Saud, regarded as a leading member of the royal family, has become the
first to publicly call for the establishment of a female police force. In a
column for the Saudi economic daily Al Iqtisadiya, the 33-year-old prince
said Saudi women could handle weapons and battle both insurgents and
criminals.
"We know that women in the non-urban areas are competent in dealing with
weapons and in protecting their environment from bandits and cattle
thieves," Saud wrote.
The sources said the Sept. 27 column marked a trial balloon before the
king decides to recruit women for the police. They said women would
serve separately from men although the overall commander would be male.
The Saudi prince said the women's force would also be able to recognize
male insurgents dressed in women's clothes. Saud said male security officers
have been fooled by male Al Qaida operatives who travel dressed as women.
"Most of those wanted in connection with acts of terror and especially
since the publication of their names, have been moving around disguised in
women's clothes," Saud said. "They often fool our policemen because of our
strong traditions."
The prince, who acknowledged the prospect of clergy opposition, outlined
a plan for women recruitment that would conform with Islam. In the
first stage, he said, male security officers would be encouraged to recruit
their female relatives.
"A good beginning would be to ask policemen out in the field if they
want to have some of their female relatives employed along with them," Saud
said. "The women would be dressed modestly, work for hours and deal
exclusively with women."
Women police would also be assigned all-women patrol vehicles, the Saudi
prince said. Saud also suggested checkpoints operated only by women
officers.
"I do not see anything wrong with that even though we might hear voices
complaining about the presence of Saudi women in vehicles," Saud said. "I
see that it is better for well-trained Saudi women to be ready to help
preserve the nation's security than to remain idle at home watching series
and rubbish television channels. It is much better than insane empty hours."
ShareThis
