The Shoura’s Islamic Affairs and Human Rights Committee presented the proposal last week after listening to an annual report by the Haia’s umbrella, the General Presidency for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

Committee member Zuhair Al-Harthi said the requested report should specify the roles of Haia members so that the Shoura Council can understand fully the organizational structure of the religious police force.

According to Shoura member Salem Al-Gahtani the purpose of the report is to get into writing the role of each Haia member.

Shoura member Khalil Al-Brahim said the report would establish bylaws that would make Haia members accountable for any indiscretions and would help reduce incidents that occur due to actions by individual Haia members acting on their own.

Rights committee independent

The Shoura Council has approved dividing its Islamic Affairs and Human Rights Committee into two different committees.

On Sunday, the council voted unanimously on a bill to divide the committee into two, according to Al-Harthi, who is a member of the Human Rights Committee.

“The council previously had 12 committees and as of Sunday, that number became 13 independent committees” said Al-Harthi.

The decision was made to enable the human rights committee to be independent, concentrate on human rights issues and study them, review regulations and coordinate with the Human Rights Commission and the National Society for Human Rights.

“The committee is expected to have a say in the various phenomena that are invading the society and jeopardizing its rights,” said Al-Harthi adding it was also expected to announce its recommendations, suggestions and resolutions regarding issues such as the marriage of young girls and domestic violence.