Some residents of Qatif concerned about social conditions in the province have launched a welfare campaign to combat the negative phenomena that have spread in society. They have been concerned about frequent reports of murder, robbery, illegal possession of weapons, pornography, speeding, joy riding and other similar vices.
Qatif may not be different from other areas of the Kingdom but a popular move that underlines the gravity of the problem should be appreciated and supported by everyone, particularly the security agencies.
Society will always be better when there are people who are ready to stand up and confront vice. Is this not a kind of prevention of vice and promotion of virtue in a more organized manner since it contains large numbers of volunteers?
The tragedy, however, is these people cannot do anything more than complain or, at best, inform the authorities about the problems and difficulties.
This again takes us to the old talk of a draft law governing the establishment of non-governmental organizations that has been put on hold for a long time. I assume that the bill has left the corridors of the Shoura Council but is still waiting to be approved and implemented.
If the project is returned for further study under the usual mechanisms, it will be back to square one. Referring the bill to the concerned authorities will most probably lead to the emergence of many reservations — for reasons that are not unknown to many of us.
Controversies and contradictions are a normal thing for us, but we must reach a compromise in order to bring this project to light because its positive aspects are greater than the negative ones.
The project reflects a glittering, civilized picture of a society that enjoins good and mitigates the burden of evil. It will mobilize dormant resources for noble work and will encourage people to do more good. It will also reduce the possibility of these people going astray and from indulging in harmful, futile activities.
The draft law for NGOs should be approved and enacted quickly. These organizations will for sure contribute to taking us toward the portals of the developed world.
