Islamic Boob Tube Makes Fools of All of Us

Nick Gillespie | September 19, 2008

Following on the recent fatwas against Mickey Mouse (does anyone else suspect the Looney Tunes gang in this?), the AP reports that Sheik Saleh al-Lihedan, "chief of the kingdom's highest tribunal, the Supreme Judiciary Council," has announced "that it was permissible to kill the owners of satellite TV stations that show 'immoral' content," including reruns of Sex and the City (damn you, Mario Cantone!)

"I want to advise the owners of these channels, who broadcast calls for such indecency and impudence ... and I warn them of the consequences," al-Lihedan said.... "Those calling for corrupt beliefs, certainly it's permissible to kill them."

The remarks were especially surprising because many of the most popular Arab satellite networks are owned by Saudi princes and well-connected Saudi and Gulf businessmen.

On Sunday, reportedly under pressure from senior government figures, al-Lihedan appeared on Saudi state TV to explain his comments, apparently to prevent vigilante killings. He said owners should first be brought to trial and then sentenced to death if other penalties don't deter them.

He said his "advice" was aimed at owners who broadcast witchcraft, indecent programs, shows mocking Islamic scholars or religious police and comedies inappropriate for Ramadan.

Here's a voice of reason and restraint who could add something to non-violent but still-troubling American attempts to regulate small-screen content:

"Our religion prevents Muslims from watching films that provide seduction, obscenity and vulgarity," said Sheik Hazim Awad, an Iraqi cleric, who, like al-Lihedan, is Sunni Muslim.

But "the real Muslim can just cancel (subscriptions to) these channels," he said.

More here.

Comments

ed|9.19.08 @ 8:22AM|#

All they have to do is end prohibition on alcoholic beverages.
The rest will follow.

Abdul|9.19.08 @ 8:27AM|#

He said owners should first be brought to trial and then sentenced to death if other penalties don't deter them.

He said his "advice" was aimed at owners who broadcast witchcraft, indecent programs, shows mocking Islamic scholars or religious police and comedies inappropriate for Ramadan.

I guess there's a pretty good chance that owners of all-witchcraft satellite channels weren't going to visit Saudi Arabia anyway.

|9.19.08 @ 8:33AM|#

Fucking Muslims ... Christ on a cracker! These people are loons! I am ashamed as a libertarian to admit that I truly believe it would be a boon to world peace to wipe them from the face of the earth - Sharia law is coming. Watch.

jtuf|9.19.08 @ 8:41AM|#

Irrational intolerant individuals kill people for watching the playboy channel. Rational intolerant cowards tell others to kill people for watching the playboy channel. Rational tolerant people live and let live.

ed|9.19.08 @ 8:42AM|#

But "the real Muslim can just cancel (subscriptions to) these channels,"

What the..."real muslims" have à la carte cable but I'm stuck with five shopping channels, seven loony fundy networks and at least four Spanish-only channels? *


* albeit with unbelievably hot weather-porn girls

jtuf|9.19.08 @ 8:44AM|#

Cumlately,

The root cause of a murder is the murderer, not the Koran. You let suicide bombers of the hook when you blame their actions on their religion.

Fluffy|9.19.08 @ 8:56AM|#

Hey, could we get a thread about the nationalization of finance in the United States that occurred this morning?

|9.19.08 @ 9:01AM|#

Hey, could we get a thread about the nationalization of finance in the United States that occurred this morning?

And I just checked the news and saw this. F.U.C.K. Why did you have to ruin my morning, Fluffy?

The Extispicator|9.19.08 @ 9:13AM|#

I dunno, have you ever tried calling customer service at some big company to try to cancel a service? Easier to just kill somebody.

Of course, if you are calling to order new stuff, they put you right through and don't have 3 people try to talk you out of it.

|9.19.08 @ 9:15AM|#

First Mickey Mouse and now Sarah Jessica Parker? Say what you will about radical Muslims, but at least they have the right enemies.

If they target Carrot Top next, I'll definitely consider conversion.

Fluffy|9.19.08 @ 9:18AM|#

Seriously, Epi, the US Treasury is now insuring money market accounts.

Next week they'll be paying off your losing March Madness bets. Refunding the price on losing College Football cards.

Metal Messiah|9.19.08 @ 9:22AM|#

Isn't it fascinating how religions that abhor sex and obscenity embrace violence?

|9.19.08 @ 9:22AM|#

Fluffy, when they do the car makers and the airlines next, this will cease being surreal and will become a nightmare. After all the shit Bush has done, he goes and tops it with this. ARRGGHHHHH

|9.19.08 @ 9:23AM|#

The most discouraging aspect of the universal bailout story? There's stiff competition, but the fact that of all the plethora of news articles about this, not a single one mentions moral hazard, or even the 400-pound gorilla riding the elephant in the dining room -- the question of where the govt is going to get the money for this.

