Religious Police at malls

religious police is called MATAVAY .dnt feel that Riyadh is becoming a bit relax .in Riyadh you will see a lot of restriction and can see Matayas in shopping malls . as for as my exp is concern Dammam is a bit relax.

anyways this topic is discussed many times.

muzhi wrote:

anyways this topic is discussed many times.

True but Talish has asked about recently.  For myself, I tend not to be out when the mutaween are out.  For example, I know they're out running around the malls till all hours on Wednesday night, so they sleep in on Thursday.  So when do I do my shopping?  Thursday morning, early afternoon, of course

muzhi wrote:

religious police is called MATAVAY

They are the "Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice" better known as the PVPV. and as far as I see it, unless youre doing something youre not supposed to, youre okay.

@ Allie

You always knew your way around

I have been here 6 months and not seen one yet! However I don't go shopping very often and as a man and dressing conservatively when I do go out I wouldn't expect to attract attention anyway!

muzhi wrote:

religious police is called MATAVAY

Salman Omrani wrote:

better known as the PVPV

seriously?... to be understood by most of the people around you in KSA... they are called "MUTAWAS"

I always cover my hair and wear abaya everytime I go out in public so that the religious police will not catch me.

applegreenblue wrote:

I always cover my hair and wear abaya everytime I go out in public so that the religious police will not catch me.

If you're wearing an abaya and covering your hair, there's nothing to catch you for!!

That's why I don't want to be bothered by them whenever I go out:lol:

Seen them twice recently. No happenings to report of

Freshlikesushi wrote:

Seen them twice recently. No happenings to report of

You must have had your hair covered

What is the difficulty of encountering a matavat, i am wondering..Can someone say it straight here?

Alliecat wrote:

muzhi wrote:

anyways this topic is discussed many times.

True but Talish has asked about recently.  For myself, I tend not to be out when the mutaween are out.  For example, I know they're out running around the malls till all hours on Wednesday night, so they sleep in on Thursday.  So when do I do my shopping?  Thursday morning, early afternoon, of course

hastle.
they cannot really do anything

Freshlikesushi wrote:

hastle.
they cannot really do anything

They have some 'muscle' when they have a cop with them.  Otherwise, they're just in your face, harassing you.

Apparently, the recent incidents have led the govt to make them calm down a bit, I see them comparatively less than situation in ramadan or even before.

My wife is here 23 days and already we have had a run in 3 times ... first was at arnd 10:30 pm in night, we were out for walk in bylanes and this SUV draws up behind us, asking her to cover her head , another weekend we were in a mall behind IKEA, coming out of the eating enclosures and again the same thing.... 3rd was this Thursday in Faisalya Tower mall , we saw them again.... this time she covered her head before they saw us...
I am feeling like a Mutava magnet these days...

Kymadoce wrote:

My wife is here 23 days and already we have had a run in 3 times ... first was at arnd 10:30 pm in night, we were out for walk in bylanes and this SUV draws up behind us, asking her to cover her head , another weekend we were in a mall behind IKEA, coming out of the eating enclosures and again the same thing.... 3rd was this Thursday in Faisalya Tower mall , we saw them again.... this time she covered her head before they saw us...
I am feeling like a Mutava magnet these days...

Hahha it happens, sometime it happens that you get to see them often and sometime you dont see them even in a month
Best of luck

or tell em to eff off

Freshlikesushi wrote:

or tell em to eff off

If you are being sarcastic then its okay, otherwise you should never argue with em.

And you know, sometimes it isn't even the mutawa, just some busybody trying to feel important.

I was at the Janadriyah festival this year, hair uncovered, of course, and some wild-eyed looking man told me to cover my head.  The Saudi I was with was FURIOUS and basically told him to 'eff off,' saying it was an insult to *him* because I was in his company.

pkmusd wrote:

Freshlikesushi wrote:

or tell em to eff off

If you are being sarcastic then its okay, otherwise you should never argue with em.

why?
they arent special.
they are telling us to do something that isnt required

you may be a sheep, however i am not

Yep mutawwas hav specific dress code like no ring on their head

Freshlikesushi wrote:

pkmusd wrote:

Freshlikesushi wrote:

or tell em to eff off

If you are being sarcastic then its okay, otherwise you should never argue with em.

why?
they arent special.
they are telling us to do something that isnt required

you may be a sheep, however i am not

Its not about being a sheep or a horse for that matter
They have the authority given by the law, if you dont wanna lissen them you can ignore but you cant say anything back to them. Still you choice, have a go an share your experience. Would lover to hear that

they not have authority to instruct people to do what they are not required.

Ive told mutawa no less than 4 times to eff of. Once literally said those words.

