Abdul Rahman Abdul Aziz Aal Asheikh Al-Riyadh newspaper
Many feel that the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Hai'a) exerts great efforts in our society. It is one of the oldest governmental organizations in the Kingdom and has branches everywhere. Like most organizations, it has its positive and negative aspects. However, this week, the Hai'a is the talk of the land. People are debating the validity of its role in society, and the way in which its members carry out their role. This discussion arose in the wake of a tragic Hai'a car chase accident in Baljurashi last week, which ended in a crash which killed a citizen, injured his pregnant wife, and caused severe injuries to his nine-year-old son and daughter. Following the accident, five Hai'a members were placed under investigation. As expected, people all over the world have reacted angrily about the accident which was tragic in the full sense of the word. We are sure that justice will prevail when the court decides on the case. Moreover, I would like to say that the Hai'a in recent years, has focused on preventing the interaction between men and women and chasing people, while forgetting more important issues like inspecting slaughterhouses to ensure that sheep and cattle are being slaughtered in an Islamic way or ensuring that stores are not cheating customers. The question that poses itself amid these events is: How did the commission's tasks change from preventing vice to “chasing” and “catching” people who commit “vice?” I believe this is the task of security officers. It is true that the Hai'a regulations empower its members to catch those who commit “vice” but in my opinion, these regulations need to be reconsidered.
