Saudi family files lawsuit against cellphone-stealing genie

CNN reports that a family in Saudi Arabia is suing a genie for harassment.

The lawsuit filed in Shariah court accuses the genie of leaving them threatening voicemails, stealing their cell phones and hurling rocks at them when they leave their house at night, said Al-Watan newspaper.

An investigation was under way, local court officials said.

Saudi family sues genie, alleges harassment (Via The Agitator)

[#1 posted by The Unusual Suspect, July 13, 2009 12:44 PM]

Shariah Law strikes again.

And if the family wins, will the court award them damages in the amount of three wishes?

[#2 posted by Anonymous, July 13, 2009 12:54 PM]

Coolest story of the year?

[#3 posted by Antinous / Moderator, July 13, 2009 1:02 PM]

Sounds more like an ifrit to me.

[#4 posted by Brainspore, July 13, 2009 1:04 PM]

This story stretches credibility. I mean, why would a genie leave threatening voice mails and then steal their cell phones so they couldn't even listen to them?

[#5 posted by Boba Fett Diop, July 13, 2009 1:05 PM]

I always thought that djinn was the Arabic term for a malevolent spirit. From this it seems that the word actually means "14-year-old boy."

[#6 posted by gollux, July 13, 2009 1:11 PM]

Now if only we can get the djinn to concentrate on stealing sewing machines for their Red Mercury.

[#7 posted by Anonymous, July 13, 2009 1:14 PM]

Why would they sue? I mean, I've never heard of anyone who reportedly lives in a haunted house filing a lawsuit against the ghost/poltergeist. What could they possibly hope to achieve?

[#8 posted by homais, July 13, 2009 1:38 PM]

Didn't a Nebraska state senator once try to sue God?

[#9 posted by nanuq, July 13, 2009 1:53 PM]

"What could they possibly hope to achieve?"

A book deal?

[#10 posted by Anonymous, July 13, 2009 1:59 PM]

perhaps seeking to test 3g coverage throughout the elemental plane of fire?

[#11 posted by Felton, July 13, 2009 2:07 PM]

I've seen Disney's Aladdin. Pockets don't get any deeper than that.

HOMAIS: "Didn't a Nebraska state senator once try to sue God?"

I stand corrected.

[#12 posted by Anonymous, July 13, 2009 2:14 PM]

Twitpic is down.

[#13 posted by Yamara, July 13, 2009 2:36 PM]

I think by their reading of the Quran, jinn are a parallel but lesser race of sentient beings created by God.

Many of them are rebellious, but not all of them; it is possible for them to follow Islam, in their way.

And they're entirely real because the book says so.

...I have no trouble with people who say they have invisible friends. It's when they start on about having invisible enemies that you need to keep a hard eye on them.

[#14 posted by jjasper, July 13, 2009 2:45 PM]

I'll offer the genie representation in court for 4 wishes, payable upfront.

[#15 posted by Brainspore, July 13, 2009 2:56 PM]

Maybe this genie actually owes the family wishes and is trying to trick them into using them up on easy stuff, like "I wish I could find my cell phone!"

[#16 posted by johnphantom, July 13, 2009 9:15 PM]

And these are our second best friends (after Israel) in the Middle East...

Not to mention the regular beheadings and 15 of the 19 9/11 attackers were Saudi...

Mark my words: when we stop buying oil from Saudi Arabia, they will openly hate us, as the one religion of Judaism/Christianity/Islam dictates.

[#17 posted by Antinous / Moderator, July 13, 2009 9:32 PM]

And these are our second best friends (after Israel) in the Middle East.

And they make foreign policy decisions about the US based on snake-handling cults and pedophile polygamist sects here? What on earth does one crazy family have to do with oil policy?

[#18 posted by bjacques, July 14, 2009 6:30 AM]

The genie pleaded self-defense. They were phoning tips in to Dr. Bellows about her master. Plus they tried to steal Basenji the dog. Also.

[#19 posted by RainyRat, July 14, 2009 7:57 AM]

#5 - I see no contradiction.