The Religion of Peace and Tolerance® strikes again. From the Chandler News-Dispatch:
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Three French travelers were killed by gunmen Monday in the Saudi Arabian desert when they stopped their car to rest on the side of a road leading to the holy city of Medina in an area restricted to Muslims only.
Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki said it was too early to determine whether the attacks were terror-related. Saudi Arabia has been waging an intense campaign against al-Qaida militants since a wave of suicide attacks on foreigners in the kingdom in 2003.The travelers were resting on the side of a road about 10 miles north of Medina when gunmen fired at their car, instantly killing two of the men. The third man died later after he was taken to a hospital, and the fourth Frenchman was in serious condition at an area hospital, al-Turki said.
The area the group was traveling in is restricted for Muslims only. Non-Muslims are barred from the area around Medina and neighboring Mecca, the holiest cities in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca, where he began spreading the message of Islam, until he fled to Medina. From Medina, he spread Islam until he died and was buried in the city. Muslims perform the annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and usually visit Medina as well.
Oh, that makes it alright to murder Westerners then. What was I thinking….
In France, Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said the French ambassador to Saudi Arabia and counsel general plan to visit the site of the attack and talk with Saudi authorities.
Saudi Arabia: (un)holy land of our “allies” in the Middle East.
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Boy, that’s some crap. Good thing Mo didn’t travel more extensively-infidels would be killed all over the place for walking where Mr. Perfect once trod. But then again, it wouldn’t be much different with what goes on all over the world when it comes to Islam anyway.
I don’t know your source of information about the area of the attack being “Muslim only”, but it is incorrect.
The area–site of the ruins of Madain Salih and parts of the Hijaz Railway–are not restricted. I’ve been there and I’m not Muslim.
It is also a fact that non-Muslims can and will be taken into the restricted cities of Medina and Mecca for emergency medical care if there are no easy alternatives. Agence France Presse is reporting that family members of at least one brought to a hospital in Medina are also being temporarily housed in that city.
You can find more details at my blog: xrdarabia.org/blog/archives/2007/.../war-on-terror-february-26-2007/
[quote comment=”585″]I don’t know your source of information about the area of the attack being “Muslim only”, but it is incorrect.
The area–site of the ruins of Madain Salih and parts of the Hijaz Railway–are not restricted. I’ve been there and I’m not Muslim.[/quote]
I see. So you believe that the ruffians that decided to take matters into their own hands, killing just the men in front of women and children (new information as of this morning) are so concerned with the absolutes of Saudi law? ‘Close enough’ to warrant murder seems to be the point here. Would they have been as likely to be gunned down on the highways of the United States? Obviously not, and the religiously intolerant reasoning wouldn’t even be a question.
Your specifics might be correct and the source of this story wrong, that I have no means to judge, but if the claim that the area was only 10 miles/10 minutes from Medina, I somehow think they odds are quite high that these men were gunned down in the name of Islam, one way or another.
[quote]
It is also a fact that non-Muslims can and will be taken into the restricted cities of Medina and Mecca for emergency medical care if there are no easy alternatives. Agence France Presse is reporting that family members of at least one brought to a hospital in Medina are also being temporarily housed in that city.
[/quote]
I see. So, a person must be shot nearly to death in order to get equal treatment inside the limits of Medina and Mecca.
The 4th man taken for medical care has since died from his injuries.
I have no idea why any Westerner would try to find some silver-lining in this event. The Saudis have more European and American blood on their hands than most countries. In fact, if it wasn’t for the Bush influence, I think they would be on a differently constructed target list of enemies following 9-11.
“Saudi Arabia: (un)holy land of our “allies” in the Middle East.”
One thing we can almost agree upon. I cannot imagine why it is that we give the Saudi government such preferential treatment while they continue to have an authoritarian monarchy and consistently ignore terrorist threats within their borders. I suppose we’re willing to pay any price for oil…
On the plus side, our diplomatic relations with them have resulted in the removal of anti-Christian/anti-Judaic language from school textbooks, so at least there have been some steps. Right now, though, it doesn’t seem like its been nearly enough now does it?