The case of the Saudi couple being harassed by the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice is taken up in this Saudi Gazette piece. It reports that the police in Madinah are not supporting the claims of the Commission that there was a ‘swap’ of women when the vice cops approached. At least as it’s being reported, this looks like another case of overzealousness on the part of the Commission, compounded by an utter lack of professionalism. If they keep this up, the Commission will be writing its own pink slip.
Police and Commission at odds over ‘khulwa’ claim
MADINA – Madina police have refuted claims by Dr. Abdullah Al-Zahrani, Acting Director of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Madina, that a young man arrested by the Commission on charges of khulwa (illegal seclusion with a non-related female) replaced the woman caught with him with his wife in order to avoid punishment.
Members of the Commission, Al-Watan reported Wednesday, made the arrest during a routine patrol in Al-Jarf district last Sunday, on the suspicion that the pair were not married, an allegation which transpired to be false as their respective families confirmed that the couple were indeed husband and wife.
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October:10:2008 - 05:50
it keeps getting better, the brother of the wife victim is an Imam, a Friday sermon preacher and also a cooperative volunteer with the Vice police in Madina. He is filing a complaint for the offending vice police behavior and disregard for protocol..
http://alwatan.com.sa/news/newsdetail.asp?issueno=2932&id=72892&groupID=0
October:15:2008 - 18:08
I understand the importance of this police force. However, I also feel that if anyone needs to show mercy, and compassion to others – it should be these citizens. I don’t think that it is a good thing that they inspire fear to others. They should be inspiring love, joy, and obedience. They don’t need to be aggressive to achieve this goal. A simple reprimand/ comment would suffise. They should not be allowed to detain or arrest any citizen! Only God truly sees into the hearts of men. How can these people make critical evaluations of the true merits of individuals they meet in passing? Arab citizens need to be trusted with their decisions in regards to their faith. This force should be a great source of joy to any Arabian. Little children should be flocking to them, with open arms, eager to learn something new about their God. These men should brighten everyone’s day. Instead of inspiring aversion, fear, and criticism, these people need to promote the beauty of their faith. Their cars should be loaded with food, maybe books of interest/ little things for the children. Each unscheduled stop should be an act of love. They have to be ambassadors of God, and uplift the spirit of the nation.