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Men are not allowed to walk dogs (or cats) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia due to newly passed law
The reason why men aren't allowed to walk dogs or take cats out on a stroll in Riyadh as of Wednesday is because they aren't allowed to buy pets there any more. A hamster, maybe. A goldfish, probably, but not a dog or a cat. If a person has a pet already, the person can keep the pet, just not take it outside. As of Wednesday, the ban went into effect.
According to this AP article, some men, it seems, were using their furry friends as a way to get up close and personal with women and bother families--a big no no in Saudi Arabia. The sexes are to be separate from each other. Dogs and cats are ice breakers for bridging the divide.
As bans go, this one sounds a bit loosey goosey since as of the writing of the article, people didn't know about the ban, including a pet shop owner. The other detail the article pointed out is that it's not often that people walk dogs in Riyadh anyway and when do people really walk cats?
From what the people who were interviewed said, it doesn't sound as if people are planning to follow the ban, just like what happened when there was a ban on cell phones with cameras back in 2004. The fear there was that people of the opposite sex would use the cameras to take pictures of each other. People didn't go along with that ban so it was dropped.
If you are planning on heading to Saudi Arabia, I'd leave the pooch or kitty at home unless you don't mind them having a stay under the care of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, the name for the religious police who are doing the pet confiscating.
One thought about this ban is that it's really to control pet ownership which is seen as a Western influence. Dog ownership has not been part of Saudi culture until more recently. Cats, though, have, so it is unclear why they are being picked on.
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Filed under: Arts and Culture, Saudi Arabia, News, Middle East
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 4)
Amazing Aug 3rd 2008 11:22AM
Well, we all KNOW women cannot control their sexual urges so to ban women from walking dogs would just cause judicial chaos......lmao....
ivan awfullitch Aug 3rd 2008 11:37AM
I say neuter all muslims and this will not be a problem in a generation
kitty Aug 3rd 2008 11:51AM
how silly... i feel sorry for the pets there and the people..how can anyone live there...why do they take religion and twist it.. its so embarrassing
Ed Aug 3rd 2008 11:59AM
The article did not say anything about a pig, so I guess a pig is OK.
Andy Aug 3rd 2008 12:01PM
AND WE'RE GIVING THEM NUCLEAR tECHNOLOGY?
StoneMan Aug 3rd 2008 12:04PM
This country needs a head slap! Drill for OIL NOW in the USA! Do not give one more cent to these Neanderthal Arabs. Forget about China, go after these Bastards!
L.Reddig Aug 3rd 2008 12:27PM
If you really want to rant about something, how about female circumcision? If any country that would allow that is left to their own being, God help us all.
Mozelle Aug 3rd 2008 12:29PM
Perhaps Saudie men could enact a leash law for their women? They use them like dogs. They treat them like dogs. Why not parade them down the street like dogs?
Joe Aug 3rd 2008 12:36PM
Is the problem that the Saudis have too much
control over their country or that we (the U.S.)
doesn't have enough control of the Saudis?
Mozelle Aug 3rd 2008 12:35PM
When all their oil runs out what are they going to do? Eat sand? lol.
Down the road we will no longer need their oil! We must start by drilling our own! Stop buying Saudie oil!
May Alla crap all over that country soon! lol.
Jules Aug 3rd 2008 1:00PM
Maybe rather than attempting to control their pets, they should take the same view of men as they do women over there. Instead of blaming an dog or cat for the actions of its owner, set the men up for the same punishments as the women receive if a man were to rape her. I bet the guys would figure out how to keep it in their pants then.
bobby Aug 3rd 2008 1:07PM
Why not poke everyone's eyes out, except the poker of course. Then the saying" it's good to be the poker" would come into play.
bogino Aug 3rd 2008 1:25PM
When Obama becomes President he will Ban people from owning dogs too.
Brian Aug 3rd 2008 1:29PM
If cats and dogs are causing a problem with men, then maybe pass a
bill to ban men walking dogs/cats in certain areas, and make a common
area for men only. I wouldnt know what to do if some told me I
couldnt have a cat or dog, its just not right. Just ban the area
they are allowed to take the dogs and cats, and make them go to men
only areas.
savannah Aug 3rd 2008 1:31PM
somehow i knew before reading the article that it had to do something with men using dog walking to get closer to women. guys do that all the time in the U.S.
STEVE Aug 3rd 2008 1:34PM
SO, ONCE AGAIN THE CULTURAL DIVIDE BETWEEN THE EAST AND WEST KICKS IN...GOOD REASON TO NOT LIVE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Jauharah Aug 3rd 2008 1:34PM
Honestly once again the bigotry and hatred that comes out. What Saudi needs to do is kick all Westerners out of the country since they are the cause of all the immorality that has infected Saudi society. There is no actual need to do everything out in public and certainly not let everything hang out in public; there still is a thing called decency and that is what is being upheld in Saudi and should be upheld everywhere but it's not in favor of "freedom".
sandals71922 Aug 3rd 2008 1:35PM
I say - 'To each his own'
Jauharah Aug 3rd 2008 1:41PM
A better idea would be to neuter all men since all men do the same things and think with the same part of their anatomy. That would save all women from being subjected to such nonesense.
sousou Aug 3rd 2008 1:50PM
Muslims are not bad people it's just some people choosing to do bad stuff like all those christian killers? people dont really think about it but christians are as bad as some muslims. What is George Bush doing in Iraq? What are christian students doing to there school?