My editor once told me readers noticed most Saudi writers chose to focus on gloomy topics and neglect the brighter side of life. So I promised myself to find a light and interesting subject for this week’s column. Unfortunately, I found myself compelled to write about a tragic crime committed against a young Saudi family.
The amazing thing is, the parties involved in this horrible offense are the people who are supposedly responsible for protecting this unfortunate family in the first place. This week the police arrested five members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) and two security officers accompanying them in the small southern city of Baljurashi.
The men were suspects in a car chase that led to the painful death of a 35-year-old man and horrific injuries to his pregnant wife and two children. These Haia employees are accused of causing the family’s car to veer off the road and subsequently failing to attempt the immediate rescue of the injured.
When learning about the incident from local news, it was hard for me to comprehend the motive that lead to this dreadful crime. I was more shocked when it was revealed that the initial cause of this tragedy was, that the Commission members had objected to the family’s car stereo being turned on too loud after leaving a local park. Tempers flared, an argument followed, leading to an unnecessary car chase. How can such a thing happen?
It is hard to believe that members of government agencies could commit such an inhuman act against a defenseless and innocent family. Regulations since last April prohibit Commission members from chasing suspects in order to prevent tragedies such as this one.
The public is demanding a quick investigation and anticipating a just judgment, and to put an end to these irresponsible actions once and for all.
When the late Crown Prince Naif was asked about the continuous abuses of the Haia, he replied that the Commission is an integral part of internal security. However, they should also comply with government regulations.
Sometimes good comes out from writing about the difficulties we face in our community. Last week I addressed the issue of the closure of the Cave of Mount Uhud, so did other writers.
This week I was pleased to know that the Mayor of Madinah ordered the reopening of the historical site. In voicing and supporting public opinion, I would like to believe that we as writers had something to do with it.
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