Special to WorldTribune.com

ABU DHABI — After repeated assurances, Saudi Arabia has announced
legislation that reduces the authority of the controversial Islamist police.

Officials said the Saudi Cabinet has approved legislation that would
limit the power of the religious police, formally the Commission for the
Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.

The new law was approved on Jan. 28 after numerous official statements that the commission would not have the power of arrest or criminal investigation.

“In the past, the CPVPV agents would carry out legal proceedings against suspects, however the new system will transfer investigation of suspects to the Bureau of Investigations and the General
Prosecution,” commission president Abdul Latif Al Sheik said.

Over the past year, Al Sheik has issued several statements that told of
law enforcement and other training for the commission as well as limits on religious police officers. But complaints of abuse by commission officers continued, particularly harassment of pedestrians and arrest of women.

Al Sheik told the Saudi media that some of the authority of the
commission was relayed to the conventional police. But he said his officers would continue to arrest those suspected of violating Islamic mores, including alcohol, witchcraft and a ban on women drivers.

The religious police has doubled its force to about 10,000. Officials
said King Abdullah has also sought to direct the commission to help in
border security.

“The new system aims to strengthen the procedures and mission of the
CPVPV and facilitate its operations, harmonizing this with the criminal
procedure code, which is the official reference for the organization,” Al
Sheik said.

  Abdul Latif Al Sheik, ban on women drivers, Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia finally limits its religious police