THE Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) plays a major role in protecting Saudi society's moral fabric through its awareness campaigns and regulatory mission. However, despite the long history of the commission, it remains divided on whether women should join their male counterparts and work as field officers. The topic is not new and has been discussed before, but with Saudi women joining the country's labor force in large numbers women working for the Haia is not impossible. Supporters of the idea say now is the time to employ women in the Haia while others believe the idea should be extensively studied before a decision is made, Al-Madinah newspaper reported. Sami Omar Al-Sibah, faculty member at the College of Dawa and Usul-ud-Din at Umm Al-Qura University, said women working for the Haia, particularly in field missions, is a step in the right direction but said the issue needs to be studied thoroughly. “This topic addresses mainly the role of women in society and the sort of job opportunities available to them. Other issues such as guardianship, protection and segregation will be brought up if we allow women to participate in field missions. It is important to move forward but care must be taken in order for us to avoid future calamities,” he said. “The current role of the Haia is to promote virtuous deeds among people and prevent vice. This sort of job requires strength, persuasion, persistence and availability. Problems occur at night and require the presence of assigned officers. Having to leave the house at night for work would cause problems for women as this might lead to conflicts in their personal lives. Currently, though, neither the positions nor the members of Haia are ready or equipped to introduce women into the organization,” he added. Ahmad Qassim Al-Ghamdi, the former general manager of Haia in Makkah province, said there are several advantages to having women work in the commission. “The Haia's reach will be more extensive and they will play an active regulatory role in the female community, something which is currently hard for them to achieve. Work is a woman's right and so should be the act of promoting virtue and preventing vice for the betterment of society,” he said. “Islam is the responsibility of both men and women. In fact, during the Prophet's time, women played an extensive role in the spread of Islam. Women are responsible for the development of society and their involvement in the country's labor force does not diminish their capabilities of fulfilling their maternal role. Raising a family is the role of both men and women. Families are affected by the community they live in. Preventing the involvement of women in society is a harmful decision to take,” he added. Ahmad Abdullah Al-Fireih, dean of the High Institute of the Authority for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice at Umm Al-Qura University, said there are women in other departments of the commission, such as the investigation and prisons and insisted there is no need for women to join the regulatory mission as it is a job best carried out by men. “The Haia role is not to arrest but rather to discipline. Therefore, we do not jail criminals. The police are responsible for this and they have their own dedicated female department,” he said. — SG
