Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Saudi Arabia)

Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice
الرئاسة العامة لهيئة الأمر بالمعروف والنهي عن المنكر
Seal of the Committee
Seal of the Committee
Common nameHai'a (Committee)
AbbreviationCPVPV
Agency overview
Formed1940 (1940)
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionSaudi Arabia
General nature
Operational structure
Agency executive
  • Sheikh Abdulrahman Al Alsanad[1], President
Website
https://www.pv.gov.sa

The Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Arabic: هيئة الأمر بالمعروف والنهي عن المنكر, romanizedhayʾa al-ʾamr bil-maʿrūf wan-nahī ʿan al-munkar, abbreviated CPVPV, colloquially termed hai’a (committee), and known as mutawa, mutaween and by other similar names and translations in English-language sources) is a government religious authority in Saudi Arabia that is charged with implementing the Islamic doctrine of hisbah in the country. Established in 1940, the body gained extensive powers in the 1980s and continued to function as a semi-independent civilian law enforcement agency for almost 35 years until 2016, when societal reforms driven by then-deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman led to limiting some of its authority through a royal decree by King Salman bin Abdulaziz, including the rights of pursuing, questioning, detaining, and interrogating suspects. [2][3][4]

Tracing its modern origin to a revival of the pre-modern official function of muhtasib (market inspector) by the first Saudi state (1727–1818), it was established in its best known form in 1976, with the main goal of supervising markets and public morality,[5] and was often described as Islamic religious police.[6] By the early 2010s, the committee was estimated to have 3,500–4,000 officers on the streets, assisted by thousands of volunteers, with an additional 10,000 administrative personnel.[7][8] Its head held the rank of cabinet minister and reported directly to the king.[7] Committee officers and volunteers patrolled public places, with volunteers focusing on enforcing strict rules of hijab, segregation between the sexes, and daily prayer attendance;[5] but also non-Islamic products/activities such as the sale of dogs and cats,[9] Barbie dolls,[10] Pokémon,[11] and Valentine's Day gifts.[12]

  1. ^ [1] Archived 9 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine CV of the new Agency Sheikh Abdulrahman Al Alsanad. 31 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Haia can't chase, arrest suspects". arabnews.com. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  3. ^ Commins, David Dean (2015). Islam in Saudi Arabia. I.B. Tauris. p. 66. ISBN 9781848858015.
  4. ^ BASHRAHEEL, ASEEL (22 September 2019). "Rise and fall of the Saudi religious police". Arab News. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference EI3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference vikor was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Lief was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Antoinette Vlieger (2012). Domestic Workers in Saudi Arabia and the Emirates: A Socio-legal Study on Conflicts. Quid Pro Books. p. 45. ISBN 9781610271295.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cats and dogs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference barbie was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference north-2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference red was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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