Gulf | Saudi Arabia
Anti-vice squads must get prior approval for inspection
The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Saudi Arabia, known in the Western media as the 'religious police', has asked its staff not to enter public buildings, private hospitals as well as other business facilities for inspection unless they have prior coordination with official parties in these departments.
- By Mariam Al Hakeem, Correspondent
- Published: 00:00 February 25, 2007
Riyadh: The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Saudi Arabia, known in the Western media as the 'religious police', has asked its staff not to enter public buildings, private hospitals as well as other business facilities for inspection unless they have prior coordination with official parties in these departments.
The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (CPVPV) squad can enter government and private sector buildings, on receiving reports of moral violation, to nab violators but now it requires prior communication with those in charge of these buildings.
The new directives were sent to all CPVPV branches, said Dr Ebrahim Bin Sulaiman Al Howaimel, deputy chief of the Commission, in a press statements yesterday.
Call for leniency
In the past few years, performance and behaviour of the anti-vice squad has come under fire from some writers in Saudi press.
A number of Saudi columnists call for the reform of the Commission and a limitation of its authorities. The Commission denied any wrongdoing saying its daily activities aim to make society more moral. But many in Saudi Arabia accused it of interfering in people's lives and personal affairs.
A Saudi official was once quoted as saying the Commission should show "leniency" and respect people's privacy and freedom, but at the same time denied reports that the government was planning on merging it with the other security forces.
A report published in May 2006 noted that Saudi Arabia is taking measures to limit the power of the Commission.
The anti-vice squads have the authority to detain citizens or expatriates over any acts they deem immoral like improper dressing.
Responding to criticism against some CPVPV members for intervening in personal affairs and harsh communication with public code violators, Al Howaimel noted that violations conducted by the Commission members are investigated.
The Commission chief, however, did not rule out mistakes committed by his field teams.
"If a mistake is reported, the member will be questioned and penalised for the wrongdoing," Al Howaimel added.
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