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At Least 23 Killed in Saudi Arabia by Electrocution Following Wedding Celebration

Oct. 31, 2012 10:56am Sharona Schwartz

At Least 23 Killed by Electrocution Following Celebratory Firing at Wedding Party that Knocked Down Electric Cable

Aftermath of mass electrocution at Saudi wedding (Photo from AlRiyadh.com via Al Arabiya)

Tragedy struck at a wedding Tuesday night in Saudi Arabia. During a marriage celebration in the eastern part of the country, at least 23 people were killed – mostly women – and some 30 injured when an electric cable was knocked down by celebratory gunfire.

Al Arabiya reports:

The disaster occurred when a high voltage power line fell down and touched the metal door of the house where the wedding was being held, according to sources from the Saudi Civil Defense.

In line with traditions in the Gulf, wedding celebrations in Saudi Arabia are segregated.

Most of the casualties were women, and they died as they attempted to escape through the electrified metal door, the Civil Defense sources told Al Arabiya.

Many of the victims were electrocuted as they attempted to leave the building, the Saudi-based news website Sabq reported.

A photograph of the aftermath of the accident, published on local newspapers’ websites showed a large courtyard strewn with fallen chairs and a pole in the middle supporting cables carrying lightbulbs.

AP reports: “Saudi Arabia’s ultraconservative codes require genders to be separated at most public events, including weddings.”

The tragedy occurred near Abqaiq, the main center for Saudi Arabia’s lucrative oil industry. According to Al Arabiya, 25 were killed.

Celebratory gunfire is a common occurrence at weddings the Middle East – especially in rural areas – though according to Al Jazeera, Saudi Arabia banned the shooting of firearms at weddings last month.

Injuries from the practice are not unprecedented. TheBlaze last year reported that 20 Palestinians were injured from celebratory gunfire after Israel released prisoners back to Gaza. Bullets and shrapnel ended up hitting revelers in the head, face, neck and thigh.

In the wake of the repeated demonstrations of celebratory gunfire during the Libyan revolution last year, TheBlaze examined how errant gunfire – even when fired in joy – can be very dangerous.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (68)

NunProfitOrg
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 1:14pm
they keep people segregated even at weddings?? what gives?

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- happ77
  Posted on October 31, 2012 at 3:15pm
  I’m surprised they don’t segregate the honeymoon.
  
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- rickc34
  Posted on November 11, 2012 at 5:31pm
  How was the wedding? Shocking ..just shocking.
  
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OniKaze
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 1:01pm
I am sad to hear that people died in an “accident”…. Its a shame that people died… But the bright side is that those ladies will not be giving birth to any future Jihadists…. So I guess there is a silver lining to every cloud…

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- sheria-never
  Posted on October 31, 2012 at 1:49pm
  then we need MORE clouds…………….
  
  [i think they drank too much camel piss]
  
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txgrrl
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 12:54pm
That’s why (in Texas during New Year) they say “no celebratory gunfire!”

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MeteoricLimbo
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 12:48pm
Humor from a fatal accident that left children without mothers? classless…

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- BuckCompton
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 2:07am
  speaking of classless, the women all wear black witch bags so i doubt they can identify whos mom is whos anyway.
  
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tiki886
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 12:45pm
I guess what happened is a few people were electrocuted and had fallen around the metal gate entrance, then others came to help those on the ground and also were electrocuted from the human daisy chain being created by fallen bodies. Tragic. Who wouldn’t rush to aid their loved ones on the ground but then find out the loved one is a boobie trap.

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DZ-015
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 12:42pm
To paraphrase Tom Lehrer: Once the bullets go up, who cares where they come down? “That’s not my department,” says Akhmed the clown.

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Secret Squirrel
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 12:19pm
.
Celebrants were heard to say,
“I thought dancing wasn’t allowed.”
“Ahmed, busts a move.”
until the awful truth was discovered.

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Secret Squirrel
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 12:15pm
.
23 down and a billion to go.
It’s a start.

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coyote1hell
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 12:13pm
Are these females, ‘gonna get their 70 virgins..?…hmmmmm….

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- NOFX
  Posted on October 31, 2012 at 9:12pm
  Guys get 72 virgins and the women get freedom.
  
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For my Liberty!
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 12:08pm
Welp..that is what you get for taking Guns to weddings…and that is oh probably 180 future terrorists that won’t be born since they tend to have 5 or 6 kids each…Sorry if you don’t like the comment, but sick of the PC crap with Muslims…They are ALL terrorists–PERIOD. It is NOT a “religion” it is an EVIL CULT that controls EVERY ASPECT of one’s life, and ANY that say they are “peaceful Muslims” are LYING as they are INSTRUCTED to do to get Sharia worldwide.

