JEDDAH — Guardians and relatives of female prisoners as well as legal experts have emphasized the need to appoint women investigators to deal with various crimes in which women are involved. They said Saudi women investigators, like their foreign counterparts, are capable of doing this job efficiently. There are about 500 female prisoners in Dhahban Central Prison north of Jeddah, an informed source said, adding that they were held for various crimes, including cases related immorality and public and private rights, Al-Watan Arabic daily reported. "Some of these female prisoners are still under investigation," the source said highlighting the importance of appointing women investigators. Abdulaziz Bin Batil, a lawyer and legal adviser, emphasized the need to appoint women as criminal investigators at the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution, considering the special position of women in Saudi society and its social relevance. "Saudi women have proved their excellence and professionalism as lawyers and legal advisers. There is no big difference between the job of a lawyer and an investigator. Both of them study cases on the basis of existing laws," Bin Batil said while speaking to Al-Watan. He said the presence of women in the BIP would help uncover many mysteries and ambiguities of cases involving women. "It will also enable women to disclose matters related to family violence and attacks on women and children in greater privacy," he said. Bin Batil referred to examples of women investigators in the neighboring state of Qatar where Mariyam Abdullah Al-Jaber, head of family prosecution, won Hamid Al-Othman Award, which is instituted to honor investigators and public prosecutors in the country. "We can see female officers at investigation and public prosecution departments in all other countries including the Gulf states. They work as prosecutors and investigators apart from doing administrative and clerical jobs. Some of them hold leadership positions," Bin Batil said. Some women hold positions of attorney general and head of public prosecution. For example, Mouza Hassan Al-Naar is the public prosecutor in Muharraq, Bahrain. "The Kingdom's Civil Service Law does not prevent women from taking jobs in the investigation and public prosecution department," Bin Batil said. "The law does not insist that only men should be appointed in the department. On the other hand, female graduates of Shariah and law colleges are qualified to apply for jobs in the sector," he explained. Article 3 of the law governing activities of the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution says its staff members have to visit jails and listen to the complaints of prisoners. "Thus we need female investigators and prosecutors to meet female prisoners in Saudi jails," Bin Batil said. Lawyer Ghadeer Al-Ghamdi said women have an important role to play in the investigation and public prosecution sector. "Women lawyers play a significant role at courts and it is high time to appoint female investigators and prosecutors," she said. "We have been facing difficulty to deal with the investigation bureau due to the absence of women officials and we call for the appointment of women in this vital field," she said, adding that women investigators would be able to play a better role in unveiling mysteries of crimes involving women. Lawyer Ranad Bint Majed Maleesi backed the call to appoint female investigators and prosecutors, saying they understand better the psychology and behavior of women criminals. "Saudi Arabia holds women in high esteem and the appointment of women investigators and prosecutors is essential to protect women's honor. Female officers will be able to carry out investigations, arrest and frisk women suspects in the appropriate manner," she told Al-Watan.
