Arabs

September 10, 2007 at 4:17 pm · Filed under Amman, Arabisms

…our citizens are asking for cameras outside our homes and more control on the lives of Arab individuals by establishing official vice squads (AKA Matawa or religious police) to throw in jail anyone guilty of “indecent actions”, regardless of what each person’s definition of “indecency” is.
It is amusing that we’re living in a day and age where personal freedom has fallen off the priority list and where citizens actually ASK for Big-Brother-style paraphernalia.




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  • http://ksharif.blogspot.com/ Khaled

    This is already being done in other countries (like London, which will capture you over 2000 times on camera). Also this hasn’t got to do with personal freedom, you do what you’re supposed to do on the streets and nobody will talk to you. And putting camera’s on the street is a whole lot different than Big Brother. One’s logical and one isn’t.

  • http://thearabobserver.blogspot.com/ The Observer

    If the reason of having Cameras is to stop theft, rape, sexual harassement, then we would be jumping now of joy! Unfortunatly it is for stopping young couples of having some private times in dark places where it is the only place they can be togather without inteferring from others! Too bad!

  • http://totallykidding.com totally kidding:P

    oh, The Observer, so you are the guy on the tape! dude get a room! :P :P :P

  • http://blog.haniobaid.com Hani Obaid

    What a big waste of money, both in terms of the cameras and those that would have to be hired to monitor them. Whatever they’re trying to prevent by placing those cameras, will still happen just out of range.

    There aren’t enough cameras in the world. I don’t see this changing much security wise. There are plenty of security personnel on the streets taking care of that.

  • Ahmad

    I am one of these people who support this action from governments. The definition of indecency is so cleared for religious and non religious people. These youths, who would like to enjoy their freedom, they should not throw their dirty works on society. Have you heard about women who threw their babies in garbage rubbish and mosque and corner of street? You can read about this accident on this link:
    http://www.ammonnews.net/arabicDemo/article.php?articleID=10059
    I hope there will be other actions from governments to protect our community from bad traditions coming from outside I believe in freedom where it can be applied in society. It is determined by culture and history and traditions and what is accepted among our people .

  • publicfacing

    Asking for cameras is just a symptomn of the problem: lack of freedom (cultural and social restrictions).

    In effect, you have people wanting to do something (that it is not morally ambigious or legaglly wrong), and you have people not wanting them to do something.

    Unfortunately, most Arab socities (including the oh-so-liberal Jordan) suffer from social pressures that doing this or that is wrong. I happen to agree with some of these restrictions, but I agree more in the rights and liberties of the individual.

    Cameras won’t stop the “problem”, they’ll just move it elsewhere.

    To truly stop it, these people must learn each to their own. By giving more freedom to people that wish to conduct in “shameful acts”, they will themselves be gaining freedom.

    Accidentally falling onto the gear stick is not pleasent; live and let live already.

  • http://www.raabish.com imad

    Placing cameras in Amman to stop kids form hooking-up in their cars is silly. While the result might be a decline in this kind of behavior in that specific location, the acts will simply move down the road where there aren’t cameras.

    The big-brother logic has more flaws than benefits.

    It’s like teaching kids that if they don’t pray 5 times a day they will go to hell – therefore you have a society that prays for fear of burning in hell, not for the actual spiritual benefits of praying.

  • khalid jarrar

    HAHA Roba check this comment on ALarabiya webstie:

    “”22 – ليه طيب
    حنون
    |
    09/09/2007 م، 05:47 مساءً (السعودية) 02:47 مساءً (جرينتش)
    خلونا ننشر الحب بدل الكراهيه”"

    HAHAHA!

    “”I hope there will be other actions from governments to protect our community from bad traditions coming from outside I believe in freedom where it can be applied in society. It is determined by culture and history and traditions and what is accepted among our people .”"

    excuse me…we are talking about Jordan…we have authorized night clubs everywhere! what raditions and history and culture are we talking about here?:)
    if the goverment is seriously doing this because of the moral sides, then let it show the smallest effort in banning “isti3ra`9 irraq9 il sharqi ma3 il raqi9a soso” that you see their adds at the doors of some resturants and hotels, y3ni its no secret that the country policy is so support as-”liberated”-as-possible life style. the least of our problems is some couple kissing in the dark, lets talk about the causes and reasons that lead to that first!

