JEDDAH, 26 April 2004 — A Saudi woman was recently attacked by a terrorist in Al-Faiha district of Riyadh during a police chase. The terrorist forced her to remove her abaya and used it to escape.
Such tactics are not uncommon; those wanted by the police often dress in women’s clothes to make their escape.
The latest storming by police of a residential building in Al-Safa district has revealed that the suspects had been living there for three years and had often dressed as women without raising any suspicions on the part of their neighbors.
This is not a new problem for police. In the past six months, police have discovered many wanted men and overstayers dressed as women. The lawbreakers take advantage of the abaya when in public. Many other suspects have escaped by wearing women’s clothes.
In the past year, police have discovered large quantities of abayas, make-up, wigs, women’s shoes and veils during raids. The terrorists evidently have no qualms about taking advantage of the modesty of women for criminal causes.
Lt. Col. Ayed Al-Luqmani, commander of the Passports Department’s patrol officers, said that female officers accompany his officials during inspections.
There are not many women inspectors but they are seen as vital at airports and other points of entry.
Al-Luqmani said that it was very important to have women officers in order to make sure that those in women’s clothes are indeed women.
