Okay, it's hairsplitting...

But it's still really bad math. This was on CNN's website this morning:

The ministry's account Saturday alleged that the woman and her lover met in his car for a tryst "in a dark place where they stayed for a while."

The girl was initially sentenced to prison and 90 lashes for being alone with a man not related to her. An appeals court then doubled the lashes to 200.

The increase in sentence received heavy coverage in the international media and prompted expressions of astonishment from the U.S. government. Canada called it "barbaric."


Last time I checked, doubling 90 gives you 180. I think "more than doubled" would have worked. This is from the story of how a Saudi Arabian rape victim fought back by taking her assailants to court -- where she was victimized again by the judicial system. When she appealed her 'sentence,' the judge doubled her punishment. Whipping -- how quaint. I don't often send outraged letters to my congressional representatives, but I did over this issue. Something to think about the next time we gas up at the pump: this is the type of government we're funding in Saudi Arabia through our purchases.