Get the H* Out OR Shut the F* Up

If you live in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq or any nutcase country with no freedom of speech (many of which the US supports), you need to do one of two things ...

1. Get the H* Out
2. Shut the F* Up

If you don't the consequences are likely to be severe.

For example, please consider the plight of Saudi Arabian blogger Raif Badawi. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes.

His crime was "insulting Islam" in his "Free Saudi Liberals" website.

The Guardian explains in Saudi blogger to be publicly flogged on charges he insulted Islam.

A Saudi blogger who was sentenced last May to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes will be publicly flogged for the first time after Friday prayers outside a mosque in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah, according to a person close to his case.

Raif Badawi was sentenced on charges related to accusations that he insulted Islam on a liberal online forum he had created. He was also ordered by the Jeddah criminal court to pay a fine of 1m Saudi riyals, or about $266,000.

Amnesty International has said that Badawi is to receive 50 lashes once a week for 20 weeks.

Third Moral

In an even more preposterous ruling, his lawyer was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment and barred from traveling for another 15 years after being found guilty by an anti-terrorism court of “undermining the regime and officials”, “inciting public opinion” and “insulting the judiciary”.

So not only had you better shut up or get out, the third moral to this story is "you better not defend someone who doesn't shut up."

Following his arrest, his wife and children left the kingdom for Canada, most likely so they can say what they want about this travesty of justice.

Fourth Moral

For appealing the ruling, Badawi will be in prison ten years, up from the original seven.

Thus, the fourth moral to this story is "If you elect to stay but don't shut your mouth, don't appeal absurd decisions or the result will be even worse."

Where's Obama?

Inquiring minds may be asking "Where is President Obama on this?"

The answer is "The same place George Bush would have been: Silent."

As a musical tribute to this entire ridiculous affair, I offer ...



Link if video does not play "Silence is Golden".

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com