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- sheria-never
  Posted on October 31, 2012 at 12:24pm
  How right you are. I’m damn sick of them also. Was hoping this epic storm would cull some of the population…………. too bad they weren’t in the subway under 50 ft. of water.
  
  Hoping Romney can put an end to vises and head bags!
  
  Report this comment
Exidor
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:52am
So how do you like your Jihadist?

Extra Crispy or Original Recipe?

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- Pearsontech
  Posted on October 31, 2012 at 12:17pm
  Darwin award material I believe.
  
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Walkabout
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:50am
Is there a Muslim Isaac Newton, who can explain to them that “What fgoes up must come down”?

Does a Muslim scientist have to convince a mullah or iman that this is true & who then issues a fatwah that “Thou shall not fire off joy shots”?

Unless it reaches escape velocity of course, which bullets don’t do.

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Alpha Protocol
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:48am
23 Honor killings? Now that’s efficiency!

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thibx
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:40am
idiots when you fire bullets up in the air what do you think nothing is going to happen. maybe they had their eyes covered.

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Detroit paperboy
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:37am
It’s the will of Allah………………………….

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oceanrcr
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:34am
Do the math,
that’s approx 100 little jihadists or jihadist birthing factories that will never be produced.
That’s a good thing.

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- hatchetjob
  Posted on October 31, 2012 at 5:58pm
  Yep, and I won’t be losing any sleep over their loss.
  
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FaithfulFriend
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:33am
Those nutty Saudimites.

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Gary_K
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:28am
These people are Morons. When morons play with guns this is the result.

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Thighmaster
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:25am
So, can I get my toaster back ?

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- RobbK
  Posted on October 31, 2012 at 12:49pm
  HOLY SMOKES!!! bududuh
  
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chips1
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:21am
Would you like quacamole with that?

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Walkabout
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:18am
Before people had guns did they have celebratory arrow fire?

I mean really. Just because the bullet is so fast & so small you can’t see it, doesn’t mean that it is not there.

Does anyone really think that people in general or the village elders would allow men to fire joy shots of arrows into the air 3 centuries ago.

F/CKING MOR/NIC!

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- G-WHIZ
  Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:31am
  According to their KORAN…women are less than 2nd-class…so where is the “rest of the story…”??
  This is only a story for the “freeworld msm” cause the joke is…they actually care about women!
  Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahhhhaaaaa!!
  
  Report this comment
- SirhanSirhan
  Posted on October 31, 2012 at 12:45pm
  @ G-WHIZ- G-WHIZ You Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:31am
  According to their KORAN…women are less than 2nd-class…so where is the “rest of the story…”??
  
  The rest of the story is their Bible teaches the same thing:
  
  1 Corinthians 14:34-35 Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
  
  Report this comment
- theotherberean
  Posted on October 31, 2012 at 5:27pm
  The entire purpose of 1 Corinthians was to correct error in the Church at Corinth. If these women were being disruptive, then asking them to keep quiet could very well be appropriate.
  
  Report this comment
- SirhanSirhan
  Posted on October 31, 2012 at 6:34pm
  @ THEOTHERBEREAN- 1 Corinthians 14:34 Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, BUT MUST BE IN SUBMISSION, AS THE LAW SAYS.
  
  Don’t be brainwashed by your pastor’s spin on this!
  
  Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves to your husband as you do to the Lord.
  
  1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
  
  There’s nothing like this in the Qur’an.
  
  Report this comment
- strewth_cobber
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 4:09am
  What? And you’d no doubt prefer people to be brainwashed by you and your mufti/imam/caliph?
  
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- SirhanSirhan
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 7:05am
  @ STREWTH_COBBER- I would rather people read the Qur’an themselves and trust in the Lord and lean not to other peoples understanding. Which is an opposite teaching of the Bible.
  
  Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on YOUR OWN understanding;
  
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Quandary
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:17am
“at least 23 people were killed – mostly women” …… What ticks me off is that Darwin likely didnt kill the idiot responsible for this.

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frednerk
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:15am
Heh’ I’m with you………. giz’ another beer too please.

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chips1
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:09am
I wonder what video caused this.

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beer4me
Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:03am
Good

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- Lotus503
  Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:12am
  Shocking….
  
  Report this comment
- QuincySmith
  Posted on October 31, 2012 at 11:12am
  Climb back into your beer mug.
  
  Report this comment

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