An opinion, a mere opinion (mine)
One question continuously springs to mind and won’t subside every time I hear or read Mazen Abdul Jawad’s name.
What WAS he thinking?
You Tube appears to have removed the offending video segment of the aptly named show “Red Line” in which this young Saudi man discloses the most intimate details of his sex life (although not before thousands of viewers had seen it countless times.) Be warned – now if you go to the famous online video site and type in his name all you get are links to junk sites.
To a large extent, and certainly where Mr Abdul Jawad’s reputation (and quite possibly freedom) are concerned, even though the footage has been removed, the goose is already well and truly cooked.
The Can of Worms: Open, Stir and Serve…
According to Arab News, Mazen went into “graphic details about his sexual conquests”. This included openly discussing sex and foreplay and admitting and describing how he lost his virginity to a neighbour at 14 years of age. While one might expect to hear this kind of dialogue on The Jerry Springer Show, anyone who hasn’t lived his or her entire life on a remote island knows that in Saudi Arabia, one just doesn’t do dat.
As far as I’m concerned, whether you agree or disagree with Saudis’ stance on gender separation and pre-marital sex, it’s unwise to go publishing the fact you’ve broken the law in public. If not for your own sake, for that of those around you.
Discussing sex in public is a punishable offence that could now affect anyone who was in the broadcast. Abdul Jawad is in custody, while the show’s crew undoubtedly suffer insomnia. According to a CNN article, Ahmad Qasim Al-Ghamdi, director of Mecca’s branch of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, (a.k.a the religious police) made the following comment in Arab News:
“It is wrong to host people on television to speak publicly about vice and issues against our religion. The program presents anomalies and deviancy in society that are unacceptable and immoral, and should be punished according to Shariah.”
Yikes.
In Case of Emergency, Break Glass
Around 100 people have filed a complaint against Abdul Jawad for airing his sinful behaviour and letting it be beamed to the masses.
Let’s face it, that hardly represents an uprising. Is this because most who saw it or heard about it don’t have opinions, are afraid to speak, don’t want to fan the flames of Mr Abdul Jawad’s new-found fame or simply don’t think it’s worth getting hot and bothered about?
The answer is anyone’s guess. As is the punishment, if any that awaits Mazen Abdul Jawad.
Neither Abdul Jawad or the Saudi Ministry of Justice have been available for comment.
Let’s put it to a readers’ vote. Please let us know which of the following you feel best describes this Saudi man and his TV appearance:
A) Soldier of Truth
B) Sinful Serpent
C) Bad Boy Big Red Button Pusher
D) Wanna-Be Reality TV Star
