Tariq Al-Maeena, writing in Arab News, prives my point that blaming the Western media for mocking or criticizing the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice is simply mistaken. The Saudi media—and plenty of Saudis—are less than enthralled with the way the Commission and its members conduct themselves.
You don’t have to be a Saudi-basher or an atheist to understand the problems that the Commission brings on itself. Nor, I would argue, do you have to be a genius to find ways in which the Commission could change the kind of publicity it gets.
It’s Not Just the Western Media
Tariq A. Al-Maeena, talmaeena@aol.comA few days back, in a candid interview with this newspaper, the national head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, Ibrahim Al-Ghaith answered questions on a wide range of issues pertaining to his organization.
Al-Ghaith also attacked what he felt were deliberate Western media attempts to malign such a “noble institution” on the basis of the misdemeanors of a few of its members. One of his charges was that the Western media were intent on smearing the good work of the commission for unexplainable reasons.
Adding that Interior Minister Prince Naif had recently stated that the commission was not above making errors just like any other government institution, and as such it should not be the commission but the erring official who should be held accountable for any such infringements. Al-Ghaith said that the minister of interior would not tolerate attempts from any quarters to blow up the commission’s errors.
ust a day or two later, an incident in Riyadh reported in this newspaper should have given Al-Ghaith some ideas as to why the world’s press often picks up on the allegedly nefarious activities of some of the members of the commission.
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16:58,
I think the leadership of the commission is not getting it. They are too self-righteous to even contemplate that they can be wrong. Let’s hope they have enough sense to hire a media consultant to help them figure out the obvious.
22:07,
Good advice from a consultant is only as good as the willingness of the organization to listen to and act on the advice. I repeat, it doesn’t take a genius… only someone interested in actually changing the way the Commission operates.
02:38,
There are several theories as to why recent actions by the Commission are bordering on the bizarre…One that warrants some merit is that their actions are akin to the struggles of a drowning person. The closer to the actual drowning, the more the thrashing of the water…
Another theory is that they would not dare commit some of these acts unless they were confident someone placed high would back them. End of story.
A third is that they are mortified at the direction the Kingdom is headed to, what with the call for inter-faith dialogue and tolerance, and Saudi women businessmen travelling publicly with the King among other such percieved un-Islamic trends, that they have intensified their efforts to stamp their brand of Islam on the rest of us.
09:00,
The CPVPV apparently hasn’t learned that blaming the messenger is not going to solve their problem. I officially nominate them as candidates for this year’s “Slow Learner” award.
/ just made it up
09:43,
I think Tariq is right, and the answer is D) All of the above.
It’s clear that there are ministerial-level backers for the Commission. Whether that backing is through honest belief, through the need to cover for past indiscretions, whatever… they do have substantial backing.
It’s also clear that they see the world of their ideals being challenged from all sides. Modernity is forcing the door in the Kingdom and many in the conservative camp don’t like it. They’re fighting a rear-guard action (though they think they’re being progressive).
They are also certainly thrashing around to avoid being forced out for their lack of utility. As is noted among the drowning, they often take their would-be rescuers down with them.
01:25,
I agree about taking their would be rescuers with them are being taken down too.
Something I have noticed over the months of blogging is that Prince Naif stopped making official bad statements in the press LOL. Now he is just quoted by other people or other people are saying PRINCE NAIF SAID…Pharoah speaks…
Are we supposed to be SCARED. i AM NOT. If Prince Naif wants to say something, he can say it. I have sent Prince Naif a huge loving energy ball to make peace in his heart. I think it has worked
02:42,
Rameses: I will not be dictated to, I will not be threatened. I am the morning and evening star, I am Pharaoh!
Rameses: I will not be the weak link!