Adil Najam
Here is a rather gruesome ad from the Punjab Anti-Narcotics Force, warning prospective pilgrims going for Hajj to Saudi Arabia of the dangers of drug trafficking.
The painted bill board ad makes the point, rather graphically and quite clearly that anyone caught bringing drugs into Saudi Arabia will face death. One wonders, however, if that point is being made a little more graphically than necessary.
The wording on the billboard (seemingly quite large and on an outdoor public location) says:
Don’t unknowingly invite death.
By taking someone’s else luggage or unnecessary foreign or local medications do not put your own life at risk.
Taking narcotics or addictive elements to Saudi Arabia will result in a certain death penalty.
Anti-Narcotics Force (Punjab).
How, I wonder, does a parent explain to a child who sees this billboard why the Arab-looking man is beheading the Pakistani-looking man with such gusto.
One wonders who it is that really gives Muslims a ‘bad name’? The message for the prospective drug smuggler to Saudi Arabia is quite clear. But, what is the message for the rest of us? And the rest of the world?
Oh i didnt know hajjis like to get high on their way to hajj.
Ayesha, you probably hanvet seen any of the beheading videos of the saudi dajjals (or dajjaj?) hacking someone’s neck off. Google along.
Say what you will, but it is the enforcement of such harsh laws that makes drugs a non-existant social problem in Saudi Arabia. I was born there and lived there till I was 17. Never once did I even hear rumors of drug-addicts committing crime to fuel their addictin, or even of someone’s house being robbed. It was simply unheard of. A few hundred drug trafficers are executed in Saudi every year. If this is the price that must be paid for a virtually drug free society, then I say it’s well worth it. The pernicious effects addictive drugs and the crime syndicates that they fuel on society in general is well documented. I think there is nothing wrong with the penalty that is being imposed.
As for the graphic warning – it makes an extremely crucial point crystal clear. Anyone who previously didn’t know any better will definately get the message now. The punishment is death. Why hold back in warning people of the extreme danger entailed in naively carrying someone else’s luggage to Saudi?
As and aside – what if the NAB were given powers to catch politicians red-handed with videotape and audiotape evidence of gross corruption? And what if upon presenting such irrefutable evidence the punishment was death? How soon do you think politicians would stay corrupt?
What is sad? Strict interpretation of Islam or how outside world sees it?
Unfortunately this is exactly how outside world also sees Islam and the societies based on the strict interpretation of Islam. Very Sad!
I also came across this earlier in the day and I was most struck by the personification of the Arab man. Leaving aside the vile nature of the advert, somehow I couldn’t help but think that this probably a more real personification of a Saudi than we usually get here in our country. And before anyone gets me wrong here – I’m referring specifically to the draconian wahabbi version of Islam that is practiced in Saudi Arabia. This punishment too is a manifestation of the very same.