Jump to content

Mutaween: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
(5 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Religious persecution}}
{{Religious persecution}}
{{For|the "religious police" of Saudi Arabia|Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice}}
{{For|the "religious police" of Saudi Arabia|Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice}}
The '''Mutaween''' ('''{{lang-ar|مطوعين}}''') (variant English spellings: mutawwain, muttawa, mutawallees, mutawa’ah, mutawi’, mutawwa') are the government-authorized or -recognized '''religious police''' (or clerical [[police]]) of [[Saudi Arabia]]. More recently the term has gained use as an '''[[umbrella term]]''' indicating any religious-policing organization in an Islamic nation with at least some government recognition or deference, who enforce varied interpretations of [[Sharia Law]].
The '''Mutaween''' ('''{{lang-ar|مطوعين}}''') (variant English spellings: mutawwain, muttawa, mutawallees, mutawa’ah, mutawi’, mutawwa') are the government-authorized or -recognized '''religious police''' (or clerical [[police]]) of [[Saudi Arabia]]. More recently the term has gained use as an [[umbrella term]] indicating any religious-policing organization in an Islamic nation with at least some government recognition or deference, who enforce varied interpretations of [[Sharia Law]].


===Etymology===
===Etymology===
"Mutawwa'în" (plural; sing. mutawwa') originally referred solely to [[Saudi Arabia]]'s infrastructure of [[proselytization]] and enforcement of [[Wahhabism|Wahhabist]] tenets under the [[Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice]]. However the [[Phonetics|phonetic]] [[romanization]] "mutaween" has gained increasing use as a generic term for any religious-policing organization in a Muslim nation. This may range from official state bureaucracies to unabashed militant enforcers aligned to powerful local clerics (e.g.[[Basij]] in [[Iran]]).
"Mutawwa'în" (plural; sing. mutawwa') originally referred solely to [[Saudi Arabia]]'s infrastructure of [[proselytization]] and enforcement of [[Wahhabism|Wahhabist]] tenets under the [[Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice]]. However the [[Phonetics|phonetic]] [[romanization]] "mutaween" has gained increasing use as a generic term for any religious-policing organization in a Muslim nation. This may range from official state bureaucracies to unabashed militant enforcers aligned to powerful local clerics (e.g.[[Basij]] in [[Iran]]).


Recently (2005), "mutaween" has appeared to describe the enforcement of Sharia by autonomous groups within Muslim enclaves located inside secular nations<ref>[http://www.lawschoolblog.org/2005/11/mutaween_in_oakland.html Mutaween in Oakland]</ref><ref>[http://baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display/14387/index.php "wannabe mutaween"]</ref>, and has also entered the [[lexicon]] of [[blogosphere]] [[slang]] as a [[Sarcasm|sarcastic]] [[pejorative]] describing politicized, non-Islamic religious groups.<ref>[http://www.bythebayou.com/2005/08/gov-perry-to-address-his-mutaween.html Gov. Perry to Address his Mutaween]</ref>
Recently (2005), "mutaween" has appeared to describe the enforcement of Sharia by autonomous groups within Muslim enclaves located inside secular nations.<ref>[http://baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display/14387/index.php "wannabe mutaween"]</ref>{{fact}}


===Mutaween in Saudi Arabia===
===Mutaween in Saudi Arabia===
Line 12: Line 12:
The Mutaween in Saudi Arabia are tasked with enforcing Sharia as defined by the government, specifically by the [[Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice]] (CPVPV). The Mutaween of the CPVPV consists of "more than 3,500 officers in addition to thousands of volunteers...often accompanied by a police escort." They have the power to arrest unrelated males and females caught socializing, any one engaged in homosexual behavior or prostitution; to enforce Islamic dress-codes, and store closures during the prayer time. They enforce [[Muslim dietary laws]], prohibiting the consumption or sale of [[alcoholic beverage]]s and [[pork]], and seize banned consumer products and media regarded as un-Islamic (such as CDs/DVDs of various Western musical groups, television shows and film). Additionally, they actively prevent the practice or proselytizing of other religions within Saudi Arabia, where such a thing is banned.<ref>[http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=5869 SAUDI ARABIA Catholic priest arrested and expelled from Riyadh - Asia News]</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2399885.stm BBC NEWS | Middle East | Saudi minister rebukes religious police]</ref>
The Mutaween in Saudi Arabia are tasked with enforcing Sharia as defined by the government, specifically by the [[Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice]] (CPVPV). The Mutaween of the CPVPV consists of "more than 3,500 officers in addition to thousands of volunteers...often accompanied by a police escort." They have the power to arrest unrelated males and females caught socializing, any one engaged in homosexual behavior or prostitution; to enforce Islamic dress-codes, and store closures during the prayer time. They enforce [[Muslim dietary laws]], prohibiting the consumption or sale of [[alcoholic beverage]]s and [[pork]], and seize banned consumer products and media regarded as un-Islamic (such as CDs/DVDs of various Western musical groups, television shows and film). Additionally, they actively prevent the practice or proselytizing of other religions within Saudi Arabia, where such a thing is banned.<ref>[http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=5869 SAUDI ARABIA Catholic priest arrested and expelled from Riyadh - Asia News]</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2399885.stm BBC NEWS | Middle East | Saudi minister rebukes religious police]</ref>


