MADINAH – A number of citizens have urged the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) to protect the honor of young men arrested on charges of khulwa (illegal seclusion) with unrelated women).
They said young men caught with unrelated women in a first time offense should be set free without charges in the same manner the commission treats young women found in similar situations.
“Young men and women should be treated equally when caught for breaching the morality code in public or private because young men like young women also have to safeguard the honor and reputation of their families,” one of them said in comments published by Al-Madina Arabic daily.
He said most young men fall into such traps due to temptations without knowing the consequences. If the case is publicized they not only lose their honor but also their jobs. Some of them even commit suicide as they will not be able to face their parents and society.
Dr. Turki Al-Shulail, spokesman for the commission, said the honor of both men and women are protected, depending on the situation and the type of crime they are involved in, with the aim of safeguarding their legitimate interests.
“Women are given protection considering their special position in society and avoid any possible negative impact on them and their families,” Al-Shulail said, adding that such measures are taken in accordance with the commission’s rules and regulations and the criminal procedures law.
Professor Ghazi Al-Motairy of Prince Naif Chair for studies on the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice at Islamic University in Madinah, said social reformation faces various problems in light of changes that take place in modern societies.
“We can observe the challenges facing employees involved in promoting virtue and preventing vice and the most outstanding among them is how to balance between the specialties of men and women in a conservative society,” he explained.
Al-Motairy said researchers have emphasized the need to protect the honor of women, considering social and family implications. “Subsequently, we see the authorities close such files by punishing men only. This is a complicated legal and administrative issue.”
Ahmed Al-Subhi said Haia officials arrested his son while he was sitting with a young woman in a coffee shop. The woman was allowed to leave with her guardian but his son was sent to jail.
“The Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution leveled charges against my son and was sentenced to lashes,” the father said, adding that the incident caused mental depression for his son, in addition to losing his image among his friends and relatives.
“We request the Haia to protect the honor of not only women but also men when caught in morality cases for the first time by allowing them to leave after taking an undertaking that they would not repeat the same mistake in future,” he added.
Tahani Al-Johani narrated her own story to show how Haia officials accuse people of immorality for silly matters. “It was a Ramadan night. After performing the Taraweeh prayers at the Quba Mosque I got into a private car as I could not get a taxi to reach home.”
She added: “The Haia officials then surrounded the car and asked me to get down. They took me to their office and contacted my father who was lucky for not having a stroke after receiving the call from the Haia. My father came and took me to my house.”
On the other hand, the driver of the car was detained by police and handed over to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution, she said. The woman’s father was following the driver’s case.
Um Hani also called for the protection of the honor of both men and women in such cases.
“Due to easy access to the Internet and social media, young men and women can contact each other freely without realizing the consequences. We should not treat a mistake with a bigger mistake,” she said.
"The arrest and defamation of young men will affect their future and their whole life. Instead, the Haia should give them necessary advice and warn them that they would face stiff punishment if the offenses were repeated. This will encourage them to keep away from such mistakes in future.”
