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?
Mr. MQ
Your point of view reagrding punishments
“Gruesome public punishments â€
By the way what is the punishment for the mullah’s who molest boys?
What about pornography? Do they take your eye out with a knife?
Is there a punishment for masturbation?
Hmmm… what about sex with an animal?
These rich Saudis who made these laws don’t know about the social problems of people in poor countries. They were nomands and suddenly OIL made them rich. They don’t know that if a persons father or mother or sister is sick in hospital, and nobody is willing to give him Rs. 1 lakh, He is going to risk everything to save their life. What about person who has to come with money for the marriage of his six sisters. I don’t think rich people or business men( drug traffickers ) take these risks them self, its always these poor people who get exploited.
This punishment of beheading is totally condemnable. Sometimes i wonder if there is hell, because those people who just got beheaded, what more will be Hell like for them. And hundreds of stupid people who come to watch these beadings for entertainment.
…interesting fact I just found out. Women are not beheaded in Saudi Arabia; they are shot through the head. I think INF should put up a second poster to account for the delicate sex.
i did a thesis on drugs about five years ago and an extensive reserach on drug money laundering. Believe me, Saudis are as much involved in the consumption of drugs as any other country. But, the beheadings have got nothing to do with Islam. To me Islam is a progressive religion and unfortunately the scholars responsible for safe guarding have interpreted it so wrongly that today we are known as a terrorist religion. That is not Islam. Beheading might have been fine 1300 years ago but then the understanding of people then was different.These are different times. However, putting that bill board is simply a rather gruesome and not so subtle way of telling our people “For God’s sake don’t do anything stupid because at the end of the day even though you are going to God’s house, just don’t forget you have to come back and you are going to an Arab country where women are still considered as a second grade citizen.” I mean seriously what advantages do the women living in Saudi Arabia have??? Have you seen the level of poverty there lately? Just because it happens to be the country where the Kaba is does not make it into Heaven on earth. Might be a great place for men but…
@ Baber
[quote comment=”15075″]As for the banner I would say it is showing a true picture of the saudies brutality.[/quote]
I wonder if it tells us more about Saudi brutality… or about Pakistani mentality too… it is, after all, a bill board IN Pakistan and for Pakistanis and by Pakistanis.