The west doesn't give a fuck. They say they do but it is not true. Most of us are just a bunch of hypocrites. Some people do have principles but a big portion does not. Just look at who all the evangelicals voted for in the U.S. presidential election. They voted for [1]You Know Who even after he admitted that he liked to grab em by the billy bush. Now every-time I hear them talk about Jesus I remember who they voted for and smile. They are not fooling me twice.

[1] Last time I mentioned his name I got down-voted to oblivion. Lets see what happens this time. :)

You realize parent is simply describing the rape laws prevalent in parts of the Middle East and North Africa, including Dubai? Not literally endorsing them?

(Can't go any deeper on the thread, so responding here instead): I would respectfully suggest that you are being misled by your outrage into a deeply uncharitable interpretation of parent's language.

> By 'rape' do you mean she had sex outside a legitimate marriage [which in much MENA law are equivalent acts]? If so, [by the laws of Dubai] she is guilty [in a purely legalistic sense] of prostitution or adultery or illicit sex. There is of course no such thing as marital rape [in the law books of Dubai]. For rape to be proven there must be multiple adult male witnesses who will testify [...I'm not sure how this sentence could be made any clearer]. The penalty for 'lying' [scare quotes emphasize that this is a perspective parent does not personally hold] about being raped is a year in jail. And the penalty for abortion is death [this is also not a matter of opinion, but is actually what happens to women in many MENA countries].

Agreed about the dangers of less than explicit communication.

But I'm not appalled by Dubai. If anything, I'm appalled by the childish arrogance and "moral superiority" on display in this thread. There is nothing "hackerish" or clever about getting inflamed against a far-away country you probably know nothing about.

Nietzsche has a good quote about this pestilential habit of moral condemnation, which I can't find right now. It's a bad habit, an addiction we should recognize and discard.

(Now a thread about the unique ways of the Emirates and how to navigate there would be worthwhile.)

People don't talk in this ridiculous, irresponsible way when they have skin in the game. I wouldn't expect loose, childish talk from you, Dan G about moderating forums, because you moderate a forum and know what's involved.

Ack.

That is a tragic miscarriage of justice; thank you for sharing it. You will note however, that the victim was not jailed for the "crime" of having been sexually assaulted. (Funnily enough, I am a Guardian Member https://membership.theguardian.com and have never visited the sites you mention.)