Saudi Arabia : Religious Police Head Ready to Set Up Similar Bodies in Other Countries
ICC Note
The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice is the main agency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that persecutes Christians in the country. The officials of the commission are expressing their interest to help other countries to create similar agencies. Once again Saudi Arabians are exporting Islamic extremism to other countries.
By Khaled al Oweigan
06/11/2008 Saudi Arabia (US Copts Association)-Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat – Sheikh Ibrahim Bin Abdullah Al-Ghaith, General President for the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (CPVPV), has expressed his personal willingness to fulfill the request of any country that wishes to incorporate a similar committee in its own government services.
In regards to the rumors at the beginning of June 2008 that some clerics in Yemen intended to establish a commission similar to the CPVPV within their country’s government services, Al-Gaith told Asharq Al-Awsat that his commission has not received any requests to study the Saudi religious police experience. However, Al-Gaith said that he is willing to aid in establishing and facilitating such a commission in Yemen .
Yemeni Islamic scholars, in particular, Sheikh Abdul-Majid Al-Zindani, have said that they plan to establish a commission for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice. The scholars’ suggestion has provoked diverse reactions, some in favor and some against these plans. The controversy has affected the country, from political quarters to the Yemeni street. Those who oppose this suggestion have considered it in violation of the Yemeni law and Constitution.
