JEDDAH, 19 September 2006 — The police, governorate office and the Makkah municipality have approved a ban on the sale of cigarettes, knives and dangerous objects in shops near schools — especially elementary schools.
The decision to issue a ban was based on the recommendations of a meeting on behavioral control in Makkah recently.
The report included the viewpoints of senior officers from police departments that have dealt with violence among youngsters.
Among recommendations outlined in the meeting was a call on the Ministry of Commerce to put regulations on the sale of knives and cigarettes and to impose fines and punishment on shops that sell such items in forbidden areas.
However, police officers admit that implementing the ban is going to be extremely difficult.
A source told Arab News, “Jeddah and Makkah municipalities, the Ministry of Commerce in Jeddah and Makkah police have received a letter from the Makkah governorate to finalize the ban on the sale of knives, sharp objects and cigarettes near schools. The Jeddah municipality has also mobilized teams to monitor the sales and identify violators.”
The clampdown comes after reports of pupils at both government and private schools using knives and other weapons in fights. Most fights happen after school and there have been incidents of pupils being fatally wounded and even becoming killed as a result.
A Saudi teacher described the ban as a “positive step.” He said, “The ban on the sale of knives and cigarettes will limit the danger. We as teachers impose strict supervision on pupils inside schools but once they leave it is very difficult to control them. I hope that the decision will quickly come into effect.”
Muhammad Tahsin, a parent with three boys at a government school in Makkah, welcomed the ban. “It’s about time such a ban was placed. When we were kids fights used to happen and people would end up with bruises and cuts but now youngsters are pretty violent and end up stabbing each other. It’s a step in the right direction.”
The Makkah municipality has also sent teams to monitor shops near schools in the region and to issue notices about the ban and the fines that will be handed out to shops found to be violating the ban.
Talal Al-Nashri, general supervisor of psychological health and social services at King Fahd Hospital in Jeddah, said the move was a very positive one.
“It is very important to ban the sale of such items in shops near high schools because that is where fights mainly happen. There are many cases of pupils becoming fatally injured in fights with youngsters using knives and other sharp objects. Such students need home education before they receive school education,” he said, adding that the decision should also include stores near coffee shops because these are also places where teenagers generally gather.
Siraj Abdul Ghafour, a shopkeeper in Jeddah, said the ban was uncalled for. “I usually try to make sure I don’t sell harmful things to youngsters. This cigarette ban is a bit stupid. Some young kids look old, if we sell them something thinking they are adults then we’ll just end up getting arrested and fined. It’s a no-win situation,” he said.
