Morality police in Palestine, arrest and beat people who break the Ramadan fast

[ViolaLee]

In Palestine, now, during Ramadan, which is almost over, there are morality police. They walk around arresting anyone eating, smoking, drinking water/juice, chewing gum, whistling at girls or playing music too loud. Sometimes they beat people too.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1011/csmimg/OBELIEVE_P2.jpg

In the city of Ramallah, officers patrol the streets carrying AK-47 rifles, arresting anyone caught violating the religious prohibition against eating, smoking or drinking in public during daytime. The new group's leader is Lt. Murad Qundah, an ambitious 27-year-old officer who helped create the unit.

"My main task is to preserve the spirit of Ramadan, to make sure no one breeches the law of Ramadan, of fasting," Qundah said in Arabic. "And second, in order to stop all rascalish behavior in the streets of Ramallah."

The lieutenant says most violators are taken to an interrogation room at the police station, where they get a stern talking-to about morality, Islam and social order.

If the violator shows no remorse, he says, they might have to spend a night in jail and sign a statement pledging not to violate Ramadan again.


In the West Bank city of Nablus, about an hour north of Ramallah, police have also been enforcing the fast, sometimes with brute force.

"If this person insults Muslims and insults his fellow citizens," by violating the fast, Nablus police Lt. Ashrah Hashykeh said in Arabic, "he will be beaten in order to be an example to others."

Asked if the back of the hand is the approved method for police to enforce God's law, Lt. Hashykeh simply nods an enthusiastic "yes."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15178892

These are sad and scary times when it comes to religion.

[JohnnyAwake]

The opiate of the masses?

[moses2792796]

Good on them, keepin some order around the place, those damn Palestinians need some authority to stop them makin trouble...I think I like them better when they're throwing rocks at Jews though.

Fanatical atheists should look a bit deeper into what they're saying, is religion really the cause of this sort of thing? Think about it.

[ViolaLee]

Tell me how religion is not the cause of religious morality police arresting and beating people who aren't obeying the religious rules.

[jafar00]

Palestine is run by Shariah Law. It is stated in the Qur'aan that fast is obligatory unless you are sick, or on a journey in which case you are absolved by feeding the poor in lieu.
Other countries can enforce laws that seem strange to others. Why not Palestine?

[MAP2010.wireless]

When looking at other Cultures and faiths its so easy to say they are wrong because how we do stuff, but they have the right to make and follow their laws. They follow their faith and its important to them, just because you disagree don't make it wrong. Its just the way its done there, they have great faith in what do believe. I have been reading and trying to understand the Muslim faith so I would know what they believe, I respect their faith as it is strong and they have must respect for "Allah/God".

[moses2792796]

Viola, religion is a method not a cause, if religion didn't exist this type of thing would still occur, why not actually target the source?

[JohnnyAwake]

Viola, religion is a method not a cause, if religion didn't exist this type of thing would still occur, why not actually target the source?


Religion is the opiate of the masses; and also a method. A method for the rationale of harnessing hatred and intolerance. These are indisputable facts based upon observations. However you are partially correct; if there weren't religion there'd be something else. So irregardless and plain to the senses, humanity has it's flaws.

[moses2792796]

Perhaps instead of attacking religion you should attack corrupt principles. When religion stays true to its source it can be the basis of a strong culture, but when it becomes corrupt it is "the opiate of the masses". In modern times though religion and atheists are (mostly) corrupt, and yet they waste time attacking eachother rather than targeting the real problem, we have enough distraction in the world without creating more for ourselves.

[JohnnyAwake]

Perhaps instead of attacking religion you should attack corrupt principles. When religion stays true to its source it can be the basis of a strong culture, but when it becomes corrupt it is "the opiate of the masses". In modern times though religion and atheists are (mostly) corrupt, and yet they waste time attacking eachother rather than targeting the real problem, we have enough distraction in the world without creating more for ourselves.


Perhaps you should reconsider the relationship between the 'source' and 'religion'. It isn't that religion needs to stay true to it's sources; Rather, its sources need to stay true to their religion. This might not form the basis for a 'strong culture' (I suppose it might; but what makes vast cultures distinct also makes them strong.. A secular culture has just as much potential for retention as a nonsecular culture). But certainly a stronger society that can withstand and triumph over human indignity.[hr]
Palestine is run by Shariah Law. It is stated in the Qur'aan that fast is obligatory unless you are sick, or on a journey in which case you are absolved by feeding the poor in lieu.
Other countries can enforce laws that seem strange to others. Why not Palestine?


This is Cultural Relativism tried and true.

[moses2792796]

By source I mean the metaphysical principle underlying the scipture, when this esoteric knowledge is lost the religion becomes corrput. Consensus is what is necessary for a culture to thrive, and religion can provide this...it allows for the society to be connected to higher reality and in doing so gives it a viable form.

[Scorpion]

As for me, the threat of one night in the Ramallah jail would convince me to do whatever they want.

Besides, there aren't any retaurants worth eating in on the West Bank. The food looks, smells and tastes like 10 day old road kill.

[JohnnyAwake]

By source I mean the metaphysical principle underlying the scipture, when this esoteric knowledge is lost the religion becomes corrput. Consensus is what is necessary for a culture to thrive, and religion can provide this...it allows for the society to be connected to higher reality and in doing so gives it a viable form.


I didn't think metaphysical properties could underline any scripture that was written from the reasoning of human cognition. Did this "esoteric" knowledge ever exist. Or are you going to try to tell me there was an enlightened inner circle at one point of time (some how above the biological restrictions of human potentiality)? What is this "higher reality" you speak of? Are you referring to an insatiable appetite for spirituality that would fill some void of intangible self worth (otherwise nonexistent; and beyond your human comprehension to prove or disprove)?

[moses2792796]

The scriptures are metaphysical doctrines from an esoteric perspective, your reference to an enlightened inner circle basically means elites, these people have been called mystics in Christianity, they are all but extinct in the modern era. The quest for sprituality has always been of utmost importance to humanity, except for in recent times, this is undoubtedly a sign of decline. The higher reality I refer to is essentially, that which has no form, which you have yet to realise. Humans may be restricted physically, but they are not restricted spritually, because essentially God is within us as well as beyond us.