SOLO Op-Ed: Femi-Nazis and Homo-Nazis Condemned by their Own Silence
Sandra Ashworth
November 27, 2007

The international community has been shocked at the review of the sentence of prison terms and floggings recently passed on Saudi rape victims.

In a recent media release addressing this situation with "dismay," Helen Clark declared that "New Zealand fully respects the judicial system of Saudi Arabia." [1]

SOLO would like to remind Ms Clark, that New Zealand was the first country in the world to give women the vote over a century ago. In Saudi Arabia, women to this day do not have the right to vote. [4]

Prime Minister Helen Clark has just compromised an entire century of women's suffrage and has put the integrity of ALL New Zealanders on the line.

How could New Zealanders possibly respect the Saudi judicial system?! As a woman and as a politician, how could Helen Clark honestly say that she respects a country that would deny her the right to vote and her very political existence?

New Zealand SOLOists are shouting from the rooftops, that YOU Helen Clark, do not speak for us. We deplore and condemn the Saudi judicial system. We deplore and condemn your press statement that New Zealand fully supports Saudi law and we deplore and condemn you for publicly supporting barbarism, discrimination, and absolute disempowerment of women & individual freedom.

According to Ms. Clark, New Zealand fully respects a judicial system that not only prosecutes but also metes out a sentence of 200 lashes and a prison term ... to a gang rape victim!

Where are the voices of contempt?

If Sue Bradford, The Greens and the Maori Party had an ounce of integrity between them they would be taking this opportunity to circle the globe, shouting "foul" from their anti-smacking magic carpet. Surely the Saudi situation is even more worthy of their time than prosecuting law-abiding NZ citizens?

Where is the voice from Judith Collins? On her web site she stands in her full glory in the middle of a photograph wearing a white ribbon in support of the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Just another photo opportunity, huh Judith?

Why the silence from women's rights campaigner's? Do they actually exist or have they crawled under a rock because this is not worthy of reproach? One would have to think that they burned their courage and integrity along with their bras. I wonder if it's compulsory to wear a bra under a burqa?

Where is a voice from the gay community? One of the rape victims sentenced to be flogged is a male. The Saudi government wallows in its own hypocrisy in failing to charge any of the perpetrators with the gang rape of the male abductee. Homosexuality in Saudi Arabia is punishable by death. [3]

Shame on you silent apologists, appeasers and yellow-bellied cowards. Shame on you all!

Your silence is your hypocrisy, NOT OURS.

In conclusion, if I can find anything that the Saudi judicial law has remotely got in common with Helen Clark and New Zealand, it would be that in Saudi any criticism of the government is not tolerated. [2]

If you do not support Helen Clark's statement that New Zealand fully respects the Saudi judicial system, visit www.SOLOPassion.com, cast your vote and vent your rage.

Sandra Ashworth - 021 548 722

SOLO SOLOPassion.com

[1] http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0711/S00418.htm
[2] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles/791936.stm http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=103685&d=18&m=11&y=2007
[3] http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Saudi_Arabia
[4] http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=57051&d=4&m=1&y=2005

http://www.judithcollins.co.nz/photos.asp

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/25/wsaudi125.xml

ENDS

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