Saudi Arabia has established a new outfit to combat “immoral acts”, with dozens arrested in a crackdown on sex work and begging.
The ministry of interior’s new sting unit aims at combating a rise in acts of “public immorality” in Saudi cities, which follows a loosening of social rules in the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia previously had a body called the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice – aka the religious police – aimed at tackling activities viewed as contrary to Islam, such as “immodest” dress and music, but its powers were severely restricted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2016.
The new agency remains focused on “community security and human trafficking”, indicating that bin Salman is not reversing socially liberal reforms but seeking to combat organised crime.
The campaign has so far seen at least 50 people arrested for prostitution and begging, including dozens of foreigners working as ‘massage parlous’ and women and children forced to beg.
Saudis have welcomed the crackdown following a reported rise in “immoral activity” on the streets of major cities in the kingdom, according to The Financial Times.
The news comes amid a loosening of once-puritanical social norms and laws, which saw music and gender mixing banned, and women forbidden from travelling without a male guardian.
But there has been little tolerance for political dissent, including from liberals and women’s rights activists with a hundreds of dissidents, activists, and social media users detained in recent years.
Among them is Manahel al-Otaibi, a fitness instructor who had spoken out for women’s rights in the kingdom and was detained for posting pictures on social media wearing “immodest clothing”.
Gulf states routinely crack down on begging and sex work, particularly after growing complaints from locals during the holy month of Ramadan.
Saudi Arabia’s ultra-conservative history and its hosting of the two holiest sites in Islam – Mecca and Medina – make immodest acts particularly sensitive in the kingdom.
Saudi authorities detained around a dozen foreign women for “immoral acts”, such as sex work, following raids on hotels and massage parlours last month.
In 2019, hundreds were arrested for “violating public decency” such as wearing “immodest clothing” and harassing concertgoers.Â
