As'salamu Alaikum my dear brother Zulfiqar,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and concerns akhi. I am not sure if you're familiar with the history my website, but I used to be a big enemy for Wahabies. I am not saying that you are my dear brother. But I personally used to see the restrictions as something repulsive. However, quite honestly, I had a big change of heart after that. Man is evil and is stupid. Not dumb, but very stupid and evil. You give them an inch, they want 10 meters more of greed and evil.
I myself am 100% for the Mutawwa System (this is where four or so men walk around in random places making sure that everything is in order. They're not police, but they're upheld by the Law). My dear brother, if you know that the law prohibits you from playing music in public, then you should follow it. Every country on this earth has laws that might look weird. I read on Yahoo a year ago about the weirdest laws in some of the US States.
My sister and her husband and childern live in Kuwait. Kuwait just passed a law last year prohibiting any person from pointing their mobile phones at anyone, especially women. The fine could go up to $500 Kuwait Dinars (A Kuwaiti Dina is worth 3.5 to 4.0 US Dollars). The reason for this law is because punks at the malls used to take snap shots of girls and women from the back. As you know, the Gulf Countries are rich, and they have many Westerners and other Foreigners there. So not all women there would be dressed modestly in the traditional Arab dresses for women. So to crack down on them, the government passed this Law. Quite honestly, I am 1 TRILLION PERCENT for laws of this kind that enforce by law and by force chastity and modety and order in the Muslim society. I don't want us to ever westernize. I lived in the US most of my life, and while it's the Greatest Country in the entire World in many ways, but when it comes to chastity and modesty it is among the worst! And Europe is defintely the WORST!
We just came from Italy for vacation last year. Did you know that men and women share bathrooms over there in resturaunts and public places?? That's right. No men-only bathrooms and women-only bathrooms. It's ONE BATHROOM for both genders. At least here in the USA we don't have that. Also, the hotel that we stayed in had the bathroom walls as transparent glass! You could see right throw it!! Good thing we had bed sheets there. AND THIS IS NOT EVEN A MILE AWAY FROM THE VATICAN!!!!! So much for their "Christian Mecca" garbage.
So I say to those who want to modernize us (and again dear brother, I am not saying that you are saying that here), I tell them to please take a second serious look at Islam and Islam's values. We are the BEST when it comes to modesty and chastity. Let's enforce it and always keep it alive.
I hope this helps, insha'Allah.
Take care,
Osama Abdallah