Sheikh Dr. Abdul Lateef Aal Al-Sheikh, the chief of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Hai'a), has slammed mall owners for hiring personnel to act as Hai'a staff members. Aal Al-Sheikh was responding to news that some mall owners were now using these unauthorized staff to prevent harassment of female shoppers by single males. Recently the Hai'a chief said that single males should be allowed to enter malls. Aal Al-Sheikh said that these mall employees do not represent the Hai'a and have no legal standing in the country. He also urged the security authorities to confront these “mutawwa” because they are impersonating Hai'a staffers. They are also tarnishing the image of the Hai'a, he added. He slammed the management and owners of these malls for attempting to falsely present these employees as Hai'a staff members. If mall owners want to hire religious men for these purposes, then they should ensure they wear uniforms and badges to identify them as mall employees, said Aal Al-Sheikh. Muhammad Ali Al-Ghamdi warned that there are some religious men in Makkah who dress like Hai'a staff and roam malls and shopping centers on their own to advise and guide people. These people believe that Allah would reward them for this in the Hereafter. He said some of them even approach Hai'a staffers in the centers to accompany them on their tours without expecting any financial reward. Some Hai'a staff have agreed to do this, but this gives them a legal status and “a free hand to deal with the public the way they like”. He said this creates public confusion. He advised mall owners not to hire these people, to avoid any legal action being taken against them. __
