Irresponsible headlines

It pays to read the whole story: Marriage between close relatives 'does not pose health risk'

Let's (not) talk about sex

The Gulf News has a number of sex related articles in today's Nation section:

-STDS:

"Seven cases of gonorrhoea and 24 of syphilis, both bacterial infections that spread through sexual contact, were reported to the Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services (Dohms) for the whole of last year, which doctors doubt reflects reality."

-Step daughters whipped:

Ajman: The Federal Supreme Court upheld the stoning death sentence against a Pakistani man who was found guilty of having unlawful relations with his four stepdaughters, Gulf News has learnt.
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The four girls were sentenced to 80 lashes each. Those sentences have already been carried out. They were charged with 'allowing' their stepfather to have sex with them. The girls reportedly gave birth to 11 children by the man.
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The women now aged between 21 and 26 told the judge their stepfather used to threaten them with a knife, forcing them to surrender to him.

Their Indian mother was earlier married to an Emirati [my emphasis], but after his death 12 years ago, married the Pakistani resident.
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According to a police officer, the family was arrested in Ajman when the younger daughter aged 15 was planning to marry an Emirati, but her stepfather refused. With the help of her fiance, she reported the case to police accusing her stepfather of incest and fathering children with her sisters, and that he also wanted to have sex with her.

- Pictures of "considered-beach-Romeos" to be printed in the paper

- Tom (29-year-old suspect, O.O., from Kyrgyzstan) inadvertently peeps into ladies dressing room?


My comments:

- STDs are underreported because the civil penalty for having STDs is so high (e.g., deportation if nonnational). Those penalties may in theory deter unsafe sex, but the danger is that people go untreated and spread STDs to others.

- How can girls in their teens be held liable for 'allowing' (scare quotes in the orginal article) their stepfather to have sex with? It is obvious they were raised in a highly abusive world created by their mother and step father. And what incentives does the sentence of whipping innocents create? Their sister may not have reported the abuse if she knew that consequence.

- I rather doubt the beach front "Romeos" will be dealt with if they have not been dealt with in the past. The fact that they've gotten away this 'til now influences my forecast.

Muslim and Muslima – The Fundamentalist Couple

Part 2 - About Sex Education in United Arab Emirates Schools and Else where

Recently, the couple had heard of children getting into illegal sexual activities at schools. They had also read about the growing concern to educate children about sex in various newspapers by people advocating Sex Education for students in UAE schools and other countries.

Their concern on the matter led to the following discussion. Read Further..........