The Shura Council, Saudi Arabia’s powerful advisory body, will vote on a law to merge the country’s religious police into the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, local media reported on Tuesday.
The plan is seen as a move to curb the powers of the religious police, tasked with ‘the promotion of Vice and Virtue’.
The Saudi Gazette reported that Shura Council sources said a vote on the merger would be taken on Monday.
Shoura member, Mohammad Al-Khunaizi, said the plan was not a Saudi government initiative, but was motioned by three members of the Shura council, according to Arab News.
He said: “The Shoura Council is currently studying the merger proposal, while seeking the opinion of the members on this subject.”
Al-Khunaizi could neither confirm nor deny the fact that the proposal of merger of the commission into the Ministry of Islamic Affairs will go for voting next week.
The religious police is mandated with implementing Shariah laws by patrolling public places to enforce modest dress, alcohol bans, public indecency and obscenity, fraternisation of unrelated men and women and shop closures during prayer times.
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