Saudi Gazette reports that people like their religious police… says the local representative of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in the Al-Baha province. He says that the Commission plays a necessary role, that it does not humiliate women intentionally, and that their goal is to ‘reform’ not ‘terrorize’. Good to remember that, though it’s easy to see it as a localized version of ‘We’re from the government. We’re here to help you.’
We treat women kindly, says senior Commission official
Abdul Khaliq Nasser Al-GhamdiAL-BAHA – The Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice says it treats women arrested for minor social violations kindly.
Sheikh Ali Bin Saleh Musslih Al-Shamrani, Director General of the General Presidency for the Commission in Al-Baha Region, denied that the agency adopts a method of terrorizing others when providing them with advice. He stressed that the Commission carries out a reform role and is kind to those who are seen to have moral shortcomings.
Al-Shamrani said women who commit violations are treated with all kindness and the Commission’s men try their utmost not to expose them when arresting them at a public place. If the home of any arrested woman is nearby, she is given appropriate advice and released. If her home is far away and there are fears she might be harassed, she is handed over to the closest relative after asking him to be responsible for her safety. No women are referred to other authorities unless they have committed a serious crime.
Contrary to the belief of some, society appreciates the role being carried out by the Commission, he said.
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December:31:2008 - 14:30
I think this is fantastic. The Commission should move all their men to Al-Baha where they can be loved and cared for like they should. And have a supporting community that will enthusiastically go on missions of attacking satellite dishes!! (from an earlier story this year).
December:31:2008 - 16:00
Were this to be in a play or a film, the comic potential of this would be immense.
The fact that this is an important facet of our reality depresses.
December:31:2008 - 17:42
It is quite amazing; the commission themselves admit with this statement that, whatever their official purpose, their only object, (the only object of these MEN) is to police and ”reform” WOMEN.
Very historical: men like Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, Big Brother etc, also claimed they were well loved and appreciated…
January:01:2009 - 00:26
I wish someone who really loved them would speak up for them opposed to them speaking of people who love them.
January:01:2009 - 10:54
Once upon a time…
On Bedu’s blog, far, far away…
Somebody told a story where the muttawa were the heroes and did a good thing.
It might be a desert myth….
January:01:2009 - 11:24
I’m sure some do good things. The problems arise when they seek to prevent others from doing things they themselves, with little reason or historic authority, consider wrong.