Last week he had been chased by a member of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) and a policeman in Ahad Rafidah in the southern Asir province. According to Al-Watan newspaper, he was chased by the Haia member because of his long hair.

The governor has directed the security agencies to carry out an immediate and thorough investigation into all aspects of the incident. His decision follows a petition from the victim’s father Nabeel Humeid. He alleged that his son was forced to shave his hair following his arrest and was beaten cruelly after having been locked up at the local Haia office. He said that Hassan lost consciousness after sustaining head injuries. He was later taken to the intensive care unit of Khamis Mushayt hospital, where he died a week later.

Saeed bin Majri, governor of Ahad Rafidah, reportedly confirmed that Hassan was chased by the two security men, including the Haia member. However, he produced another version for the fatal injuries. “The young man’s falling from a four-meter high wall while attempting to escape might have inflicted to him serious head injuries, or he may be affected with a fatal stroke due to panic and fright,” he said.

In his complaint, Nabeel Humeid said that his son had received frequent threats and warnings from the religious policeman. “Hassan had been under strict monitoring of the Haia member during recreational activities at a public place. The religious policeman used to abuse him in front of the public. Subsequently, he chased my son all the way home, threatening to shave off his long hair. The Haia member, together with his colleagues, arrested my son and took him to Ahad Rafidah police station,” he said.

Nabeel Humeid said that the police had escorted his son to a nearby barbershop to cut his hair. Then, after about two hours in the local police station, “my son was taken to the Haia office, where he was beaten without mercy.” Later, he said, the office contacted one of his friends telling him to take Hassan home. However, the friend found him in a coma and took him to the hospital, accompanied by a cleaning labor at the office. “When I reached the hospital, I was shocked to see my son’s critical condition. He had cerebral concussion due to severe internal bleeding and total paralysis.” This, he said, was a result of his son being assaulted and tortured. “I desperately tried to get him to a private hospital or another government hospital so that he could have the medical care that may have saved his life, but to no avail.”

Nabeel Humeid called on the authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial inquiry into the whole incident and bring the culprits to justice. His other son, Hamad, expressed his concern at the “mishandling” of the situation by the Haia office and the “high-handedness” of one of its members.

Referring to the case, Saeed bin Majri, governor of Ahad Rafidah, told the newspaper: “The preliminary report that I obtained from the security agencies show that the young man had been chased by the two security men. In the midst of the chase, he entered a school and then jumped from a four-meter high wall falling into a graveyard. He was then caught by the police and taken to the police station. Later, the young man was shifted to the Haia office at its request,” he said while confirming that the young man had been unconscious when taken to the hospital.

According to the governor, the relevant government agencies managed to obtain a report from the forensic surgeon that showed that the young man had not suffered any fatal injuries or bruises due to beating or assault. “He might have had a fatal stroke as a result of panic and fright,” he said. However, the governor’s statement was contradicted by the medical report issued by the Khamis Mushayt hospital, the newspaper reported.

Amir Al-Amir, director general of the Haia in Asir province, and Abdullah Shaathan, police spokesman for the region, have so far refused to comment.