Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia

women, or the
    slaves they possess, or male servants
    who are free of physical needs,
    or small children who have no sense
    of shame of sex.
    --
    SUBJECT
    The Koran states that a woman who is elderly
may lay aside her outer garments (veil, abaaya). In fact, women of
Arabia never stop veiling, regardless of their age.
    ACTUAL VERSE FROM THE KORAN:
    SURA XXIV, 60
    Such elderly women that are
    past the prospect of marriage,
    there is no blame on them,
    If they lay aside their outer garments,
    Provided they make not a wanton display
    of their beauty; but it is best for
    them to be modest.
     

 
    Appendix B—Laws of Saudi Arabia
    The criminal laws of Saudi Arabia adhere to
strict Islamic precepts. The word Islam means “Surrender to the
will of God.” The most important concept of Islam is the Shari’a,
or the “path,” which embraces the total way of life ordained by
God. All people of the Islamic religion are expected to conduct
their lives by the traditional values set by Mohammed, the Prophet
of God, who was born in A.D. 570 and died in A.D. 632.
    It is difficult for most Westerners to
understand the complete and total submission of Muslims to the laws
of the Koran in every aspect of their daily life. The Koran, along
with traditions set by Mohammed, is the law of the land in Saudi
Arabia. While living in Saudi Arabia, I once asked a noted scholar
of Islam, who made his living as an attorney, to describe the
application of justice in Saudi Arabia that stems from the
teachings of the Prophet. His explanations helped dispel my
misunderstandings of Saudi law. Here is a portion of his written
report to me that I thought might appeal to the reader’s
interest:
    1. There are four main sources of the
Shari’a: the Koran, which is compiled of thousands of religious
verses revealed by God through his Prophet, Mohammed; the Sunna,
which are the traditions the Prophet addressed that are not
recorded in the Koran; the Ijma, which are the perceptions of the
Ulema, or religious scholars; and the Qiyas, which is a method
whereby known jurists agree upon new legal principles.
    2. The king of Saudi Arabia is not exempt
from the regulations set forth by the Shari’a.
    3. The court system itself is complicated,
but if a judgment is appealed, it is reviewed by the court of
appeals. This court, usually consisting of three members, increases
to five members if the sentence imposes death or mutilation. The
king is the final arbitrator who serves as a final court of appeal
and as a source of pardon.
    4. Crimes are classified into three
divisions: Hudud, Tazir, and Qisas. Crimes of Hudud are crimes that
are denounced by God; the punishment is made known in the Koran.
Crimes of Tazir are given to the appropriate authority to determine
punishment. Crimes of Qisas give the victim the right to
retaliate.
    Crimes of Hudud
    Crimes of Hudud include theft, drinking of
alcohol, defamation of Islam, fornication, and adultery. Persons
found guilty of theft are punished by payment of fines,
imprisonment, or amputation of the right hand. (The left hand is
amputated if the right has already been amputated.)
    Persons found guilty of drinking, selling, or
buying alcohol, sniffing drugs, taking injection of drugs, or
stirring drugs into dough are punished by a sentence of eighty
lashes.
    Persons found guilty of defamation of Islam
are sentenced according to the circumstances. The harshness of the
sentence varies depending on whether the person is a Muslim or a
non-Muslim. Flogging is the general punishment for Muslims.
    Persons found guilty of fornication are
flogged. Men are flogged while standing and women while sitting.
The faces, heads, and vital organs of the guilty are protected. The
usual number is forty lashes, but this number may vary according to
the circumstances.
    Adultery is the most serious of crimes. If
the guilty party is married, he or she is sentenced to death by
stoning, beheading, or shooting. Stoning is the usual method of
punishment. Proof of this crime must be established by confession
or by four witnesses to the act.
    Crimes of Tazir
    The crimes of Tazir are similar to
misdemeanor crimes in America. There is no set punishment, but each
person is judged on an individual basis, according to the
seriousness of the crime and the sorrow shown by the criminal.
    Crimes of Qisas
    If a person is found guilty of crimes against
a victim or his family, the aggrieved family has the right to
retaliate. The sentence is decided in private