The agents of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice have been barred from entering the family sections of restaurants and hotels without the express permission of the Commission's chief. Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Ghaith, Commission chief, said he has received directives from Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, banning Commission members from entering the family section of restaurants unless prior permission is granted to them. Al-Ghaith said the Emir's instructions do not apply to eateries in malls and shopping centers. “The instructions did not refer to malls and shopping centers. These areas are defined in the Commission's field work; our members will not be denied access to such areas and places,” he said. He said the Commission was firm in its decision to improve the performance of its staff in the field. As to whether the Commission has new plans and field work methods especially during seasons like Ramadan and Eid, Sheikh Al-Ghaith said: “There are no new plans. In their field tours in malls and shopping centers, the Commission staff forbids women and girls from displaying themselves immodestly and advises young men against misbehavior,” he said. Commission staff randomly enter malls, restaurants and local and private establishments to enforce proper moral conduct. They also have the power to close shops during prayer times and ask people to attend prayers in mosques. In addition, they enforce the rule of gender segregation in public areas - with the exception of malls and hospitals. They also have the authority to confiscate material which they consider inappropriate to the Kingdom's moral values. This material includes a wide variety of books and photos, pornographic material, sculptures, etc. The Commission is one of the largest law-enforcement bodies in Saudi Arabia today. It currently has a workforce of 10,000 members with 486 centers in the Kingdom's 13 regions. In an earlier interview, Al-Ghaith said that the Commission staff were governed by a code of law. “Members of the Commission do not follow their own personal discretion in this matter.There are field work regulations issued by the Commission to its members and there is an ethos of accountability which encourages people to abide by the rules,” he said. – Okaz __
