Good grief

Gulfnews: Lawmakers call for 'moral police' revamp

OK, I admit it, Gulf News has become my irresistible source of amusement. (I had to give the Times of India a break after the Mumbai terrorist attack.)

It is a very, very different world in the Gulf countries. Today, for example, it reports on how the Saudi religious police are getting some criticism:

Several members of the Shura Council have come down heavily on the high handedness meted out by the members of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice or the religious police.

They noted that some Commission members are exercising excessive powers that are not in their jurisdiction and are interfering in the private affairs of individuals. They accused panel members of acts like getting into individuals' mobile phone data, reckless chasing, and inspecting women to check if they were using perfumes that "disturb others", cutting off their hairs or wearing improper dress.

Well, I wouldn't mind having a security force that can deal with overpowering aftershave that you tend to find some European men wear. But we can agree with this:

Dr Abdullah Bukhari, a member of the Shura, vehemently criticised the acts of some Commission members in storming public or private places and inspecting personal belongings.

"Their chasing of women or taking into custody of those found without a blood relative [Mahram] are not right," he reminded

But what does the good doctor, who sounds like a modernising sort of chap, then say the religious police should be doing?:

"They should concentrate mainly on busting the rackets of drugs, black magicians, sorcerers or the like rather than entangling in private affairs of individuals," he said.

Oh.

And further on the issue of child marriage, the situation is not good in Yemen:

The early marriage is a phenomenon in Yemen with respect to males and females, and it's widespread in both rural and urban areas, the report added.

Some 48 per cent of females under 15 years old get married early, and about 45 per cent of males and females get married when they are about 10 years, the report said.

Toy shops must love weddings there.

They are trying to change the law, but meeting religious objections:

A controversy has been going on in Yemen since February 11, 2009, when some Islamist MPs supported by some clerics refused as not Islamic the 17 years as the minimum age of marriage although it was voted for by the majority of the House of Representatives.

I suppose when the founder of your religion had a child bride himself, it does make for an issue.