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Smoking hurts on Saudi airline
For a smoker, nothing is more miserable than staring down a long flight without being able to light up. As if air travel isn't enough of a chore, various regulations and health nuts have taken away our preferred coping mechanism. A Sudanese man fought back ... and paid dearly. According to the Daily Mail, the passenger lit a cigarette on a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight from Qurayyat to Jeddah. The cabin crew repeatedly asked that he put out the coffin nail, and he refused. So, when the plane touched down, he was arrested.
Saying sorry wasn't enough.
Though he apologized in court and presented evidence that he was in a smoking cessation program, the perp was sentenced to 30 lashes. Hey, the judge wanted to prove a point. And, it could have been worse. Last April, another in-flight smoker was sentenced to 50.
Not only does smoking kill ... it hurts like hell.
Though many human rights organizations condemn this form of punishment, it is quite common for a number of offenses, from adultery to being alone with a non-relative of the opposite sex. Some crimes can lead to thousands of lashes, but they are meted out in batches of 50 over a period of months.
What gets you 1,000 lashes? I don't know, but I suspect a post-coital cig after joining the mile-high club would put you in the running.
[Via Daily Mail]
What strange things have been found on planes?
Filed under: Activism, Africa, Saudi Arabia, Airlines, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 15)
eerie quark doll Feb 5th 2009 5:20AM
"Health nuts"? "Fought back"?
Moira Feb 5th 2009 10:49AM
That phrase struck me with annoyance too. Health nuts? There are quite a few of us who don't want to be exposed to second hand smoke for many good reasons, and certainly not while aboard a plane, in small quarters, where we can't get away from the smoke. I grew up abused by parents who gave me lashes for speaking out against being forced to be exposed to my father's second hand smoke as a child. While I think that lashing is harsh for that man who smoked aboard the craft, if it was the understood law of his land, then he knew the risks and was a selfish fool. I believe that smokers have the right to smoke, but not where others who do not want to be exposed to it are trying to breathe.
ProPalin Feb 5th 2009 6:53PM
YES "health nuts" and "fought back". This no-smoking craze has gone beyong insane. I AM NOT NOT NOT ADVOCATING SMOKING ON AN AIRLINER. That is way too small an area to smoke in. What chaps my butt is how buddies have Happy Hour'ed in smokey bars for YEARS, smoked like chimneys themselves, have quit and are now on a perpetual soap box about not smoking. Incredible. They are very heavy people but preach about smoking? Lose about 50 pounds and then come talk to me about my addiction. Second Hand Smoke theory is simply a theory and unproven. Many a doc has confided that it the medical profession thought it up as another way to explain WHAT THEY DO NOT KNOW. Lighten up on us smokers...unless you are perfect. Then you can preach to me about my bad habit.
Addie Feb 5th 2009 6:22AM
This is a well written article. I like the way the author includes the bit about 1000 lashes for adultry, and connects the dots in the end with the mile high club. Very nice short article about a dark topic that can leave you with a little bit of a smile.
