Peter Kimani and Jennifer Wairimu, a very brave yet ignorant couple, decided to visit a mosque. Besides being non-Muslim and in Kenya, what could possibly go wrong you ask?
Strike 1: They were highly intoxicated.
Strike 2: It is the month of Ramadan.
Strike 3: They were indulging in pleasures of the flesh.
A worshipper heard "strange" noises coming from a dark corner of the mosque and contacted the authorities. The couple was immediately taken to jail and slapped with an 18 month sentence! Do not pass go, do not collect $200.
At their hearing yesterday they pleaded with senior magistrate John King’ori, claiming that they thought the mosque was a lodge. King’ori promptly dismissed their plea saying that what they did was…
a most abominable thing to religion and only a custodial sentence can add justice to this.
While I agree that it was disrespectful, they had not intended to insult Islam. Furthermore it wasn’t even a violent act… unless they were in to that sort of thing. But seriously, 18 months? Give me a break… or better yet, give them one. Just silly.
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yes, the punishment is way out of line. but, much like i expect the muslims to respect our laws and customs when they come to the USA (which they very seldom do, just bitch a lot), so should have those two respected their laws and customs, no matter how silly they might appear to us. and that is the main reason why you would never catch me dead in a muslim country (well, not as a tourist anyways ;-). who wants to be subject to their many whims and sensitivities? its like walking into a kindergarden and try not to offend any kiddies… no thx
Ouch good point Boris. I’ll definately agree that the sentence seems way too harsh for the act, but when in Rome…
At the least we can thank the judge for instilling some caution when it next comes to a big night out ;) Better they learn with a jail sentence rather than a fatal accident.
Man, that sucks for them haha. They are idiots. Stupidity really shouldn’t carry THAT harsh a sentence though. I guess if you think about it, once upon a time it could have been a death sentence (and could possibly have been here too) so I guess they could be in worse shape.
Just another example of people using their religion to smack around other people. In what other instance could public stupidity resulted in this kind of sentence? Only in a religiously motivated one in my opinion.
when in Rome?…
What if they were given a life sentence or worse, the death penalty? A line must be drawn somewhere, and it might as well start with laws and sentences that are clearly unjust. This is slap-on-the-wrist material, no matter how religious you are.
They don’t live in another universe, and this type of thing could easily happen to any of us, travelling anywhere. There’s cooky laws all over the place. The “when in Rome” attitude only serves to seperate us more.
yeah you’re right, but lets be real. they went to KENYA. not that i’ve ever been there, but common sense, and what i’ve heard of it tells me that it’s a pretty ass-backwards country… why would you tempt faith by going there? we don’t have a god given right to tourism. this kind of thing would very unlikely happen to one in lets say europe. my point is, there are so many great, safe tourist destinations all over the world. why go somewhere where the likelyhood of serious harm is so high? its like people going to tailand, then get arrested on some BS drug trafficking charges and possibly executed. lets not feed the savages with our tourist money, i say.
I guess I’ll go against the grain on this (again). Many westerners think of traveling to other countries as ‘slumming’ and do things they’d never do in the home countries. Not knowing all of the specifics I’d venture they got what they asked for. I’m not aware of any country where is considered acceptable to get drunk and sexual in a public place (unfortunately), and many countries including the US have stupid, harsh laws that are enforced sporadically and unjustly.
And boris, I don’t know where you’re from but there are ‘savages’ in every civilized country I’ve visited or read about.
I’am conflicted. Yes, I think the sentence is too harsh. On the other hand, it’s nice to see someone finally bring the hammer down on stupidity people.
“”many countries including the US have stupid, harsh laws that are enforced sporadically and unjustly.”"
true, we (the dutch) had a man killed a dog a few years back, to get his waller which the dog was eating. The sentence was, I believe, 10 months and 12.000 euro……
(followed bypublic outrage, on both sides, parliament gets involved etc etc.)
.
.
but seriously 18 months? wow, you can kill someone, claim self-defence and temporary insanity and get less jailtime. Then again, you screw up, you deal with it.
.
.
I know it’s not as bad, but pretty similar. There are hundreds of people locked up for drug smuggling in foreign countries in south asia and south america. And yet, we try and try to get those people out of jail. mind you THEY DID SOMETHING WRONG. You know you’re going to get locked up for life, with “bubba” in a 4 by 4ft box. so don’t do it!
In all honesty, I’m surprised the sentence wasn’t longer.
I’m surprised they ever got to court.
Stupid laws exist all over the world.
I’ve seen a documentary once about fighting cocks
in the U.S. which I think was illegal as it was considered inhumane. So when they catch these creatures, they send it out for euthanasia. Wow? That’s one crazy ass law if you ask me.
I’m sorry the above sounds wrong.
I was surprised they ever lived to tell about it.
Your Father, the “when in Rome” attitude is largely about respect. No matter how silly one demographic may think anothers traditions, laws or national behavior, we should still respect them. The frisky couple messed up on their turf, and they owe it to the people they angered to pay the price, even if by western standards it’s silly and unjust.
It works both ways. When other demographics come into your country, you expect them to observe your laws.
The punishment was harsh by western standards, but it’s important to take local laws and traditions into account when dealing with this kind of thing. Checking local precedent, case law etc would be a far better approach than simply expressing a western view of how someone in a foreign country should be judged.
I read the linked article on Yahoo, and nowhere did it say that the couple were not from Kenya. Why are we assuming they were from the US? After all, Kimani and Wairimu aren’t last names I see a lot here in Ohio.
Gasonomo,
Did you see what Andrew say, this knid of news is not credible enough, you have to check your resources, again most of the news here don’t make sense to me, it’s all against Muslims, did somebody know that one of the orginzation tha USA consider it terroriset, they freed an American hostage from his kiddnapers in West bank in Palstine, sure enough no body cares to know that.
I think they got away with it quite well… i know if i were to do it in the local mosque i wouldn’t get out of it alive, the girl would probably be raped a few times before she’s killed though…
Opie and Anthony got fired for people having sex in St. Patrick’s cathedral during a mass. The original couple wasn’t charged I think. Why the double standard when it comes to Muslims? I’m happy they got punishment, it was a despicable thing to do, in any house of worship.
Hello Sulyman,
It seems to me that the people involved with having sex in a cathedral were punished. You said they were fired, that’s a punishment. Also, there is no comparison between losing a job for being foolish and being imprisoned for the same behavior. There is no double standard whatsoever. Everyone agrees that they should be punished regardless of what kind of public space they are having sex in. The issue is the severity of the punishment.