A new law passed by the Cabinet has curtailed the powers of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, said Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh, head of the commission (Haia).
"Once we had much expanded powers, but with the new law... some of these powers, such as interrogating suspects and pressing charges," will be restricted to the police and public prosecution, Al-Asheikh told AFP.
The commission may still arrest those carrying out "flagrant offenses such as harassing women, consuming alcohol and drugs, blackmailing and the practice of witchcraft," he said while talking about the new law.
However, the cases of such people will be referred to the police and brought to justice, as the Haia will no longer have the right to determine charges against them, he said.
The Haia will continue to prevent women from driving, ban public entertainment and force all businesses, from supermarkets to petrol stations, to close for prayers five times a day.
http://www.zawya.com/story/New_law_in_Saudi_Arabia_curtails_powers_of_Haia-ZAWYA20130130030940/
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