WHOSOEVERWILL Feb 7th 2009 3:37PM
WHEN YOU GET ON OXYGEN...YOU WILL THINK DIFFERENT...YOU ARE BEING ROBBED OF GOOD HEALTH...DONT KNOW THAT NOW...TIME WILL TELL...JUST KEEP ON SMOKING...IN A MINUTE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BREATH...GOT ASTHMA...KEEP ON SMOKING...GOT BRONCHIL ASTHMA...KEEP ON SMOKING...GOT SHORTNESS OF BREATH...KEEP ON SMOKING...THE PACKAGE IS TELLING YOU THE TRUTH...YOU CAN STOP SMOKING ALSO...NOT GOING TO BASH YOU...JUST WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT COUGH YOU HAVE...COMES FROM SMOKING...SECOND HAND SMOKE IS MORE DISATEROUS...IT REALLY HURTS...SMOKE GOT DEADLY CHEMICALS IN IT...WHEN YOU BLOW IT OUT...THEN IS IT EVER STALE AND MORE HARMFUL...DONT GET ANGRY JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE HAD THE POWER TO STOP AND NOW KNOW HOW AWFUL THEY SMELLED AND NOW KNOW HOW HARMFUL IT WAS TO THEIR HEALTH...IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE...ITS JUST LIKE AND ALCOHOLIC...WHO IS NOW SOBER...A DRUG ADDICT...WHICH YOU ARE...ADDICTED TO SMOKING....DRUG ADDICT THAT IS NOW CLEAN...WHO CAN HELP OTHERS...AND YOU STINK...SMOKERS STINK...YOU WILL KNOW IF YOU LIVE TO STOP...TO IMPOSE SUCH A NASTY HABIT ON INNOCENT CHILDREN/PEOPLE...THINK...IN YOUR PRIVACY YOU CAN SMOKE YOUR CIGARETTS...BUT NOT IN A CROWD...NO ONE DESERVES ANOTHERS BAD HABIT...THATS YOUR HABIT...KEEP IT TO YOURSELF...NO THANKS TO THE SMOKE THAT MAKE YOU CHOKE...AND YOU WILL CHOKE JUST KEEP ON SMOKING
amak29 Feb 9th 2009 2:52AM
Wow, I didn't mean to get you all upset. The article made me laugh. I don't think smoking should be allowed on planes. Neither do I think you should get lashes for doing it, just jail or a fine. My mom is on oxygen because she smoked. I didn't mean to get you all ruffelled up. Have a nice day.
Donna Feb 5th 2009 6:30AM
30 lashes is a bit excessive, after all, it was just a cigarette. Being a smoker myself, I understand how this man (and every smoker) felt. While I understand that non-smoker's don't want to be around it, smoker's have rights as well. Smokers pay taxes just like non-smokers. In fact, smokers pay MORE taxes since there are tax increases on tobacco every 12-24 months. And the taxes will be going even higher now that Obama has signed the S-Chip bill. Instead of taking away our right to smoke, instead of making snide comments to us or giving us dirty looks every time we "light up", remember that tobacco sales are one of the largest money-makers for this country. Give us back our "smoking sections" in restuarants, bars, hotels, airports, etc.
sam Feb 5th 2009 9:26AM
"Smokers have rights"?? I'm confused. Your rights end where the rights of others begin and since the air is nice and clean and you poison it and when it's the air that I have to breathe that is where your rights end moron. Smokers don't have rights unless they are poisoning only the air that they breathe. Maybe we should add a tax to cigarettes like $6-8 a pack to pay for filtrations systems on planes so you can go into a small cubicle and smoke, but you pay for the system through these taxes, not me. Idiots like you are what ruins life for everyone else with your thinking that you have rights regardless of who it kills.
Jason Feb 5th 2009 9:26AM
You are a huge tool. Why should my health have to suffer at your stupidity? Just because you don't care that you die of lung cancer does not mean that I want to as well. When you are in a building with a smoker you are breathing that junk in. No one should have to breath in dangerous chemicals against their will. If it is your choice to do so fine but do not include me cause I take it as an endangerment to my health and I believe in an eye for an eye. Might as well just shoot yourself, a bullet is a whole lot cheaper than a pack of smokes.
John G. Feb 5th 2009 9:31AM
Never gonna happen. Soon you wont be able to smoke anywhere except your own bathroom. it's about time. Ya see, I also have rights.
Those rules exist on all airlines, so he knew well in advance. Maybe you should take his place. Obviously you are just as stupid as he is.
Lin Feb 5th 2009 9:41AM
You don't "really" think that those non smoking areas keeps the smoke out of the non smoking ones do you? If so....then your smoking has affected your brain. I can even smell the smoke when someone is lighting up outside, in what is supposed to be fresh air. Instant headache right between the eyes! Even if a smoking person goes outside or wherever, when they return, us non smoking people can smell the disgust of them when they return. It hangs in their hair, their body, and their clothes, not to mention how bad their breath smells. It definitely is a catch 22 situation, where no one wins and everyone loses.
