ARAB NEWS: RIYADH, 14 February 2008 — The Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on Violence Against Women has accused members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice of human rights abuses by harassing, threatening and arresting women who “depart from accepted norms.”
Yakin Erturk, who has been in the Kingdom at the invitation of the government, was on a 10-day fact-finding mission. She spoke to the press at the end of her mission.
During her visit, she met government officials in Riyadh, Buraidah, Jeddah and Dammam, the head of the Shoura Council and representatives of various groups, including academics, human rights organizations, family protection centers, women’s groups, victims of violence and women at the central prison in Riyadh.
She also had discussion with representatives of diplomatic missions, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the EU and the UN country teams.
Citing the case of Yara published in Arab News recently, Erturk said: “It is a telling example of harassment when a businesswoman from Jeddah is arrested while having coffee with her male colleague in a public place. She was subjected to humiliating and illegal treatment before she was released the following day.”
The commission members are law enforcers responsible for maintaining morality in public place, she said, indicating that although they are required to act in concert with the police and under certain limitations with respect to arrest and detention of people, “they often reportedly act independently and are accountable only to the governors of the respective regions.” More Efforts Needed to Empower Women: Erturk >>> By Mohammed Rasooldeen
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