While the National Organization for Women may be keeping mum on the gang rape victim sentenced to 200 lashes in Saudi Arabia, the Muslim American Society has condemned the Saudis “for what is clearly a gross and cruel miscarriage of true justice.” Mahdi Bray, the Executive Director of MAS Freedom, the group’s human rights arm, said in a statement:
We call upon the Saudi government to overturn this cruel sentence, and to immediately reinstate her attorney to the practice of law so that he can give her the legal representation that she is due.
And he added:
American Muslims must not be silent in the face of such blatant violations of decency and fundamental human rights. We call upon our entire community, and American Muslim organizations nationwide to condemn this terrible miscarriage of justice.
Unfortunately, American Muslims have been silent. Maybe it’s just poor press relations on their part, but no MAS official has stepped forward to hold a press conference about this matter, as far as I can tell. I’m sure CNN would have been on that like a duck on a June bug. I’m also sure some will say putting a statement on their Web site while doing nothing else is just covering their bases, but at least they took a stand.
That’s more than can be said for NOW President Kim Gandy, whose Web site features “Easy Holiday Shopping — That Supports Women’s Rights!”
