FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
A 13-year-old girl in Saudi Arabia has been sentenced to 90 lashes in front of her classmates. Her crime? She brought a cell phone to school.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/01/21/art.saudi.woman.jpg caption="FILE PHOTO: A Saudi woman poses for a photo in the city of Riyadh. This is not the 13-year-old girl from this story."]
A Saudi account of the story printed in "The Daily Mail" says a court also sentenced the child to two months in jail.
The girl reportedly assaulted her teacher after she was caught with the phone. Cell phones are banned in girls' schools in Saudi Arabia. This punishment is harsher than what some Saudi thieves get.
This is sick. Saudi Arabia is one of the United States' closest allies in the Middle East - because they have all that oil. And this is how they treat children. But as long as we need their oil, we just look the other way.
The country is an absolute monarchy that uses one of the strictest versions of Sharia - or Islamic law - anywhere.
They interpret the law to justify cruel punishment like amputation, stoning, public beheadings and crucifixions.
Saudi women are not allowed to drive - and in public, they must be completely covered and accompanied by a male relative at all times. Flogging is mandatory for "moral" offenses like adultery or being alone with an unrelated person of the opposite sex.
The ruler, King Abdullah, has supported some social reforms in the last few years - but in many instances, the religious clerics have so much power they can pretty much call the shots.
Here’s my question to you: What does it say when America’s ally Saudi Arabia sentences a 13-year-old girl to 90 lashes after bringing a cell phone to school?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Deb writes:
It says we can be bought. We are nothing but a whore for their oil and money, always have been. Why should a 13-year-old girl getting lashed to death or close to it be a reason to rock this boat now? It is very sad and embarrassing, but it’s reality. By the way, aren't the Bushes long-time close "friends" of some of the big Saudi royal families? Out of "concern," couldn't they throw a word or two in there to stop this?
Mehra writes:
We should respect the cultures of other countries as well as the rules of the school, both of which come above all else. The student should be punished since this is a matter of discipline. She was aware of the rules and defied the rules of the kingdom as well as school boards.
Deb writes:
It says we can be bought. We are nothing but a whore for their oil and money, always have been. Why should a 13-year-old girl getting lashed to death or close to it be a reason to rock this boat now? It is very sad and embarrassing, but it’s reality. By the way, aren't the Bushes long-time close "friends" of some of the big Saudi royal families? Out of "concern," couldn't they throw a word or two in there to stop this?
Mehra writes:
We should respect the cultures of other countries as well as the rules of the school, both of which come above all else. The student should be punished since this is a matter of discipline. She was aware of the rules and defied the rules of the kingdom as well as school boards.
Benjamin from Westerville, Ohio writes:
Considering we were unwilling to do anything at all after Saudi Arabia sent most of the 19 men to blow up our World Trade Centers, I'd say no one will have much to say about this girl. I am against all military action taking place at the moment, but would proudly fly our flag if our troops were in Saudi Arabia setting things right.
Alan from Canada writes:
I'm from Alberta, Canada, a place demonized by Al Gore because of the carbon-intensive oil sands, which offer the U.S. secure, reliable non-Saudi oil supply. Your choice, America: Child-floggers or your friends to the north.
Mike from Denver writes:
Their country and their laws, like it or not. I am sure we have laws that are offensive to people in other countries, including to our allies. If we want to tell others how to run their country, we need to be open to their criticisms as well.
Eashaan writes:
It says that radical Islamic behavior is not being adequately condemned by the U.S. or any kind of unified Islamic leadership. It is time to abandon the notion that all foreign cultural practices should be unquestionably respected and condemn states that are seemingly stuck in a medieval state of mind.
Tory from Georgia writes:
Just taking away the girl's phone is punishment enough for a teenager.
Benjamin from Westerville, Ohio writes:
Considering we were unwilling to do anything at all after Saudi Arabia sent most of the 19 men to blow up our World Trade Centers, I'd say no one will have much to say about this girl. I am against all military action taking place at the moment, but would proudly fly our flag if our troops were in Saudi Arabia setting things right.
Alan from Canada writes:
I'm from Alberta, Canada, a place demonized by Al Gore because of the carbon-intensive oil sands, which offer the U.S. secure, reliable non-Saudi oil supply. Your choice, America: Child-floggers or your friends to the north.
Mike from Denver writes:
Their country and their laws, like it or not. I am sure we have laws that are offensive to people in other countries, including to our allies. If we want to tell others how to run their country, we need to be open to their criticisms as well.
Eashaan writes:
It says that radical Islamic behavior is not being adequately condemned by the U.S. or any kind of unified Islamic leadership. It is time to abandon the notion that all foreign cultural practices should be unquestionably respected and condemn states that are seemingly stuck in a medieval state of mind.
Tory from Georgia writes:
Just taking away the girl's phone is punishment enough for a teenager.