JEDDAH, 6 June 2007 — The news of the death of a man, who was beaten up by members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice in Riyadh, has spread shock and horror in Saudi society.
To add to people’s dismay, the subsequent news of the death of another man, who died of a heart attack after being detained by commission members in Tabuk, has only added to the flak that the commission is currently receiving. The deaths have kicked-off a massive debate in the Saudi press on the role of the commission in Saudi society.
“Commission members should not become a militia in which they act as judge, jury and executioners in the middle of the streets of Saudi Arabia,” said Sultan, a Saudi university student, who asked for his surname not to be revealed.
“Commission members lack the proper skills in dealing with the public and need to learn how to deal and interact with the general public. It is sad to see these things happening in the world’s leading Muslim country. Islam calls for advice to be given in a pleasant way,” he said. Sultan said that the problem with the commission is that they hit first and then ask questions.
“I smell Western propaganda behind the widespread publicity of such stories,” said Hasan Al-Ghamdi, a Saudi citizen. “I think if the media wants to focus on one thing, then they should focus on what is happening to the poor people in Guantanamo Bay, where people die for nothing in the name of democracy,” he added. Al-Ghamdi believes commission members are human beings and prone to getting things wrong.
Muhammad Al-Ahmadi, manager of media relations at the Madinah-branch of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, said he was surprised at the media coverage of the commission after what happened in Tabuk. “The old man in Tabuk died of natural causes and the medical reports prove it. We at the commission hold members accountable if they make mistakes because no one is above Shariah,” he said.
“The commission stresses that members improve just like other government departments and we will continue to improve. All that we want from people is justice and fairness. We accept positive criticism and we are more than happy to receive that,” he said,
“In 2005, the commission dealt with more than 400,000 cases that involved 400,000 people. About 800,000 people were dealt with by being given advice on the spot,” said Al-Ahmadi, adding, “If the commission made a mistake in let’s say 100 of these cases, what is the percentage of the total number? Not even one percent.”
