RIYADH - The Shoura Council on Tuesday told the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) to run more workshops on social etiquette and public communication for its members, Al-Hayat reported. The council's Islamic and judicial committee said Haia members sometimes cause public embarrassment due to the way they dispense advice to the general public. It said this was due to a lack of proper Islamic education. The council said it was important the Haia trains its members on how to respect family privacy and deal with foreigners from a variety of backgrounds. The committee also recommended the commission run more awareness programs and campaigns for youth and repeated a recommendation from 2010 that it opens more centers throughout the Kingdom. In response, Haia member Ahmad Al-Zilaie said the commission already offers training workshops to its members. He claimed at least 28 workshops were offered and this was reported to the Islamic and judicial committee. “Their ruling gives the impression that the committee has not even looked at the Haia's report,” said Al-Zilaie. Fellow Haia member Assaf Abu Ethnain agreed with the council's decision. He said: “The training workshops have benefited the Haia members a great deal during the last 30 years. “In the past, Haia members were not able to differentiate a working resident from a diplomatic resident.”
