By Abdullah Al-Hatilah

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

ABHA — The Shoura Council has not taken a final stand on whether to approve the merger of the Commission of the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (the Haia) with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance.

Several proposals were presented before the council recommending the merger but no action has been taken yet. This was because some members of the council did not see any justification for merging the Haia with the ministry.

A number of observers noted that the issue was steeped in ambiguity while the Shoura members who made the proposals claim that the council did not consider them yet. However, the chairman of the Shoura said no such proposals were submitted to the council.

The members who submitted the proposals were Atta Al-Subaiti, Latifah Al-Shalan and Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Tamimi. In their proposals, they said it was the duty of every Muslim to promote virtue and prevent vice and no religious or Shariah text warrants the establishment of a separate entity for the purpose.

They said the merger of the Haia with the ministry falls in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.