MECCA, Saudi Arabia – On February 23, the Prosecution and Investigation Commission started an investigation into 57 young men arrested on February 21 for allegedly “flirting” with girls at malls in Mecca.  The men were arrested by regular police officers after the police were summoned to the malls by the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, also known as the religious police or Muttawa.  According to the Saudi Gazette, an English-language daily, the muttawa sent 20 of its staff and policemen to Meccan malls to arrest the young men, who were transferred to the Al-Mansour Police Station.

The young men are accused of wearing “indecent clothing and playing loud music and dancing” to attract the attention of the opposite sex.  The men found innocent upon investigation will be released and the others will be referred to the court of law.

For more information, please see:
AFP – Saudi Police Crack Down on Flirting in Mecca – 23 February 2008

BBC – Saudi Men Arrested for “Flirting” – 23 February 2008

Saudi Gazette – 57 Men Nabbed for Flirting – 23 February 2008