Saudi security authorities have closed a café in Riyadh for allegedly celebrating the removal of the former president of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Haia).

The café had put up a banner on the gate of the building that announced that hot drinks would be served free to mark the removal of Haia chief from his position.

Abdul Rahman Al-Sanad, former president of Madinah Islamic University, is the new president of Haia. He has replaced Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh.

Police removed the banner and closed the café and called its owner for investigation, said a report carried by sabq.org e-newspaper.