I thought Saudi Arabia's leaders were mad for banning Valentine's day, but this is just totally insane. How can Saudi Arabia expect anyone to respect it when its government thinks we're still in the 10th century?

I am appalled by the lack of action by George Bush to curb Saudi Arabia's terrible actions in recent years - the Saudis are obviously not strong allies if they aren't capable of having a frank discussion about human rights.

The problem is that when anyone from within Saudi Arabia itself complains, they get silenced by the police, as happened with the Saudi blogger that has been mentioned on this IME blog quite a few times.

Why Saudi Arabia has this incredible way to bring up only the worst of their culture? How can western countries change the negative image they have of the Middle East when stories like still happen in the 21st century? Bloggers arrested, simply because they dare to express an opinion or write about what is happening within their countries; women are arrested just because they were seen seated next to a male colleague; red roses forbidden on Valentines day … now witchcraft!!.
Is this religion? Is this tradition? History shows us that traditions can change or even end, especially when they are inhuman and there is no logical and rational reason for their existence. And although I believe that, in general, there is no good or bad religions, men has this extraordinary way to transform something that, essentially has a good and noble basis, in something wrong and bad.
Saudi Arabia is transmitting a poor example of what the Middle East is.
Situations like this don’t happen only in the Middle Eastern countries. They happen in other parts of the world as well (recently it happened in Burma / Myanmar). But being the Middle East constantly in the centre of attention of the world, stories like this only will accentuate the negativity of the preconceived idea world has of the region.

What, no burning at the stake? Okay, I guess that the Salem witch trials proved that burning doesn’t get rid of witches. Maybe a good beheading will solve the problem.

Glad to see that ignorance, superstition, religious dogma, and tribal culture are alive and well in Saudi Arabia.

I hope CNN will follow this story to its conclusion. Maybe even put it on the front page?

It is always tragic when someone dies or knows their fate ahead of them, especially in a case where we, the 'West', have no understanding of a culture that is so far from our own. Therefore we have a difficult time accepting their terms of morality (which in this case seems to be based strictly on religious norms) that we forget to ask why we, the almighty 'West' have the right to decide how and why all other 'non-Western' countries have to behave. The 'white-man' has certainly made it quite a habbit to try to empose his way of life. Of course, killing is never good. This is against human right to life. But we can not critisize a country's method of law and punishment. We cannot think we have the right to change their system because we don't understand it. I am certain they look at us (in particularly the United States-  it seems like the tension lies between the two) and ask why we are allowed to buy guns in banks, allowed to get away with an illegal war, or allow our youth to wear belts as skirts, or to pump silicone into our women's breasts. This, to us, is normal and apart of our everyday life. We have heard in the past how a young dark boy gets killed by a white boy and no justice is served. Or how inhuman forms of torture occur in our own prison systems. Or how our governtments are lying to us to get our support for illegal wars. Seems like we all flaws in our system. So why are we so quick to judge everyone else and cast such darkness over others who we in reality don't know much about. 

It is always tragic when someone dies or knows their fate ahead of them, especially in a case where we, the 'West', have no understanding of a culture that is so far from our own. Therefore we have a difficult time accepting their terms of morality (which in this case seems to be based strictly on religious norms) that we forget to ask why we, the almighty 'West' have the right to decide how and why all other 'non-Western' countries have to behave. The 'white-man' has certainly made it quite a habbit to try to empose his way of life. Of course, killing is never good. This is against human right to life. But we can not critisize a country's method of law and punishment. We cannot think we have the right to change their system because we don't understand it. I am certain they look at us (in particularly the United States-  it seems like the tension lies between the two) and ask why we are allowed to buy guns in banks, allowed to get away with an illegal war, or allow our youth to wear belts as skirts, or to pump silicone into our women's breasts. This, to us, is normal and apart of our everyday life. We have heard in the past how a young dark boy gets killed by a white boy and no justice is served. Or how inhuman forms of torture occur in our own prison systems. Or how our governtments are lying to us to get our support for illegal wars. Seems like we all flaws in our system. So why are we so quick to judge everyone else and cast such darkness over others who we in reality don't know much about.

In response to anonymous:

The only one who is casting darkness are those who engage in cruelty and those who let it happen. Those who stand by and do nothing are the lowest forms of life. Who are we to judge what another country does? We are the voices of those with compassion. I would speak out against it in any country ours included. It does not matter where it is. All that matters is that it is cruel and inhumane. Everyone has a right to speak out against something that is cruel. The only way to end brutality in this world is to speak out against it and shine a big light on it. Rise up and use your voice. Never be silenced. All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

In response to Light the Darkness:  I would like to start off by saying that I agree with you. Any life that gets taken away for whatever reason is true sadness no matter where in the world it is. I strongly disagree with this verdict and am grateful this has made the news for an attempt to save this woman.   But, being the 'devils-advocat' I can't help but say that, in general, we ARE too quick to look at situations in black and white. I think we can agree that, for example, the process of female circumsition in Africa is inhuman and should be stopped. But we forget that this is a deep routed tradition. If a woman does not go through with this process she will get rejected socially and end up un-wed; a social outcast. Therefore it has also become a deep route for the women as well and would not say no to a circumsition. Bottom line is that many of these countries are living on thousands years of tradition. The United States is so young and free to make new rules. The 'east' is still hanging on the past (so to say). If we want to stop these inhuman judgements and acts, we have to start at the core and help them develop instead of invading them. (sorry for this! Its easy to get carried away and be more general!)

So what do they do with mentally challenged/ill people who speak in "Strange Voices"? Or rumors of a person in the neighborhood to have strange "Powers". Do they investigate/charge them with witchcraft and behead them too? My colleague at work pisses me off, so I’ll tell the religious police he worships the “Sun God” and plant a couple of jars of “Eye of Salamander” and “Frog’s Breath” in his tool shed.

Salem witch trials, all over again. We already went through all this…did Saudi Arabia burn all its history books and learn nothing? This is something out of the “How To Rule A Country Of Fools” Adolph Hitler style.

How many different ways can we, as a race of people, contaminate our religious scriptures? No matter which book it’s derived from? Come on and tell me, does every breath she takes actually insult the “good people of in Saudi Arabia” and promote the “Prince of Darkness“? I think not. I think it’s a scare tactic copied and bastardized from the Roman Catholics centuries ago. I think all sane people will look at “Witchcraft” and “Magical Powers” and are a joke … not a Capital Offense that carries the death penalty.

Righteous people do not look the other way, because indeed darkness will prevail...thank God, light has uncovered this plot to murder a woman who more than likely is not all right in the head. Neurology and Psychiatry do exist in the Middle East yeah?

Or maybe we are all making too much of this, and this is a way for the Saudi’s to capture the people’s attention and in the end, the King will just reemphasis the importance of good and evil. Just a little jolt to care the woman back to her senses. Who can argue she’s learned her lesson now sitting on death row?