The ultra-conservative kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reined in
its religious police, stripping their arresting powers and ordering
them to be "gentle and humane" while imposing the Islamic code. The
much-feared morality police's powers were clipped in an unexpected move
by Riyadh under a new structure put in place.
The duty of the religious force, formally known as
Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, will
henceforth be limited to promoting Islamic values. Also, they are not
allowed to demand even identification documents from the public.
The Saudi cabinet has also instructed Mutawas, the Islamic police,
that arresting powers only rest with police or drug enforcement
authorities. Saudi Arabia has about 5,000 such officers, who are also
called Haia.
Mutawas, till now, were empowered to intervene in cases
involving "mingling between the sexes" or if women were not dressed
according to Islamic convention. The forces are as frequently feared as
they are ridiculed for their excessive force. The members of the force
also patrol during the Islamic prayer times to ensure that all the shops
across the kingdom are shut.
The newly announced cabinet decision reads: "Neither the heads nor
members of the Haia are to stop or arrest or chase people or ask for
their IDs or follow them — that is considered the jurisdiction of the
police or the drug unit."
Equipped with immense powers,
Mutawas often come under sharp criticism for imposing an
ultra-conservative version of Sunni Islam. If a man and a woman are seen
driving together or at a public place, they are often asked to prove
their identities and relationship.
In February, a video footage emerged showing a girl being
beaten up after having a stand-off with the members of the Mutawas. The
girl, along with her friend, was thrashed after she resisted wearing a
veil.
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