Saudi Gazette reports that members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice will require explicit permission from the chief of the Commission to go into family sections of restaurants and hotels in the Mecca Governate, which includes the city of Jeddah. The Governor, Pr. Khaled Al-Faisal, is noted for his reform-minded tolerance as well as his antipathy toward excesses in Commission behavior.
Exactly how this ruling will work out in practice is yet to be determined, of course, but it indicates a tight hold on the reins of the Commission.
Commission barred from checking family sections
Saeed Al-BarakatiJEDDAH – The agents of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice have been barred from entering the family sections of restaurants and hotels without the express permission of the Commission’s chief.
Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Ghaith, Commission chief, said he has received directives from Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, banning Commission members from entering the family section of restaurants unless prior permission is granted to them.
Al-Ghaith said the Emir’s instructions do not apply to eateries in malls and shopping centers.
“The instructions did not refer to malls and shopping centers. These areas are defined in the Commission’s field work; our members will not be denied access to such areas and places,” he said.
He said the Commission was firm in its decision to improve the performance of its staff in the field.
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September:21:2008 - 12:48
Great news, we finally have a governor that is willing to take a rational position against the abuses of the commission. The group does not have much support in the region and this will be viewed positively by the public. It sends a strong signal to the commission to clean up their act or face more restrictions.
September:21:2008 - 13:35
I think there are going to be those who will try to dismiss it as ‘Oh, it’s just those Al-Faisals again’, but I do agree. A very good step. I hope there are more.
September:21:2008 - 16:54
Al-Faisals are very popular in the west coast. They have always been favorites in Hijaz starting with the king then his sons prince Abdullah Al-Faisal and now Khalid. So at least locally that trick won’t work. From what I hear King Abduallah also is getting very popular in the region not just for reforms, but also for selecting the new governor.
September:22:2008 - 04:14
Abdullah is *very* popular here in the west coast. His “ratings” soared when he visited a folklore fair in Mecca, mingled with the stall owners, and quite literally broke bread with them.
About the ruling. I didn’t even know the commission was allowed to do that in the first place.
September:22:2008 - 04:20
I say whip them hard and rein them good. I am sick of malpractice from those authority kooks.
September:22:2008 - 08:15
M: The mutawwa tended to avoid the major hotels and facilities owned by people with piles of wasta, though not absolutely. They are not dumb… well, really, really dumb.