Saudi women's gyms illegal

[Texpat]

Saudi women's gym shut

RIYADH — Health authorities in Jeddah have shut down an "illegal" women's fitness centre attached to a hospital, closing one of the few venues where Saudi women are able to exercise, local media said on Wednesday.

Although health officials have repeatedly blamed the high rates of heart disease and diabetes in the kingdom on poor diets and lack of exercise, health authorities said women's fitness centres were not allowed.

"Anyone who violates regulations governing the running of health facilities would be punished severely because this involves people's health," Jeddah health official Muhammed Abdul Jawad told the English-language Arab News.

The reports did not identify the Jeddah hospital affected, but a photograph in the Saudi Gazette showed an official sealing the club door with an announcement reading "Closed on the order of Jeddah Health Affairs."

While gyms for men in the gender-segregated conservative Islamic society are permitted, women's health clubs are forbidden, despite a clear demand shown by a surge in underground facilities in the past two years.

But last year a number of stand-alone women's gyms were shut, though some attached to or inside hospital premises continued to function.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/ar ... ds1A6FPiog

***

Straight out of the dark ages.

[UdonExpat]

It seems reasonable for the women to clamor for shutting down the men's gyms, too. Then they can all die of heart disease and diabetes. Equal opportunity.

Enlightened thinking in Saudi Arabia.

[rjj04]

For people who were outraged at the outburst after the cartoons of the Prophet,
and to be "fair and balanced" you should read this....

http://richarddawkins.net/articles/2842

There is a lot of stupidity out there!

[Texpat]

Agreed, the world is like a breakfast cereal. Separate out the fruits and nuts and all that remains are flakes.

How can anyone be sure the seemingly inanimate and innocuous cracker wasn't the body of JC? Was it salted or plain?

[Farang1]

There is a lot of stupidity out there!

Agreed, there are a lot of stupid acts out there in the name of religion.
People seem to loose any ability to reason.

In the words of John Wayne: "Life is tough....it's even tougher if your stupid."