Saudi Arabia: Sharia Police No Longer Allowed to Arrest Individuals

The government of Saudi Arabia has prohibited the country's Sharia police from arresting individuals. The official Saudi news agency reported that this decision was made during the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, April 25. According to this decision, the Saudi Sharia police are no longer allowed to arrest or pursue individuals or request identification documents from them; they can only refer potential offenders to the official police. The Saudi government has also asked the Sharia police to treat people with 'kindness and affection.' The Sharia police, officially known as the 'Committee for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' or 'Mutawwa,' are responsible for enforcing Islamic laws in the country, such as the separation of men and women and the enforcement of hijab for women. They also oversee the closure of shops during prayer times. Although Saudi Arabia, a wealthy Sunni kingdom, is known for strict enforcement of Sharia laws, especially against women, women in cities like Jeddah are free to go without a headscarf or face veil. Foreign women can also move around in cities like Jeddah and Riyadh (the capital) without wearing Islamic hijab.