JEDDAH, 2 November — The Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has denied employing secret informers and women to report about the activities of the public, Okaz reported yesterday.

The commission’s chief, Ibrahim ibn Abdullah ibn Ghaith, said social reformation was the objective of his organization, which often faces allegations of beating and humiliating people. About 90 percent of the cases detected by the commission are settled through counseling and guidance within the premises of the commission away from public attention, Okaz quoted him as saying yesterday.

Ghaith stressed the significance of enlightenment campaigns through the media, mosques, schools and homes against moral degeneration.

The commission believes that parents should spend more quality time with their adolescent children and give them necessary direction to help reinforce their sense of values and morality, he said.

He denied that homosexuality was spreading in the Kingdom. “The perversion is found in all countries but rarely among our youth. In fact, their number is very few here compared to those who stick to their religious and social values,” Ghaith said.

“The commission strives to rectify evil deeds with the help of preventive methods as much as possible. Tapes and booklets containing warning against harms resulting from evil deeds are supplied to youths,” he said.

Ghaith said his men did not monitor the conduct of students at schools and colleges. “ The school and university officials concerned monitor the activities of students while we participate only in awareness campaigns such as giving them lectures, publications and tapes,” he added.

Reports coming to the commission against any person are accepted only if established beyond suspicion.

The commission’s officials make field observations of public behavior on roads and public places while the Ministry of Education observes the conduct of students at both boys and girls schools. “However, the officials take their positions at the time of girls entering/leaving their schools because the commission often receives complaints about teasing and harassment of schoolgirls.”

He denied the impression that some souks were out of bounds for his men. “Our men are present everywhere. They are not denied admission to any place”.

He pointed out that there was no woman worker among the commission’s 4,500 employees in its Riyadh headquarters and 13 offices spread out across the country.

Ghaith added that his staff always entered a place publicly and in the presence of witnesses.

Regarding the charges of beating and other humiliating punishments meted out by the commission’s officials, Ghaith said his organization did not prosecute or punish anyone because such acts come under the jurisdiction of the courts. “We do not approve of beating grown-ups or children. Our role is limited to catching the guilty if the offense is witnessed by our officials and handing them over to the authorities concerned. Investigation is the duty of the Public Prosecutor’s department. I have made inquiries about reports of the commission’s officials beating people. I found no evidence to prove the charges. However, I do not totally deny such charges as the commission’s officials are human beings who may err.”

Excesses committed by his men are dealt in accordance with the Shariah and the religion.