Jan Feb 5th 2009 9:46AM
Not everything in life has to be the "equal" for all.
Life is made up of choices and the end result is people DO WHAT THEY WANT. Your choice to smoke results in conditions on how it affects others,plain and simple.
You have the right to destroy your own life, but you don't have the right to slowly murder all of us who don't smoke. Your choice is for YOU, not me and my children. YOU made a choice to smoke, those of us who chose not to made a choice as well and in a democracy, majority rules.
I think that the middle east has it 100% right on their punishments for their people. Maybe if the US adopted some of their punishments we wouldn't have as many of the problems that we have. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time, or in this case, accept the punishment.
Richie Feb 5th 2009 9:47AM
I dont care if people smoke, its thier bodies. BUT...........Smoking is a vice and it does not entitle you too any rights. Smokers cant seem too get it through thier thick skulls that people who do not smoke do not want too smell it, breath it or get it in their clothes. My brother chews tobacco. He hates cigarette smoke. He says the result of his vice is nice juicy tobacco spit (he doesnt spit on the street or ground, chews and collects it in a cup or bottle and disposes of it.) He equates the tobacco spit too cigarette smoke. He says how would smokers like it if he just spit his tobacco juice on them? Spit it in thier nose so they have too smell it? Make them walk through a puddle of it everytime THEY walked out of a building. Same with drinking alcohol. It makes me pee. How about if I pee on you smokers everytime I have too walk through your smoke cloud? Is that our "chewers and drinkers" rights?
larry Feb 5th 2009 9:56AM
WTF. Just go lick the tiolet seats at Grand central staition.
Billy Feb 5th 2009 10:52AM
I used to use smokeless tobacco. You smoke, I chew, You blow smoke on me, I'll spit on you. I had some good fights when I did spit a large mouthful of tobacco juice on a smoker. Smokers DO NOT have the right to endanger my life with second hand smoke, as I never spit on the ground in front of people in a public place. And tobacco spit IS disgusting. I have and I will fight for my right to live my life without breathing other peoples rude behavior.
Mar Feb 5th 2009 10:56AM
I do feel your pain about high taxes on tobacco products but the tax increase we'll see on April first related to the S-chip bill was passed way before Obama took office. I'm sure we will find plenty of stuff to blame him for but I don't think we can give him the rap on this one.
Joe Feb 5th 2009 11:07AM
Donna,
I have no objection to your right to smoke, really, none whatsoever, as long as I can get out of range. If I cannot then you are violating my rights. If people who do not wish to smoke cannot get away from you then you no longer have the right to smoke. It really is that simple.
Marilyn Feb 5th 2009 11:06AM
Donna as a non smoker and business owner, I pay throught the nose for people like you to be included on our company health insurance. I pay when employees are off 'sick' smokers cough, or their children are 'sick ' asthma. Most use their 'personal paid days', its surprising how healthy they are when they have to use their vacation days, when the personal are used up. Yes you have a right and pay taxes, but your taxes don't equal my by any means
Sandy Feb 5th 2009 11:26AM
Those of us with asthma and other related problems actually enjoy being able to go out and not have carcinogenic compounds blown in our faces. Smokers have rights....smoke at home or in your car, and leave the rest of us the clean air. WE have the right not to be killed by your second hand smoke.
josh Feb 5th 2009 11:33AM
I'm a non-smoker; can't stand the smell of it. However, people should not be so quick to condemn other people's habits. Yours might be next on the chopping block, and what once was considered normal societal behavior, might have you looking like a criminal also.
Aside from that, the poster is right...there should be smoking areas available as long as they don't contaminate the air of a non-smokers.
I post this response because I am NOT happy with the quickness that we all condemn a fellow human and shutdown any of their opinions down because you feel the majority is on your side; this country is becoming a nanny state. "I don't care about your rights; I won't serve this food because you're fat" is coming up next.
Stupid authoritarian minded people bring you dictators like Hitler. Or Obama. or Bush.
Sheep!