Gulf | Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia sees 30% drop in immoral crime rate
The rate of immoral crimes in Saudi Arabia has declined by 30 per cent, according to an annual report issued by the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice [religious police in Saudi Arabia].
- By Mariam Al Hakeem, Correspondent
- Published: 23:59 August 7, 2008
Riyadh: The rate of immoral crimes in Saudi Arabia has declined by 30 per cent, according to an annual report issued by the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice [religious police in Saudi Arabia].
The report released here yesterday did not specify the reason for the drop in immoral crimes.
The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice is a religious government institution responsible for controlling and fighting immoral offences, prostitution dens and sexual molestation among youth. The report revealed that there was a total of 34,000 immoral crimes in the past year, representing 11.6 per cent of the total crimes and offences registered by the Saudi Vice Squad in all parts of the Kingdom. This showed that there was a 30 per cent decline in the number of these crimes compared to the previous year.
In its report, the commission said that a total of 42,000 people were arrested in connection with moral offences including 29,179 Saudis and 12,974 foreigners.
According to the report, immoral crimes amounted to 20,144, with a decline of 24 per cent compared to the previous year, while a total of 20,267 persons involved in these crimes were arrested including 14,169 Saudis.
The number of immoral cases was 10,322, representing 43 per cent of the total cases referred to the concerned authorities with a 22 per cent decline. A total of 16,860 people were involved in these cases, representing 55 per cent of those arrested in connection with cases referred to concerned authorities.
These included more than 8,000 Saudis and a similar number of non-Saudis. The report said that more than 70 per cent of files circulated by Saudi teenagers through mobile telephones contain pornographic materials.
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