A Malaysian state plans to recruit “spies” from the public to snoop on unmarried lovers and report them to Islamic religious authorities, a newspaper said Tuesday.
The Terengganu state government plans to enlist the part-time spies to look out for un-Islamic behavior, such as unmarried couples kissing or holding hands, the Star daily said.
“Some of these ‘spies’ could be waitresses or even janitors at hotels acting as auxiliary undercover agents for our religious department,” the head of the state government’s Islamic and welfare committee, Rosol Wahid, was quoted as saying.
Last October, religious police in another part of this mainly Muslim country caused an outcry when they mistakenly raided the rented holiday apartment of a Christian American couple on suspicion that they were unmarried Muslims in “close proximity.”
I think I’d rather take my wife on a vacation to Lubbock. Nah. Same thing might happen there.
So?
I am sure the religious right in America would do the same thing if they thought they could get away with it. Good thing we still have few freedoms left.
#3
I couldn’t said it better.
“Wack the wieners and plug the pussy’s, we cant have sex around here unless Allah approves” – Jack Myself Oftens, Chief of Religious Police.
#2
What do you mean ‘freedoms left’? That one is a freedom recently obtained! Kinda, sorta.
Theocracies are wonderful places to stay away from.
I’m not surprised. Malaysia is a nice country, but o’boy… is there ever discrimination… If you intend to work in the public sector, you better be Malay and not one of the minorities (Chinese, Hindy etc.).
With all the Iraq news, I suspect that Malaysia if off America’s radar screen.
I’ve been paying attention to Malaysia ever since Mahathir Mohamad came over here on a campaign to end the “Petro Dollar.” (i.e. end the US dollar as the currency for oil trading. )
Mahathir understands this would be a GIGANTIC HIT on the US economy. The guy has a vendetta against the US, for sure. But he’s brilliant — ending the petro dollar would TOTALLY SCREW OVER America and be perfectly legal. Fiscally smart, even, considering how sucky the dollar is doing under Bush.
But Mahathir wasn’t selling the idea for fiscal reasons. He was openly selling the idea as a way to punish the US for Iraq.
There’s also this news item:
Malaysia’s former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad convened a war crimes tribunal today to hear complaints by Iraqis and Palestinians against world leaders including John Howard and George W Bush. http://tinyurl.com/39kek6
and this:
Former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad Wednesday applauded Iraqi insurgents and said the flow of body bags back to the United States would “help Americans to change their minds.” http://tinyurl.com/2qvtks
You think George Bush even knows this guy’s name?
PS: Morals offenses are common in other Muslim countries — even in “ultra modern” Dubai, I can get arrested for kissing my wife in public. In most cases, it is self-appointed moral guardians who turn you in. Because, normally, a Muslim’s witness always out-weighs a Christian’s, you’re screwed.
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#7, Greg: And of course it’s the Malaysian Muslims fomenting much of the growing trouble in Southern Thailand despite the Thai government’s new policy of trying to open dialogs with the terrorists. Of all the religions the world doesn’t need (and we really need none), Islam has to top the list.
#9
You’re more up to speed than me. I didn’t realize the Southern Thailand / Malasia radical connection. Makes sense, though.
If you know anything about me, you know I won’t jump on any anti-religion or anti-Muslim bandwagon.
I’m a devout Christian who’s hobby is defending devout Muslims!
Maybe one has to live in the Muslim world as long as I have to not lay the blame on the religion.
I totally understand why westerners do this — considering that the RADICALS THEMSELVES credit Islam for their horrible acts.
But violent radicals are such a TEENY minority of the religion that I can’t make sweeping generalizations based the teeny tiny fraction. (Do the math yourself — a billion Muslims and a few hundred thousand violent radicals. )
It’s true that a much larger percentage of the religion have a militant mindset but even that might be less prevalent than in Christian America. America is probably the most militant nation on earth, as I define the term.
helloooooo