JEDDAH: The Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) has set up a human rights department, according to the head of the Haia branch for Makkah province, Ahmad Al-Ghamdi.
“The decision to set up human rights department in all branches of the Virtue Commission in the Kingdom comes as part of its efforts to raise the commission’s performance level and protect the rights of offenders of moral laws,” Al-Ghamdi told Arab News on Saturday. Khaled Al-Shafi, director of the commission’s legal division in Riyadh confirmed that the head of the General Presidency for Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, Abdulaziz Al-Humain, has already approved the measure.
“The new department will also prepare replies to critical remarks appearing in reports of local, regional or international human rights organizations with regard to the activities of the Virtue Commission, the application of the principles of Shariah and matters related to Muslim social values, culture and identity,” said Al-Shafi.
The new department will also sign agreements with various human rights organizations to cooperate with them, Al-Shafi said.
The commission announced its plan to set up the new department in October after getting the approval from a ministerial committee, which had recommended significant changes in the organizational and functional structure of the Virtue Commission.