Nope. Just Dow increase cheerleading, as usual. If greedy investors like it, it must be good.

|9.19.08 @ 9:24AM|#

Why are the markets going up? This scares the shit out of me.

What the fuck are those clowns up to now?

|9.19.08 @ 9:25AM|#

P Brooks, maybe they think the feds will insure stock investments next. It wouldn't surprise me, tbh.

DADIODADDY|9.19.08 @ 9:27AM|#

when the rest of us discover the dread "on/off" switch and how to use it, or the even more sinister "channel switcher" dohickey, and stop bothering about what everyone else is watching (even if it's inter-species breeding programs or the christ come back show) the collective IQ of the world will increase by at least 10 points

|9.19.08 @ 9:28AM|#

Gold will probably hit two thousand in a matter of days. I wish I had more.

DADIODADDY|9.19.08 @ 9:29AM|#

Cumlately
"Fucking Muslims?" are they like regular Muslims, only fucking?

JMR|9.19.08 @ 9:31AM|#

Hey, I want my crappy poker bets covered! Treasury!!! I need you!!!

And the thing to get is silver, not gold (although gold beats the hell out of paper, IMO). Read Ted Butler's stuff -- if he's even 10% right silver goes to the moon, soon. Physical vs paper prices already point that way, IMO.

|9.19.08 @ 9:32AM|#

like regular Muslims, only fucking?

Yes. Right there, on yer teevee.

|9.19.08 @ 9:34AM|#

Re: Medieval Muslim fuckwits, Rock and Roll, and HBO will win prevail.

Re: The economy,!!!!!!!!!DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!

|9.19.08 @ 9:38AM|#

Fortunately, after this, the executives of financial institutions will be extremely diligent and cautious in their investment and business decisions. Because they can see exactly what will happen if they fuck up.

The_Chef|9.19.08 @ 9:42AM|#

Could Bush and his administration possibly do nay MORE damage before January?!

Jesus Christ, This is only gonna get worse too!

stephen the goldberger|9.19.08 @ 9:42AM|#

Fortunately, after this, the executives of financial institutions will be extremely diligent and cautious in their investment and business decisions. Because they can see exactly what will happen if they fuck up.

This is sarcasm right?? I can't tell because sadly some idiots believe this.

rawr|9.19.08 @ 9:51AM|#

How do you buy gold or silver?

|9.19.08 @ 9:58AM|#

What's the big story with this post? Surely Muslims wanting to infringe on the rights of people and prohibit them from doing things like watching TV is not news to any of you. Surely Muslims wanting to kill people for watching non Muslim approved TV is not news to any of you.

Good grief, wake up, world.

|9.19.08 @ 10:10AM|#

I see a marketing opportunity in the Muslim world. The Islam-chip - it keeps your tube halal.

rawr|9.19.08 @ 10:23AM|#

Serious question, how do you buy gold/silver?

|9.19.08 @ 10:29AM|#

RE: how to buy gold/silver. I have purchased ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) that all they do is "purchase" bullion. Yes - you're not actually buying the commodity, but the price does map directly to the commodity price.

check out the symbols IAU and SLV and read up on us.iShares.com

JMR|9.19.08 @ 10:44AM|#

That's the virtual sort, which is also good to have. But it's good to be able to stub your toe on at least one of your investments... Buy from reputable dealers or eBay if you dare.

|9.19.08 @ 10:44AM|#

It is kind of sad that an Iraqi Sunni cleric has a better grasp of fundamental freedoms than so many in our own Congress.

Rhywun|9.19.08 @ 11:14AM|#

Why are the markets going up?

Duh. Free money. Let the party continue!

|9.19.08 @ 11:23AM|#

Why are the markets going up?

You know what a junkie calls injecting heroin directly into his bloodstream? Getting well. Because it makes him feel good. Until it makes him feel worse.

This is the same thing.

|9.19.08 @ 11:42AM|#

Don't judge the whole Religion by some of its practicioners.

The Muslim Ummah is far from one-dimensional...believe me.

Mike Laursen|9.19.08 @ 12:05PM|#

Fucking Muslims ... Christ on a cracker! These people are loons!

I can assure you that I personally know Muslim women who watch Sex and the City, and would tell Sheik Saleh al-Lihedan to go suck it.

shecky|9.19.08 @ 12:50PM|#

But "the real Muslim can just cancel (subscriptions to) these channels,"

Who is this killjoy, and why is he on my internet?

|9.19.08 @ 1:35PM|#

Oh, The Magic Kingdom! I miss it so...