JEDDAH, 22 May 2003 — Sheikh Ibrahim ibn Abdullah Al-Ghaith, president of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, has admitted that his officials may have made mistakes. At the same time, however, he said his organization had been the victim of false allegations.
Al-Ghaith said the commission was making strenuous efforts to improve its image by providing training for its staff. “There is room for improvement and the organization works constantly to train its staff,” he told Okaz Arabic daily.
He said the commission’s headquarters as well as its 13 branches all over the country make great efforts to select the best qualified personnel to carry out its Islamic mission. “For several years we have been appointing intelligent and knowledgeable university graduates,” he added.
“The commission’s officials are human beings and may make mistakes in their judgments. But at the same time, the commission provides intensive courses so that its staff may improve their standards and performance. We also tell them to avoid the negative aspects,” he explained.
However, he pointed out that many accusations against the commission were untrue. He denied reports that the commission officials had beaten up individuals.
“Some mistakes might have been made by our staff but many stories about us are false. We are human beings and so may make mistakes. At the same time we will not allow false accusations to be made against us,” he said.
Al-Ghaith said the officials who made mistakes would be punished in accordance with civil service regulations.
He said he always encouraged Islamic scholars to listen, open their hearts to young people and hold dialogues with them. “We have conducted a number of summer courses for young people in Jeddah, Taif, Abha and other areas to engage them in constructive activities.”
He said the commission officials had not put up any barriers between them and young people. “But there are certain young people who are involved in immoral and illegal activities. They will not be happy with the commission when its officials arrest them in order to protect society from the consequences of their wicked actions,” he said.
However, Al-Ghaith pointed out that some youths had in fact reacted positively to the commission after being released from jail.
Referring to the flogging of young men arrested for flirting with girls, Al-Ghaith said such punishments were carried out with the permission of the governorates and authorities. “Our officials don’t carry sticks to beat people. What we do is that we hand over people involved in immoral and illegal activities to the police. There are a lot of exaggerated reports about our organization in the press and on the Internet,” he said.
Al-Ghaith said he had urged his men to deal politely with the public.
The commission is a government body going back to the early days of the Saudi state. “All Saudi leaders have extended their full support to this organization,” he said in reference to a recent statement by Interior Minister Prince Naif in support of the organization. The prince told a press conference in Riyadh on Sunday that “the commission will exist as long as the Kingdom does.”