If you have a backbone, and are not in the wrong, they can do nothing. It is the people that cower and listen without will that makes them have the power they think they do

women are NOT REQUIRED to have a head covering if you are western. end of story.

Freshlikesushi wrote:

they not have authority to instruct people to do what they are not required.

Ive told mutawa no less than 4 times to eff of. Once literally said those words.

If you have a backbone, and are not in the wrong, they can do nothing. It is the people that cower and listen without will that makes them have the power they think they do

women are NOT REQUIRED to have a head covering if you are western. end of story.

Okay, and HERE is my main bone of contention: 

everybody is complaining about the rise in petty crime, car theft, etc.  Wouldn't it make MORE sense for the mutawa to be walking the streets, watching for and reporting crime?  I mean, isn't THAT more beneficial to preventing 'vice' (THEFT!) than chasing little Filipino woman through Kingdom mall?

AND.. while we're on the subject lol  Don't you think it makes the mutawa look foolish and impotent when they spend their time chasing women, who cover momentarily, and then quickly remove the covering as the mutawa run off after somebody else?  I mean, WHAT is the point???

Alliecat wrote:

Okay, and HERE is my main bone of contention: 

everybody is complaining about the rise in petty crime, car theft, etc.  Wouldn't it make MORE sense for the mutawa to be walking the streets, watching for and reporting crime?  I mean, isn't THAT more beneficial to preventing 'vice' (THEFT!) than chasing little Filipino woman through Kingdom mall?

AND.. while we're on the subject lol  Don't you think it makes the mutawa look foolish and impotent when they spend their time chasing women, who cover momentarily, and then quickly remove the covering as the mutawa run off after somebody else?  I mean, WHAT is the point???

I think if they just stay on Olaya Street and ward of youngsters who are trying to knock on windows as soon as they see a car with female, it would be enough work for them

I have been here 2 weeks. First week didnt see any Mutawa, but last weekend I was in Riyadh Mall and saw a few of them giving tough time to some kids.
I was wondering whether the teenage/Uni guys have any places to go to chill out!!

Croydon_2012 wrote:

I have been here 2 weeks. First week didnt see any Mutawa, but last weekend I was in Riyadh Mall and saw a few of them giving tough time to some kids.
I was wondering whether the teenage/Uni guys have any places to go to chill out!!

Unfortunately no
They have been permitted to go to malls quite recently previously singles were not allowed (though unofficially security guards stll used to allow)

And sometimes a soft-hearted Saudi woman (I know a few who told me they've done this) would allow a teenage boy they didn't know to walk in with them as 'family.'

Croydon_2012 wrote:

I was wondering whether the teenage/Uni guys have any places to go to chill out!!

Sure, there are coffee shops and sheesha dens (although I believe these were moved to the outskirts of town when Naif became crown prince?).

I frequent Hayat Mall, Riyadh Gallery, Panorama Mall and Tahliya street quite often.

I see them in Hayat Mall and Tahliya quite a lot but not that much in Riyadh Gallery and Panorama Mall.

Having said that, We cannot predict their pattern or where we can expect them to be, we can definitely predict day parts which we can see them in. Mornings to late afternoons is safe if you want to avoid them as generally they will be out during the time most people are expected to be out (which is evening onwards).

I go out with my wife and my experiece says that they can be expected anywhere as they have the official authority to maintain segregation of males and females.

I believe it is best to avoid any argument or confrontation with them which can lead you in a sticky situation.

You can identify a Mutawa by his traditional attire and he will always be escorted by a police officer.

khanmazher wrote:

he will always be escorted by a police officer.

Not true.  The times I have been approached there were never police with them.

Agree with Alliecat. I have seen them around without any police. I think the police escort is only in areas where there may be issues with public.

I was kicked out of Granada Mall between prayers 1.5-2 months ago by the Mutawwa....
No specific reason given; I was just standing waiting for a prayer to end and the shops to open.
Maybe because I was alone and there were a lot of Saudi women around...
Freaky!

khanmazher wrote:

You can identify a Mutawa by his traditional attire and he will always be escorted by a police officer.

And a face like a wet weekend in Wigan.

how about in marina mall food court and bowling alley do they go there >/?

gashead wrote:

khanmazher wrote:

You can identify a Mutawa by his traditional attire and he will always be escorted by a police officer.

And a face like a wet weekend in Wigan.

Yeah, their faces are usually like this --->

FOR REAL!

ex_pa wrote:

how about in marina mall food court and bowling alley do they go there >/?

they can go anywhere, except inside compounds.. as far as I know.

pkmusd wrote:

ex_pa wrote:

how about in marina mall food court and bowling alley do they go there >/?

they can go anywhere, except inside compounds.. as far as I know.

and the ladies floor at Kingdom