  • khalid jarrar

    another comment:

    – وين دانك يا جحا
    Pal_Dubai@hotmail.com
    |
    09/09/2007 م، 06:22 مساءً (السعودية) 03:22 مساءً (جرينتش)
    يا جماعه مش يركبوا اضاءه بالشارع احسن من الكامرات؟

    :D

  • http://www.omernos.com/blog omar

    CCTV is definitely a plus – it’s not a barge into people’s private lives because they’re out on the streets. I look at it as a development in the security measures taken in Jordan – so why not. Look how they proved to be a good thing in London!

    Akeed it shouldn’t be compared to a Mtawe3! Cameras don’t hunt you down and spank you if you’re wearing trousers! haha

  • http://hareega.blogspot.com Hareega

    Having sex between unmarried couples is LEGAL in Jordan, and has been legal for a long time. Check with any lawyer in Jordan.
    Having it in public is a different issue.

  • طفيلي( ahmad)

    Listen, people who work in government are from decent tribes and respect Jordanian tradition. They licenses to night clubs for minority people in our community who can afford to spend more than 500 JDs in one night. They can do dirty work in place where rubbish is colleted. But when these bad habits appear in our streets, no one will accept it.

    I love our old traditions where the girls and boys can not cross lcertains line .If they do that will cost them their lives.((althugh i idisagree with some of them)

    ‘Having sex between unmarried couples is LEGAL in Jordan’

    It is not our business to put our nose people bedrooms unless they keep that to themslef. These babies were born and thrown in garbage or street .the community will pay the price of that. Do you agree with me?

    I am sure if there is fire in your house you will not leave fuel close to it.

  • onzlo

    The solution: love hotels (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_hotel).

    1. Young lovers will finally get some privacy.
    2. Our highway shoulders will go back to being strictly ‘hash wa nash’ territory.
    3. Helps the economy/combats unemployment.

  • fraata

    to be honest, i could care less for personal freedoms if they don’t come with political freedoms. this is like saying you can have sex, booze, drugs but you have no choice in your destiny on this earth. the repressive arab governments treat us like cattle, we eat, have sex, and die. that’s the sort of personal freedoms we have, cattle freedoms.

    personal freedoms without political freedoms is the definition of hedonism. personal freedoms and political freedoms is the definition of liberalism. if as a statement of protest I will deny myself personal freedoms, I am willing to do it, just to deny the repressive regimes gloating rights and to send a statement that I am not free. and that sex and booze will never be an acceptable substitute for a true democracy and equality.

    yes to liberalism, no to hedonism.

  • http://www.omernos.com/blog omar

    Yeah love hotels would be something to get the damn prostitutes off the streets – it’s absolutely annoying to know they work in domestic areas, right around family residences. Mush heik ya3ni!

  • MOHANNAD

    Love hotels, where, can I sing in for that, how much they charge per night, per day? per hour>> is it safe in Jordan

  • Adnan

    well, if you find a couple right outside your doorway rubbing each others passionately while you are going out with your kids .. I am sure right then you’ll appreciate between personal freedom of that person and your personal freedom to not being forced or surprised to such a position! If that person wants his / her personal freedom of having sex or kissing someone in the street then I think he/she should better seek this freedom in his own house first.. dont you think?

  • Moh’d Khamash

    First we will have cameras then police and then some people well be sued for what is defined as “indecent actions” , and the “indecent action” concept well just grew wider and at last some one who wear like punk well be jailed and a girl wearing short skirt well be executed.
    Actually I think some people “shyo5″ find it hard to see people living freely and happily, so they are thinking in more ways to kill any opportunity of freedom in the community. and when I think about it again what business people have with two couples kissing in a car, now kissing is forbid tomorrow walking couples well be banned.