JEDDAH: The Cabinet has passed new regulations banning members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Haia) from questioning, asking for identification, pursuing, arresting and detaining any person suspected of a crime, with these duties falling to police and anti-narcotics officers.
The regulations were issued at the Cabinet meeting on Monday in Riyadh, according to a media report, quoting minutes from the gathering. The Cabinet obliges Haia members to report observations to security forces personnel.
The Cabinet reportedly said: “Haia has the responsibility of reporting, while on patrol, to official authorities (depending on the suspected activity) any suspected crimes witnessed. Subsequent actions including pursuit of suspect, capture, interrogation and detainment will be left to the relevant official authorities.”
Under the changes, Haia members must “encourage virtue and forbid vice by kindly and gently advising as carried out by Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and his rightful successors,” the Cabinet said.
However, they will continue to help enforce strict segregation of the sexes, an absolute prohibition of the sale and consumption of alcohol, a ban on women driving and other social restrictions.
The regulations now ensure that the Haia president is appointed as a minister, with the authority to appoint a sufficient number of staff members. The president is responsible for enforcing these new regulations and reports directly to the king’s office.
All Haia members are now obliged to clearly display their identification cards, showing their names, posts, jurisdictions and official working hours. They are also required to be of good character and should not have been jailed for any crime exceeding one year.
They should not have been convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude or dishonesty.
The regulations also state that an advisory committee of five members shall provide advice and recommendations to the Haia president on the work carried out, address any irregularities and abuses, and hold violators accountable.
The Cabinet has decided that every province should have its own branch. The president will be responsible for issuing orders to branch committees. Each branch committees will be responsible for working in various cities and towns depending on demand.
Haia can’t chase, arrest suspects
Haia can’t chase, arrest suspects
Hajj Ministry suspends 1,800 foreign Umrah travel agency contracts
- Operators given 10 days to meet standards after performance review highlights service shortcomings, non-compliance
- Umrah performers holding valid visas or existing reservations will not be affected
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced the suspension of contracts with 1,800 foreign travel agencies operating in the Umrah sector, out of approximately 5,800, giving them 10 days to rectify their status.
The decision follows the results of a periodic evaluation that revealed performance shortcomings and poor service quality among these agencies, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The ministry stated that the suspension applies only to the issuance of new visas and is part of a regulatory approach to help agencies address classification issues and improve compliance with approved standards.
Contracts will be reactivated once the requirements are met within the grace period, according to the ministry.
The ministry confirmed that Umrah performers holding valid visas or existing reservations will not be affected, as services to them will continue unchanged.
It added that applying the approved classification and performance indicators is a fundamental regulatory measure to raise compliance among service providers and ensure services meet approved standards.
The ministry emphasized that protecting the rights of Umrah performers and ensuring service continuity are priorities in all regulatory measures.
Ghassan Alnwaimi, the ministry’s spokesperson, said regulatory action will be taken against any agency that fails to correct deficiencies by the deadline.
He added that the ministry will continue using monitoring and evaluation tools to strengthen the reliability of the Umrah sector and safeguard pilgrims’ rights.
