The better to prevent moral wanderings, the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice are asking the Saudi government to remove its blocking of pornographic websites. This is so they can understand the problem, of course.
In a weird way, it makes some sense, but the discordance between the protectors of moral values (just ask them) and their desire to view porn sites does reach a certain level of humor. The office responsible for site blocking isn’t quite convinced, either. This piece from Gulf News has the details. [Thanks to Essam for the pointer.]
Religious police demand access to blocked websites
Miriam Al-HakeemRiyadh: A number of members of the religious police (the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice) have urged the Chairman of the Saudi Shura Council, Dr Saleh Bin Humaid, to enable them to have access to blocked websites to monitor immoral practices by visitors of these sites.
In an open meeting held by Dr Bin Humaid at the headquarters of the Commission in Makkah last night they justified this unexpected request by arguing that there are some male and female youngsters who exploit blocked websites to get involved in negative practices away from the eyes of the Saudi authorities.
“Since members of the Commission have no access to these blocked websites, such immoral practices cannot be pursued and put an end to,” they said.
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August:31:2008 - 12:59
Before you know it, they’ll be asking to keep some hash. You know, to see what’s all the fuss about.
August:31:2008 - 12:59
I love your response Broke Saudi. The hesitance on the part of the internet censors is revealing in that it is more than the Saudi populace would like to see the Muttawas be kept at bay and within limits.
I think they should be allowed hash to mello them all out.
If what they want comes to be true, I wonder how the gay and lesbians in Saudi will be affected considering many are accessing the dating sites through proxies.
If the Muttawas studied more than just religion in school (or prison), they may be able to figure out the proxy process for themselves.
August:31:2008 - 12:59
Ironically I posted on my blog this past week a post about “What do the Muttawa Think About.” I’m becoming more and more convinced that they are simply obsessed with S-E-X.
If interested, my post on the subject can be viewed at:
http://americanbedu.com/2008/08/31/what-do-the-muttawa-think-about/#comment-7656
August:31:2008 - 12:59
Can’t … stop … laughing!
Hey guys, anyone know where I can find me some alcohol? For research purposes you understand.
August:31:2008 - 12:59
M, You should expand your study and request a trip to Napa Valley so you can understand the manufacturing process that the criminals use to produce bootleg wine
John, I really think this article deserves its own site. There are just too many distasteful jokes that we can come up with, if we do not have to maintain respect to your blog. Ok it is Ramdhan, I promise to be good.
August:31:2008 - 12:59
Last thing they need is watching adult content: their minds are allready thinking of nothing else!
I agree: they should all get a monthly supply of free weed , to mellow them and keep them sitting in their chairs.
August:31:2008 - 12:59
Well, you can easily–and for free–set up your own site to handle that! (Post-Ramadan, of course.)
Oddly enough, I’m not looking to have my site blocked in the KSA. That would rather undercut my goals.