Over the years, book fairs and literary festivals in Saudi Arabia have tended to attract two sorts of people: those interested in the the written word and those who will take offense at anything done in a manner different than it was done 1,400 years ago. Dust ups with religious/social conservatives objecting to what books say or that men and women might be in the same room have been covered by the Saudi media.

Now, it appears, the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice are stepping in at the Riyadh International Book Fair to keep the extremists away from those playing a useful role in the Fair. Saudi Gazette reports:

Hai’a steps in for media members

RIYADH – Two certified members of the media tasked with covering the Riyadh Book Fair were permitted to continue their work after members of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (the Hai’a) stepped in to keep an “extremist” at bay, Al-Watan Arabic daily reported Friday.

Al-Watan said that a man and a woman working for an unnamed satellite television station were going about their business at the fair when they were approached by a man who told them it was “not permitted for a man to meet with a woman”.

When the journalists asked him in what capacity he was addressing them, he replied: “As a promoter of virtue”, and threatened to call over the Hai’a.

His assistance was not required, however, as the increasingly heated confrontation attracted officials from the Hai’a all by itself, and they swiftly brought the face-off to a peaceful conclusion allowing the TV journalists to continue about their business.

Al-Watan said the Hai’a officials “understood the situation and appreciated the nature of the fair’s media committee’s work”. – SG