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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 4 of 15)
drktranquillity Feb 5th 2009 7:26AM
For every cigarette you don't smoke, I'll smoke three. With all the chemicals in the air, water and food you take in on a daily basis, cigarette smoke is the least of your worries. Lighting up in public is also a quick and easy way to shoo off uppity, obnoxious individuals who think themselves superior to you because they lead an "enlightened" lifestyle. It's especially funny when you see them later driving some gas-guzzling SUV, with a cell phone attached to their ear.
ProPalin Feb 6th 2009 5:50PM
HA HA HA, drktranquility...good post.
mark Feb 5th 2009 7:27AM
all the wonderfull comments from the the good old american do gooders about smoking, the problem in this country is that they can't mind their business god help us we are on our way out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lou Feb 5th 2009 7:35AM
What is amazing in the U.S. is that while more anti-tobacco legislation is being proposed, groups (including law enforcement - i.e. L.E.A.P.) are trying to legalize hard drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, etc. What did I miss?
Ron Feb 5th 2009 7:35AM
I think that everyone who agrees that physical abuse such as whipping another individual for lighting up a cig is a hipocrite, because I'm sure at one time or another they have committed a crime and probally do everyday putting others in harms way. Such as speeding or running yellow/red lights while driving. The only difference is that you get away with it in most cases. I'm sure you wouldn't agree with getting 30 lashes along with your ticket if you were caught breaking the law. No difference your endangering the lives of others besides yourself.
comisar99 Feb 5th 2009 7:36AM
anyone that endangers others on a flight, needs to be beaten, and beaten again until they understand that their selfish actions are hurting the others on the plane. If they still do not understand, beat them AGAIN!
Todd Feb 5th 2009 10:49AM
I imagine it could have been alot worst than 30 lashes, they could have just sawed his head off while he was alive. No smoking on flights everyone knows about this. Only an idiot would light up.
John Feb 5th 2009 8:10AM
I have no sympathy for smokers either. But I do have to thank them, if it wasn't for them. Myself and thousands of other people would not have a job. I am a respiratory therapist and I will be there as they die a very miserable death. I will be providing the oxygen that they will need just to breathe. I will be handing the nebulizer filled with medicine to open their airways so that they can get that much needed oxygen into their lungs. On the other hand, if you quit smoking then I won't mind finding another job that does not deal with death and dying. I would much rather see a world free of smoke and lung cancer caused by a nasty addiction. And yes, IT IS AN ADDICTION. You can get help.
ProPalin Feb 10th 2009 1:07PM
WOW you are a real jerk-off, man. I hate to think of such an ugly hateful person in the medical profession. What about you, a$$hole? What do you do that is unhealthy. Nothing? You're perfect? You'll be there, huh, giving oxygen, etc. What if someone realizes what a vindictive weenie you are and offs you? What if you die of cancer yourself? Would you want some self-righteous jerk like you taking care of you? Please find another profession, you're in the wrong field. Compassion, no matter what, are needed in the medical world.
John Feb 10th 2009 3:47PM
You are obviously a smoker for this to have bothered you that much. I stand by what I said. And for your information, I am probably one of the most compassionate people you will ever meet. If that was not the case I would not still be doing what I do after 21 years. Smoking is an addiction, smokers are becoming part of the minority. What is wrong with wanting a healthier lifestyle for everyone. You are right, I am not perfect, I need to lose some weight and learn to eat better and to exercise. These are things that I can and will do for myself. If I die of cancer, it may not be something I did, it could very easily be the result of a former job, my days growing in south Florida under a hot sun. But I won't die of a bad habit that will lead to certain illness. Even after all the things that you had to say, I would still treat just like anyone else that I had the opportunity to take care. You will get some of the best care possible. Good luck with your hateful ways and hopefully you will not be a statistic like other people.
