Saudi cleric condemns beauty contests as evil

[Al-khiyal]

RIYADH, November 8, 2007 (Reuters) - A leading authority of Saudi Arabia's hardline school of Islam has condemned camel beauty contests as evil, saying those involved should seek repentance in God.

Camel pageants have become major events in the desert kingdom in recent years as tribes hold ever larger competitions, with bigger prizes and wider publicity.

Delicate females or strapping males which attract the right attention during a show can sell for more than a million riyals (127,000 pounds). Sponsors spent 10 million riyals on prizes for one competition this year.

"Everyone must repent of these acts from which no good can come because of its evils, and they should beg forgiveness from God," said a fatwa, or religious ruling, issued this week by Sheikh Abdul-Rahman al-Barrak and a lesser-known sheikh.

"Millions of riyals are spent on buying camels just to feel proud and not for the reasons God created camels, like for food, drink, riding and work," he said, attacking the contests as a backward tribal custom from pre-Islamic Arabia.

Commentators have pointed to camel contests as a sign of increasing tribal pride, seen as a threat to stability in the kingdom established by the Saudi royal family in 1932.

Saudi cleric condemns camel beauty contests as evil

[nesreen]

If he said that about Beauty Contests among women , i would have understood , but camels , for god sake . Even during the time of the Prophet the Arabs used to feel very proud of their camels and horses and some even wrote poetry about them .

I expect worse from the saudis .

[amalgamate]

I understand how the excessive amount of cash spent on the beauty contests could be considered 'evil'. One should use that money for better purposes if they were that (filthy) rich.

[Bent_Bladi]

i agree with amal --- where in the damned 21st century -- camels aren't our primary source of wealth. they're not even used that much anyways --- if it's all for showing off and making money out of nothing, then i'd say he might be right.

but seriously - why don't u target the other crazy things going on in your country, mr. saudi cleric

[nesreen]

.

but seriously - why don't u target the other crazy things going on in your country, mr. saudi cleric

Like the dozens of Rotana channels financed and owned by Saudi Prince and businessmen , and other filthy channels too .

[Bent_Bladi]

exactly...