So… four days ago, the re-opening of cinemas in Saudi Arabia makes the news.
A day later, the head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice declares cinema to be ‘an evil’.
As they say, quelle surprise!
Here, Saudi Gazette gives Sheikh Al-Ghaith the opportunity to explain why the world is going to hell in a hand basket and how the Commission is standing by, ready to come to the aid of the citizenry faced with the horrors of modern life.
Cinema is an evil – Commission chief
RIYADH – Cinema is an evil, the chief of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice said here Friday, one day after a long awaited and much celebrated cinema festival ended in Saudi Arabia
Sheikh Dr. Ibrahim Bin Abdullah Al-Ghaith, the Commission chief, then declared that the Commission is against opening movie theaters in the Kingdom.
His statement is bound to dampen the hopes of thousands of Saudi men, women and children who had enjoyed the 9-day cinema festival Dec. 10-18 in Jeddah and Taif, the highlight of which was “Manahi,” a comedy film with a touch of Saudi culture and tradition.
Organized by Rowad Media and Kawthar Foundation and Production, the festival had marked the return of public cinema in the country after 30 years. Ayman Halawani, director general of Rotana Studios, had hailed “Manahi” as “the first film in the revival of Saudi cinema.”
But Sheikh Al-Ghaith made it clear Friday that the Commission would have none of that.
He was speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of “The best nation (Ummah),” a 4-day annual forum held at King Fahd Cultural Center here. This year’s theme of the forum is “One Ummah.”
At an open meeting between Commission staff, media men and guests following the forum’s launch, Sheikh Al-Gaith spoke about how the Commission deals with ills in society. One prevalent problem was that of girls being blackmailed by young men. Sheikh Al-Gaith said the Commission deals with such problems in total secrecy even to the extent of not letting the girl’s family or relatives know about it. In several cases, the young men involved were taken to court or prison, he said.
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December:20:2008 - 10:57
If there is something the society hopes rejected.. its Mr Al Ghaith utopia.
December:20:2008 - 21:03
John,
I just visited Jeddah a few weeks ago. The muttwa’s are visibly absent from the beaches, malls, restaurant areas, etc. I think the new governor Pr. Khalid has decreased their control over the cities in the province. I am not sure if cinemas will open permanently, but I think Mr. Al Ghaith’s barking does not resonate in Hijaz anymore.
December:21:2008 - 03:04
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December:21:2008 - 03:58
The Eid al Adha cinema was opened without consulting the Commission according to Al Ghaith. That tells me that they have very little power (in Jeddah at least). And as Saudi in US said, very few Commission members are seen these days in Jeddah malls, and the few times I’ve seen them all they did was give passing advice without looking very threatening.
December:22:2008 - 11:56
It remains deeply depressing that the Committee is still obsessed with supposed sexual issues, such as men and women co-inhabiting a cinema building, while at the same time there is never any Committee interest in issues in which real vice is present, such as public corruption, misuse of governmental assets and resources, and others.
Depressing yet not suprising is this obsession and the accompanying omission of interest.
December:23:2008 - 20:31
Yes real issues are not really the concern of the Committee because they are simply paid to harrass people to take the people’s minds off the real issues!!!