Lorne Feb 18th 2009 12:05PM
I agree with you John this pro palin is obviously a smoker. I feel bad for the kids that got hooked in the 50's and 60's cause there wasnt all the data that there is today avilable on smoking. In the 70's there was lots and all sorts of anti smoking campaigns launched by advertisers and government on the dangers and addictiveness of cigs. It's the same as steroid usage in the 60's Arnold ,Lou all these bodybuilders were guinipigs used to experment with this crap ,they had no Idea how harmful it was till the 70's. For these few the damage to their bodies was done. It's the same with the smokers.They didnt know back then when they got hooked how bad it could get. I feel we need to have compassion for these people who were unsuspectenly snared by this insedious, evil ,twisted ,drug. The people in the last 30 or so years I cannot feel sorry for .they all had the info and new the risks.These people should have to bare the brunt of their medical treatments that will cost society billions from now on and forever more .No one in their right mind should start this habbit today but for some unknown reason they do. Stupid is as stupid does I guess.All you smokers just have to put your big girl panties on as suck it up and quit,for your healths sake and societies sake. Quit making the tobacco executives billionaires living the life with their whores ,lier jets and private Islands while they take yours. For every billionaire tobacco ex. there are a million dead smokers with a million more lined up eagerly waiting to take up the habbit. Go figure!! Cheers
terry Feb 5th 2009 8:10AM
I lived in Saudia Arabia for 3.5 years and had a friend arrested and sentenced to 4 years and 400 lashings for have booze. He spent 2 years in jail and recieved 200 lashings. You should know that the lashings are not slammed on you like in the movies. Lenny told me he had to hold a koran under his arm and then they gently slapped him with a switch. It was not a cat of ninetails nor did he suffer nd cuts bruises or pain from it. It is meant to embarras you more than hurt you. That was then (1980)don't know about now
Ray Feb 5th 2009 8:11AM
I love all the people who criticize smoking, but are the same people that drink, are fat, drink contaminated BOTTLED water, eat food with pesticides, overpollute through waste and overpopulation, and live in dangerous dirty polluted cities and send their kids to the garbage schools in these cities. Before you criticize, you idoits, take a good look at your own lives.
Debbie Feb 5th 2009 8:11AM
He deserved everything he got. I'll say one thing about the culture over there .... laws are laws, period the end.... I wish we had more of it here in the States, you know, actually punishing the perpetrator instead of letting him 'blame' something or someone from his youth and giving him a hug. maybe if we had more punishment for crimes committed, we wouldn't have so much crime.
budoinst@aol.com Feb 5th 2009 9:21AM
The hell with your smoking sections! Second hand smoke is as bad or worse than the fools that do smoke. Paying mucho dollars to kill yourself and others is absurd. I KNOW! I never smoked but hung with people who did and my lungs are a mess on account of it.
You want to smoke and slowly kill yourself while stinking up the place, go ahead. We, the vast majority, who do love to watch you shivering outside these days getting your fill of your addiction would rather you do so out of our sight and smell. I have seen way too many people who had to and/or wanted to stop do so and did so on their own.
Casey Feb 5th 2009 8:11AM
Cool! They should implement the same tactics here in the States under our new Socialist States of America, headed by our illustrious leader Nobama Bin Biden.
Pamela Feb 5th 2009 8:21AM
Hey Kim, what are you twelve? "Awesome" is reserved for those experiencing something in awe. Your logical reasoning here is missing. The story was well written and literate. You, sadly are not..."dude".
bigdad2644 Feb 5th 2009 9:25AM
The point is, this clown broke the law! It doesn't matter if you agree with it or not. In other places if you commit a crime they punish you. Here in the U.S.A. we are much to concerned about someones rights. If you commit a crime you should be punished and set an example for the next idiot who thinks about it!!!
ickyickyicky1514 Feb 5th 2009 9:27AM
While I do not condone this punishment, smokers do not seem to get it; when in a confined space (plane, restaurant, bar, building access point, etc) there is no way for a non-smoker to avoid the pollution of second hand smoke (ill health effects, clothing smell, etc). I have no issue with smokers doing their thing in a non-shared space. As well, as long as they pay more for health insurance to equalize healthcare costs (smokers are much more likely to be absent from work, suffer heart attacks, have breathing issues, etc.) enjoy the habit.
wvborn Feb 5th 2009 9:28AM
We are going to die of one thing or another and no one should have more rights than another in the USA. A lot of people are right in the fact that we already pay more taxes and don't forget we also pay more for our medical so that we can pay for the non-smokers. It is okay if you eat yourself into fat ass hog, smell from it and don't forget the baths you have to take in your colognes to mask it and many are allergic to colognes more so than cigarette smoke. God help all of us who at one time grew up with coal and wood stoves and had to breathe bad air all the time and still made it to 80's and 90's. To live for a long time is a living hell and punishment in itself. No one should be aloowed to cough or sneeze while on a plane either for I sure don't want to catch the germ that you spread. I guess we will just have to start pushing out weight around for issue such as that. It is no longer the land of the free but the land of dictatorship.