Saudi Gazette report TAIF — The head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) has said the Haia team at the ongoing Souk Okaz cultural festival outside Taif has not reported any violations or harassment of visitors during the festivities, an Arabic daily reported on Saturday. Sheikh Abdullateef Al-Alsheikh said a 20-member strong Haia field team was monitoring activities at Souk Okaz. There is a Haia office at the site and the Haia members conduct round the clock field monitoring trips, he said, adding that the Taif branch of the Haia had participated in the preparatory meetings of Souk Okaz. The Haia also has dedicated special entrances and exits for women to ensure their privacy. Al-Alsheikh asked visitors to respect Shariah rules and to cooperate with Haia members for the success of the festival. The Haia chief said the organization has stopped the practice of using the help of volunteers. He said this step was taken to regulate Haia activities, as some of the overzealous volunteers had tarnished the commission's reputation by painting a very negative picture of its operations. A dawa worker tried to prevent Tunisian poet Jameela Al-Majri from reciting her poems at the main venue. He argued that such an action was tantamount to illegal mingling of sexes and she should deliver her poems from behind a curtain or from a women-only stage. Security bodies were called to detain the activist and he was referred to concerned bodies. The poet dealt with the incident very calmly, while assuring the participants that she did abide by the regulations and respected the country's traditions.
