Saudi Arabia, one of the worldÂ’s most conservative societies, has seen an increase in attacks by members of the public against its religious police, a newspaper reported on Saturday. Al-Watan daily recorded 21 violent incidents during 2006 where Saudis had physically attacked some of the 5,000 members of the police officially known as the Organisation for the Promotion of Morals and Prevention of Vice. It did not give a figure for previous years.
The attacks included shootings and stabbings, added the paper, known for its editorial opposition to the body charged with upholding a tight code of public morality. The newspaper suggested the attacks reflected general disaffection with the special police force, whose members have wide powers to patrol the streets and shopping malls and question individuals. They drive around in distinctive black sports utility vehicles. |