Saudi to crack down on 'indecently dressed' youths

Police and members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice have started a campaign of warning youths who are indecently dressed in public in Madinah, it has been reported.

The campaign follows a directive issued by the Ministry of Interior, Arab News reported on Sunday, citing an article in Al-Watan newspaper.

The directive, which particularly targets low-waist jeans worn by youths, was issued in the holy city to "curb a prevalence of morally wrong habits among the youth that do not comply with Islamic law and local customs", the report added.

According to the directive, second-time offenders risk having their cases referred to the General Prosecution and Investigation Commission for legal action.

Punishment could include jail time and lashes, officials said.

The Interior Ministry’s directive calls on commission members and police officers to arrest violators, advise them and make them sign letters promising not to reoffend, the report added.

Print | Email | Discuss this article

| Share |

READERS' COMMENTS

Low waist jeans
Posted by Cynthia, Sharon, PA, USA on Monday 5 October 2009 at 20:06 UAE time


The US does not ban covering the body. We have freedom of religion and can dress according to that religion. Some places in Europe ban the burqa or any face covering. The US has not banned the burqa or any face covering. So when you say the West be more specific. Anyway teenagers are teenagers no matter where they are they like to dress differently.

Inappropriate?
Posted by Marijke, Bahrain on Monday 5 October 2009 at 17:10 UAE time


I agree with some here that the fashion sense of the male population here isn't that good. But then, where is it? Anywhere in Europe or the USA you see pants that are way too tight (GREECE!!!) or way to low, baggy, underwear showing (Inspired by Rappers etc.) That doesn't mean you need a religous fashion police to give them lashes. But then, in the West we like to dictate these days what is allowed and what isn't, especially with the hijba issue with has become a total obsession in France and The Netherlands. As for Dxbinc, I have to say Andy is right. Abayas are often very tight and sometimes a bit transparent. And I am a female without obsessions or fantasies, it just happens to be in your face every now and then when you live in the GCC. Same as Western girls finding it fashionable to have their underwear poking out top and bottom. Just a matter of bad taste, isn't it?

Andy - cloud cuckoo land :)
Posted by Dxbinc on Sunday 4 October 2009 at 21:00 UAE time


Andy in Taipei - you must have been walking around with Xray glasses or fantasizing a bit too much, if you think anyone in the Gulf wears see through abayas where their underwear is visible ! :)

Got to hand it to you ... you have a great imagination and sound a bit frustrated too hehehe

A bit on the odd side
Posted by Andy, Taipei, Taiwan on Sunday 4 October 2009 at 20:11 UAE time


I can't recall how many locals in Saudi,Kuwait and the UAE wear these Abayas that are pretty much see through and one can see their underwear. At the end of the day people should be allowed to wear what they want to wear provided that they are not nude in public. If you don't like what you see then you can look else where. It is the same for television channels to where if you don't like what is being showed you can flip the channel to watch something else.

View all comments (8) >>

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Arabian Business would like to point out that only comments relevant to the story will be published. Any containing personal insults or inappropriate language will not be approved.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Enter the words above *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM