webfact Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Saudi authorities backtrack on description of feminism as extremism FILE PHOTO: Saudi students are seen at an exhibition to guide job seekers to a women's career fair in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia October 2, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's state security agency distanced itself on Tuesday from a promotional video that categorized feminism, homosexuality and atheism as extremist ideas, blaming it on an action by individuals. The animated clip was posted on Twitter at the weekend by a verified account of the State Security Presidency which reports directly to the king. It has since been removed. In a statement published by state television, the security agency said the video contained a number of mistakes in defining extremism, and that the individuals who made the video did not do their job properly. In a separate statement, the state-affiliated Saudi Human Rights Commission said feminism was not a crime and that the kingdom "accords the utmost importance to women's rights." Neither statement referenced homosexuality and atheism -which have long been illegal and punishable by death in the absolute monarchy. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pushed for a more moderate form of Islam and promoted nationalist sentiment under his ambitious reform strategy that aims to open up society and attract foreign investment to diversify the oil-dependent economy. He has loosened social restrictions and launched a tourist visa and, as Saudi Arabia prepares to take over the presidency of the Group of 20 countries next year, Riyadh has chipped away at a guardianship system that assigns each woman a male relative to approve important decisions throughout their lives. But the authorities have also cracked down on dissent, arresting scores of critics including clerics, intellectuals and activists. Nearly a dozen women's rights advocates were detained some weeks before a ban on women driving - which they had campaigned against - was lifted last year. Activists and diplomats speculated that the arrests may have been a message that reform would happen only at the government's initiative. (Reporting by Marwa Rashad Editing by Mark Heinrich) -- © Copyright Reuters 2019-11-13 Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Town Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 This from a country that banned playing chess because it promoted drinking and gambling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluespunk Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 6 minutes ago, J Town said: This from a country that banned playing chess because it promoted drinking and gambling. Chess isn't and never was banned in Saudi Arabia. https://www.independent.ie/world-news/saudi-arabia-stages-chess-event-two-years-after-game-was-declared-forbidden-36437436.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klauskunkel Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 4 hours ago, webfact said: and that the kingdom "accords the utmost importance to women's rights." Well, that's good. Now you got to work on protecting journalist's rights... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieH Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 reported post removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Town Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 6 hours ago, Bluespunk said: Chess isn't and never was banned in Saudi Arabia. https://www.independent.ie/world-news/saudi-arabia-stages-chess-event-two-years-after-game-was-declared-forbidden-36437436.html That's good to know. They STILL suck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kinnock Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Their true views slipped out accidentally, but were removed after it was pointed out that we're not still in the Bronze Age. And the Saudi government branding others as extremists - pot, kettle, black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kinnock Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 7 hours ago, Bluespunk said: Chess isn't and never was banned in Saudi Arabia. https://www.independent.ie/world-news/saudi-arabia-stages-chess-event-two-years-after-game-was-declared-forbidden-36437436.html "Saudi Arabia is hosting a world chess tournament for the first time nearly two years after the country's top cleric issued a religious edict against playing the board game". Semantics. or perhaps anti-semantics ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluespunk Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 1 hour ago, Kinnock said: "Saudi Arabia is hosting a world chess tournament for the first time nearly two years after the country's top cleric issued a religious edict against playing the board game". Semantics. or perhaps anti-semantics ???? Nope, the claim was it was banned, that was wrong. It was never banned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Deerhunter Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 On 11/13/2019 at 1:58 PM, J Town said: This from a country that banned playing chess because it promoted drinking and gambling. Reminds me of the old joke about banning sex because it might lead to drinking and dancing. And of course the USA still considers saudis to be the good guys. The Dark Ages is still well alive and kicking in the Middle East. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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