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Woman in Saudi Faces 40 Lashes for Mingling

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 9, 2009 6:30 PM CDT

(Newser) – A 75-year-old Syrian woman faces 40 lashes and 4 months in prison for mingling with two men in Saudi Arabia, CNN reports. Khamisa Mohammed Sawadi will also be deported for allowing the men to enter her home last year. The men, sentenced to lashings as well, told police that Sawadi had breastfed one of them, which made their visit religiously correct. But a judge found no evidence of breastfeeding.

"It's made everybody angry because this is like a grandmother," one advocate said. A top Saudi human rights lawyer has vowed to appeal Sawadi's case, which marks another chapter in the country's ongoing human rights debate. King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz recently installed more moderates in his Cabinet after a teen gang rape victim was punished, a move that sparked international uproar.

A Western man glides down an incline next to Muslim women in traditional Saudi dress at Central Market shopping mall October 15, 2002 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
A Western man glides down an incline next to Muslim women in traditional Saudi dress at Central Market shopping mall October 15, 2002 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.   (Getty Images)
A Saudi woman is seen outside a mosque in the Saudi capital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009.
A Saudi woman is seen outside a mosque in the Saudi capital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
A Saudi woman is seen outside a mosque in the Saudi capital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009.
A Saudi woman is seen outside a mosque in the Saudi capital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Saudi woman arrives to the Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque to offer Eid al-Fitr morning prayers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008.
Saudi woman arrives to the Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque to offer Eid al-Fitr morning prayers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008.   (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 18 comments
Guest
May 2, 2009 1:25 AM CDT
Why would it be ok if she was "just breastfeeding" them? What a screwed up place.
JackieBrown
Mar 11, 2009 2:29 AM CDT
mohammed was a fag...
bacimom
Mar 10, 2009 9:19 PM CDT
breastfed?

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