Thanks to commenter ‘ratherdashing’ for pointing out this article from The Los Angeles Times blogs! As a way to promote an image of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice as innocuous and innocent of all things bad, I suppose their effort should be applauded.

But as a commenter at the LA Times‘ site asks, ‘Who knew there was bowling in 7th C. Arabia!’ Is this innovation being supported by the guardians of all things? And what about that ball? It looks suspiciously green… say, the green of the Saudi flag, which we all know has the shahada running across it. Sounds dangerous, sounds risky, sounds morally suspect… And is that an expression of amazement or horror on the two young men watching?

Credit: Mosaab Matbakani / Al-Watan

SAUDI ARABIA: Let’s take the morality police bowling
Raed Rafei in Beirut

When the men from the Committee to Promote Virtue and Prevent Vice arrived unexpectedly at a shopping mall in Jeddah, the trendy Saudi youth in their Western-style attire were seized with fear.

The religious force is notorious for beating up and arresting men and women in Saudi Arabia for what they perceive as immoral behaviors as well as Western ways of behaving or dressing up.

But this time, the bearded men of the religious police had totally different intentions. They just wanted to engage in a game of bowling with a group of youth at the mall in the Saudi coastal city, the local daily Al-Watan reported on Tuesday.

The newspaper said that high-ranking officials from this police force, who turned out to be talented bowlers, won the game against the young group of bowlers. They all engaged in a friendly conversation, Al-Watan added.

This unusual event raised questions in the kingdom about whether the morality police widely viewed as austere and brutal are trying to spruce up their public image by engaging with young people.
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