The Arab News reports:
More importantly, with this ban, Saudi Arabia now joins China and Nigeria on the list of countries banning motorcycles from certain areas. They are also three of the least-free countries on the planet, with three of the worst human rights records around. Call them the Axle of Evil.
MINA, 29 December 2006 — The increased security vigilance in the holy cities has been a headache for motorcycle drivers used to scooting around town without proper paperwork or helmets. This is also the first Haj where motorbikes have been banned from the holy areas of Makkah and Madinah.Of course, just about every year during the Hajj pilgrimage, hundreds of people get trampled to death on foot. If safety is such a concern, perhaps it would be better to call the whole thing off.
As of yesterday, officials have already impounded about 350 motorbikes since heightened security operations began earlier this month, according to an officer who didn’t want to be named.
...At a press conference held in the tent city of Mina at the General Security Headquarters, Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, Interior Ministry spokesman, said he prefers not to call it a “ban”, but rather simply a way to make the traffic more organized and the safer. [sic]
More importantly, with this ban, Saudi Arabia now joins China and Nigeria on the list of countries banning motorcycles from certain areas. They are also three of the least-free countries on the planet, with three of the worst human rights records around. Call them the Axle of Evil.
Posted by GaijinBiker on
12.29.2006 at 4:53pm
Topics: China, Middle East, Motorcycles, Over-regulation
Topics: China, Middle East, Motorcycles, Over-regulation
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