothes will be imprinted in their minds and they will refuse to wear the clothes we are used to as Muslims," the sheik said.

Women in Saudi Arabia must cover themselves from head to toe with a black cloak in public. They are not allowed to drive and cannot go out in public unaccompanied by a male family member.

Other items listed as violations on the site included Valentine's Day gifts, perfume bottles in the shape of women's bodies, clothing with logos that include a cross, and decorative copies of religious items - offensive because they could be damaged and thus insult Islam.

An exhibition of all the violating items is found in the holy city of Medina, and mobile tours go around to schools and other public areas in the kingdom.

The muttawa act as a monitoring and punishing agency, propagating conservative Islamic beliefs according to the teachings of the puritan Wahhabi sect, adhered to the kingdom since the 18th century, and enforcing strict moral code.

The muttawa patrol the streets of the kingdom, preventing men from mingling with women, enforcing strict Islamic dress for women, chasing worshippers late for prayers, and punishing shop keepers who stay open during prayer hours. They sometimes work with a police officer who can enforce legal punishments on people deemed violators.

[Guillermo]

This is what the Mohammedan crazies want for this country, and the Left supports them, because they're "against Bush."

[mikeb704]

Gee, does this mean the smut peddler who cares may not be getting the Saudi vote?

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[Uncle Miltie]

"Barbie Deemed Threat to Saudi Morality"

You have a fragile society when....

[Darksheare]

They lust for a piece of plastic?
Now I KNOW FOR SURE that the Kingdom of Saud is insane.
As if I needed confirmation on that...

[wideawake]

"These revealing clothes will be imprinted in their minds and they will refuse to wear the clothes we are used to as Muslims," the sheik said.

Wait a minute!

All the apologists for Mahound in the West say that the Mahoundist way of life is the most rational and normal way, and that women in places like Saudi Arabia like dressing in the clothes "we are used to as Muslims."

What gives?

[Publius]

Aw, just give Barbie a clitoridectomy, and she'll be fine.

[Dialup Llama]

They dont they fit her up with a suicide bomber vest and then I'm sure Barbie will be islamically correct.

[Dialup Llama]

>Women in Saudi Arabia must cover themselves from head to toe with a black cloak in public.

Burka Barbie

[cyborg]

Breathing human beings are a threat to Saudi morality

[AKA Elena]

I am not sorry to say that I think "Barbie" and her counterparts have never been a "wonderful" addition to the collections of toys belonging to ALL of the children of the world. But then again, I am extremely "right wing".

[goldstategop]

As long as Barbie lives in the 7th Century and is a male chattel the Saudi religious secret police have no problems with her.

[tet68]

Aha, it's the old, "Leads to harder stuff" routine.
Boy are they in for a shock!

Note to mullahs................it doesn't WORK.

[Alouette]

[ZGuy]

If they sold the "Heavenly Barbie" set with 12 naked Barbies and one deceased terrorist I'm sure that would be morally and theologically acceptable.

[Alouette]

I like these Barbies.

[kidd]

Mattel needs to come up with a "Stone Me Barbie"

[Ingtar]

Oh for the cash for a B52 load of Swim Suit Barbies to drop on Mecca. Think of the deterrence potential!

[dighton]

"Jewish Barbie dolls, with their revealing clothes and shameful postures, accessories and tools are a symbol of decadence to the perverted West. Let us beware of her dangers and be careful."

[Conservative4Ever]

Bwahahahahahahaha. Who would have ever guessed that Barbie is a secret weapon...Ken and Skipper co-agents too?

Red