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Arabia
Saudi religious police warn against New Year's celebrations
2013-12-30
[Al Ahram] Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
's inquisitors religious police has warned against celebrating the New Year's Eve in the ultra-conservative Gulf kingdom, the local Okaz daily said on Sunday.

The Commission of the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, known unofficially as Mutawaa, based its warning on a religious edict from the top committee of Saudi holy mans banning such celebrations, the newspaper said.

Saudi Arabia follows the Moslem lunar calendar, unlike all other Gulf states that use the Gregorian calendar.

Members of the commission enforce the kingdom's rule of strict segregation between sexes, and have traditionally forced women to cover from head to toe when in public.

They also go around shops to make sure they are shuttered during prayer times.

The inquisitors religious police have been accused of abusing their powers.

But since January last year, the inquisitors religious police have become more discreet with the appointment of their new chief, holy man Abdulatif bin Abdulaziz al-Sheikh, who banned the use of unmarked cars.

Mutawaa also traditionally banned the sale of red roses and gifts for Valentine's Day on 14 February.
Posted by:Fred

#1  Ah, yes - I can remember standing on the bow in Al Jubail with my morning Cuban cigar, smiling and raising my coffee cup to the scowling mutaween at the base of the pier.
Posted by: Pappy   2013-12-30 15:24  

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