Saudi Men Punished for Valentine's Day Soiree

Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice
(Buraidah, Saudi Arabia)

The appeals court in Buraidah has upheld the decision of a criminal court to sentence five Saudis who celebrated Valentine's Day to a total of 39 years in prison.

The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) had detained the suspects on Feb. 14 after they stormed a rented private resort in the outskirts of the city where the men were partying in the company of six unrelated women.[…]

The first defendant was sentenced to five years in prison and 1,000 lashes at a public place, and the second and third defendants were each sentenced to seven years in prison and 1,500 lashes, while the fourth and fifth defendants received 10 years in prison and 2,000 lashes.

Pretty harsh, eh? Imagine if they celebrated Christmas.