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Dominic-Pax · Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 77

What is the religious police all about in Saudi Arabia? Is it something that one needs to be concerned about? What are you experiences with them?

Cleopatra · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 4:39 pm Post subject:

The 'religious police' (mutawain) do not have the presence they once had. Even in their heartland (the Riyadh region), they are much less in evidence than they were 10 or even 5 years ago. Which isn't to say they are not still out and about - occasionally.

As for as expats are concerned, the biggest risk of an encounter with the mutawain is due to 'misdemeanours' such as 'improper dress' (mostly for women), or consorting with unrelated members of the opposite sex. Remember that despite the moniker, the religious police are not in fact police and cannot demand to see your papers, let alone arrest you, unless they are in the presence of a uniformed policeman. Anyway, provided you don't go around looking for trouble, and make a modicum of effort to adhere to local norms, it's unlikely you'll be bothered by the mutawain at all.

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

It is more likely in Buraidah, however.

Cleopatra · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 4:55 pm Post subject:

True - it's just that I never think of native speaker ESL teachers heading out to the Wild Najd!

trapezius · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:42 pm Post subject:

To the OP: Perhaps you could tell us where you are headed? Whether you should worry about them or not depends on which city you will be in. Regardless of where you will be:

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

If you want a dialogue with them, head to your nearest mall and hand out evangelical Christian literature in Arabic. They will be along in no time to put you on the straight path.

Dominic-Pax · Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 77

Cleopatra · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 2:22 pm Post subject:

Of the major Saudi cities, Riyadh is the one where you're most likely to have an 'encounter' with the mutawwa. But, as I've said, provided you take a few basic precautions, chances are you'll have nothing much to do with them these days. When I first came to Riyadh in 2001, you couldn't sit down with a bunch of expats without being bored by their 'mutawwa stories'. Nowadays, many expats complete their entire 'tour of duty' without ever seeing one of these exotic creatures.

johnslat · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 2:57 pm Post subject:

Well, I spent fourteen years in Riyadh - married and single - and never had any problems with the SPVPV.

"Nowadays, many expats complete their entire 'tour of duty' without ever seeing one of these exotic creatures."

That's a shame - observing the mutawwa as they went about their (and anybody else's) business was one of the "cultural highlights" of being in the Kingdom. It's sad to know that their public presence has become so infrequent.

O tempora! O mores!

Regards,
John

007 · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:37 pm Post subject:

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:58 pm Post subject:

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

Cleo: In the wild Najd I am. Think of me as Wyatt Earp come to clean up the frontier while earning a $ premium.

trapezius · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:30 pm Post subject:

That would be the CPVPV, not the SPVPV, formerly CAVES. They changed their name because some people thought their former name indicated where they came from and where they should have stayed. Of course, an increasing number of Saudis still think that, regardless of their name change.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPVPV

CPVPV: Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice
CAVES: Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Elimination of Sin

johnslat · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:55 am Post subject:

Dear trap,

Society's loss is the Committee's gain.

Regards,
John