Saudi Arabia limits role of religious police
Saudi Arabia, Politics, 5/25/2006

A New York Times report yesterday said that Saudi Arabia "had taken measures to limit the power of controversial religious police who hardline clerics say make society more moral but many accuse of interfering in people's lives. Interior Minister Prince Nayef decreed that public prosecutors would deal with all cases concerning 'harassment'."

The report indicated that this would remove from the hands of the religious police the authority to arbitrarily detain citizens over any acts the police deems as immoral, such as having long hair for men, improper dressing, etc. Members of the religious police, who monitor Saudis in their regular daily activities, are now to have badges that identify them.

The report quoted a citizen saying "I wish to see a clear set of charges because that's another problem people face here. Charges for crimes are not clear and we want it clear in law."

Previous Stories:
  Amnesty International on human rights abuse in the Arab states   (5/24/2006)
  How Saudi Arabia repress reform   (5/9/2006)
  Saudi government - religious cleric cooperation against reform cited   (5/6/2006)

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