Saudi Gazette report DAMMAM — A number of religious scholars and former Shoura Council members supported the Commission of the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice's (Haia) move to hire female members. They agreed that there was a dire need to employ female Haia members following the Ministry of Labor's decision that stipulates that all women's clothes and accessory businesses should hire women workers, Alsharq daily reported. They said those Haia members will be in charge of paying inspection visits to businesses run by female workers. While some women do not back the Haia's move to hire female members, others supported the decision, saying the female members are more capable of preventing any negative practices at women-only businesses, girls' schools and women's colleges where male Haia members cannot enter or provide help when needed. Nadia Saeed, a citizen, believes that one of the difficulties female members will face is controlling women working for businesses or shopping in malls. “Some women have a defiant attitude and don't like others to tell them not to do something.” Saeed said the only effective way to control women should be through advice and guidance, not force and obstinacy. Ashwaq Al-Zahrani supports hiring female members for the Haia because only women know how other women think and act. Besides, the female members will be able to give advice to women and convince them that something is wrong or inappropriate. “Male Haia members can't do that because most women refuse to take advice from them.” Unlike Al-Zahrani, Dhabha Saeed is against the Haia decision to employ female members, saying that men are more effective than women in handling situations that take place at a business store or a mall. Sheikh Issa Al-Gheith is a judge and member of the Shoura Council. He strongly supports the decision to use women to prevent any inappropriate practices some women might engage in at malls. “For many years, I've been calling for upholding such decisions. It's a women's right. Women should be served by women only and situations involving women should be handled by women.” There are women who work for the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques and there is nothing wrong with that from an Islamic point of view, Al-Gheith noted. The ones who should enter businesses run by women and malls for women should be Haia female members, not male members. Dr. Azib Al-Masbal, member of the Islamic affairs committee at the Shoura Council, hailed the decision. He said the female members would be responsible for giving advice only, and if the situation calls for intervention, the Haia should send male members. Female members should be quite knowledgeable about the Shariah rules for promoting virtue and preventing vice and how to approach women gently and kindly to give them advice. Dr. Talal Al-Bakri, former member of the Shoura Council, said there are advocates and opponents for the Haia decision to hire women in its staff. In his opinion, that decision is not effective and it is difficult to enforce on the ground. Women here cannot drive cars; this means that the Haia needs to provide every woman with a driver. In this case, women need mahrams (male guardians) so that they do not travel alone in the car with a strange driver. If the Haia does not do that, it will be breaking the very rule it has been supporting, which is to prevent intermingling between men and women. Al-Bakri is worried that allowing women to work in the Haia will exacerbate an already volatile situation between the Haia members and some parts of society. “Women tend to be more domineering than men when they deal with other women.” Dr. Muhammad Al-Saeedi, professor of Shariah at Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah, said women should not be engaged in raids the Haia make on some businesses or places because this is not suitable for women. It is important the Cabinet issue regulations regarding women's work in the Haia, he said. The regulations should be reviewed by the Board of Senior Ulema before being approved. Dr. Lubna Al-Ansari, member of the Shoura Council, supported the decision and called upon the Haia to select qualified women and train them well on the skills of communication before sending them to malls and other public places. “Female members should have necessary skills to handle all types of situations involving women from different nationalities and religions.” Mona Al-Masheet, member of the Shoura Council, agreed with Al-Ansari that training courses should be provided to female Haia members. The Haia's Asir branch spokesman Awad Al-Asmari could not comment on the decision because it is still being considered by the commission. “We haven't received any information yet about the implementation of the decision.”
