Gulf | Saudi Arabia
Religious police 'do not endorse car chases'
Unprecedented local media uproar and public resentment over the abuse of power by some members of the "religious police", especially the alleged Madinah car chase tragedy, has prompted its Chief to speak out against such extreme behaviour by members.
- By Mariam Al Hakeem, Correspondent
- Published: 18:51 April 9, 2008
Riyadh: Unprecedented local media uproar and public resentment over the abuse of power by some members of the "religious police", especially the alleged Madinah car chase tragedy, has prompted its Chief to speak out against such extreme behaviour by members.
Shaikh Ebrahim Al Gaith, president of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, known as the religious police outside the kingdom, asserted in a statement carried by the Saudi official news agency that "we won't allow any official at the commission to chase any suspects as it may result in causing harm to both the one who is chasing and the chased."
Shaikh Al Gaith cautioned members that their behaviour in the field reflects the Commission's functioning as a whole in society.
"Members will observe the directives issued as far as their field work is concerned, especially with regard to chases," he said.
The Commission chief's directives gain special significance in the wake of a series of alleged incidents of murder and torture by its members.
Commission members, comprising several thousand men, enforce dress code, sex segregation and the observance of prayers in the kingdom.
They have been accused of intimidating people and subjecting those taken into custody to inhuman treatment and torture.
Anger
Earlier, three members of the commission went on trial for their alleged involvement in the death of a man in detention.
The latest incident involving religious policemen was the death of four people in an accident allegedly caused by a religious police chase in Madinah on March 31.
Many local people and relatives of those killed in the accident, who gathered at the Prophet's Mosque to offer Janaza prayers and for burial of the victims, voiced their anger over the growing tragic incidents involving religious policemen.
They were especially furious at the Commission's denial of any involvement in the accident.
Meanwhile, the Commission members, who were allegedly involved in the chase, are still in detention and are being interrogated by Madinah police officials.
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