The Muttaween, Religious Police, were recently cleared of all criminal charges involving the death of Ahmed al-Bulaiwi.  Al-Bulaiwi was apprehended by the Religious Police for driving around a woman who was not a relative, which is forbidden under Saudi law.  Under Saudi law a woman cannot drive, nor can a woman go out in public and ride in a car without being escorted by either her husband, brother, or son.  In al-Bulaiwi’s case it turned out that al-Bulaiwi, who had a second job as a driver, actually had been instructed by the woman’s family to pick her up.  However, al-Bulaiwi was not given a chance to respond to his accusers, but instead he died while he was in custody.  Allegedly, he was beaten while being arrested.  Despite the evidence showing that the Religious Police’s actions probably contributed to al-Bulaiwi’s death, the Religious Police were cleared of all charges.

    The Religious Police have faced unprecedented criticism from the government and Saudi Arabian citizens.  However, the fact that Religious Police were cleared of all charges for al-Bulaiwi’s death allows them to continue to enforce Saudi Arabia’s moral codes.   Recently, the Religious Police arrested a Nigerian Islamic convert for assisting his sickly elder neighbor woman to the hospital.  Ibrahim Mohammad Lawal was arrested for his immoral behavior of driving a woman who was not a relative.  His supposedly immoral behavior has put Lawal in jail for more than 50 days.  Additionally, the Religious Police were accused of attacking a group of Shiites in Mecca.  The Iraqi Shiite pilgrims were reportedly called infidels.   Iraqi parliamentarian Ridda Jawad al-Takki said, “[t]hey [the group of Shiites] were beaten up because they were holding Shi’ite-style prayers.”  The Iraqis needed medical treatment after being detained by the Religious Police for 24 hours because of the misunderstanding.  The Religious Police must be checked by the government to avoid future abuses of power by the Muttaween. 

CNSNEWS.  Saudi Religious Police Arrest Man for Helping His Neighbor.  7 August 2007.

BBC News.   Religious police: Saudi readers’ views.  30 July  2007. 

International Herald Tribune.  Saudi religious police acquitted in case involving the death of a man in custody.  31 July 2007.

Manawatu Standard.  Saudi religious police accused of beating Shi’ites.  7 August 2007.

Scotsman.  Man jailed for taking woman to hospital.  7 August 2007.

IC Publications.  Saudi jails Nigerian who helped aged woman: report. 6 August 2007.

Press TV.  Saudi Police beat Iraqi pilgrims.  7 August 2007.

Rasid.   Iraqi nationalities western abused at the hands of the Saudi religious police in Mecca. 8 August 2007.