In many western governments, particularly
the United States, there is a separation between religion and government.
Many Muslims believe in Shariah, a term that means "path"
in Arabic. Shariah law tells devout Muslims what to eat, how to
pray, and how to behave in public. Muslims believe the Shariah are
revelations from God (Arabic Allah).
Under strict Shariah law, people
may not consume alcohol, borrow money at interest, or allow women
in their family to go out in public without a veil. Shariah law
allows a man to take as many as four wives, provided his first wife
agrees and he is able to support all of his wives and children.
This provision of the Shariah is not often employed in even the
most traditional Muslim societies.
Saudi Arabia is the only nation that
closely adheres to Shariah law. Criminals who commit murder, rape,
or other violent crimes in Saudi Arabia face public amputation of
arms or legs, or beheadings. While Westerners treat morality and
behavior as an individual matter, the Saudis believe they are the
responsibility of the entire society. The result is a nation that
is close to being crime free. According to the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (F.B.I.), there were 15,517 murders and 90,186 forcible
rapes in the United States in 2000, while these crimes are almost
unheard of in Saudi Arabia. Amnesty International reports that Saudi
Arabia executed about 766 criminals between 1990 and 1999. The United
States, with about thirteen times the population of Saudi Arabia,
executed 85 prisoners in 2000 including 40 in Texas alone. Many
Americans live in gated communities with expensive security systems.
It is not uncommon to see American homeowners place bars over their
windows. Americans may feel Saudi justice is cruel, but they take
for granted precautions most Saudi people have never considered.
Change is slowly taking place even
in Saudi Arabia. Most Saudi women are not allowed to work outside
the home. The ruling Saud family is balancing the traditional values
of their nation with pressure to modernize.