Among the things the ''Mutaween'' have been criticized or ridiculed for include, use of [[Flagellation|flogging]] to punish violators, <ref>[http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Area=reform&ID=IA15804 The Saudi Media Debates Flogging by the Saudi Religious Police]</ref>
Among the things the ''Mutaween'' have been criticized or ridiculed for include, use of [[Flagellation|flogging]] to punish violators,<ref>[http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Area=reform&ID=IA15804 The Saudi Media Debates Flogging by the Saudi Religious Police]</ref><ref>[http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE230572000?open&of=ENG-SAU Saudi Arabia: Gross human rights abuses against women | Amnesty International]</ref>
<ref>[http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE230572000?open&of=ENG-SAU Saudi Arabia: Gross human rights abuses against women | Amnesty International]</ref>
banning [[Valentines Day]] gifts,<ref>[http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/328rmach.asp Valentine's Day in Saudi Arabia by Stephen Schwartz & Irfan al-Alawir 03/05/2007, Volume 012, Issue 24</ref><ref>"200 Arrested in Mina for Celebrating Valentine's Day", ''Arab News,'' [[February 18]], [[2004]]</ref>
banning [[Valentines Day]] gifts,<ref>[http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/328rmach.asp Valentine's Day in Saudi Arabia by Stephen Schwartz & Irfan al-Alawir 03/05/2007, Volume 012, Issue 24</ref><ref>"200 Arrested in Mina for Celebrating Valentine's Day", ''Arab News,'' [[February 18]], [[2004]]</ref>
arresting [[priest]]s for saying [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]],<ref>[http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=5869 Catholic priest arrested and expelled from Riyadh, April 10, 2006], AsiaNews</ref>
arresting [[priest]]s for saying [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]],<ref>[http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=5869 Catholic priest arrested and expelled from Riyadh, April 10, 2006], AsiaNews</ref>
and being staffed by "ex-convicts whose only job qualification was that they had memorized the [[Quran]] in order to reduce their sentences."<ref>Wright, Lawrence, ''Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11,'' by Lawrence Wright, NY, Knopf, 2006, p.149</ref>
and being staffed by "ex-convicts whose only job qualification was that they had memorized the [[Quran]] in order to reduce their sentences."<ref>Wright, Lawrence, ''Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11,'' by Lawrence Wright, NY, Knopf, 2006, p.149</ref>


Perhaps the most serious and widely criticized incident attributed to them occurred on [[March 11]], [[2002]], when they prevented schoolgirls from escaping a burning school in [[Mecca]], because the girls were not wearing headscarves and ''abayas'' (black robes). Fifteen girls died and 50 were injured as a result. Widespread public criticism followed, both internationally and within Saudi Arabia itself. <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1874471.stm "Saudi police 'stopped' fire rescue"], ''[[BBC]]'', [[15 March]] [[2002]]</ref>
Perhaps the most serious and widely criticized incident attributed to them occurred on [[March 11]], [[2002]], when they prevented schoolgirls from escaping a burning school in [[Mecca]], because the girls were not wearing headscarves and ''abayas'' (black robes). Fifteen girls died and 50 were injured as a result. Widespread public criticism followed, both internationally and within Saudi Arabia.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1874471.stm "Saudi police 'stopped' fire rescue"], ''[[BBC]]'', [[15 March]] [[2002]]</ref>


==Other groups==
==Other groups==

Revision as of 14:23, 22 April 2008

For the "religious police" of Saudi Arabia, see Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.

The Mutaween (Arabic: مطوعين) (variant English spellings: mutawwain, muttawa, mutawallees, mutawa’ah, mutawi’, mutawwa') are the government-authorized or -recognized religious police (or clerical police) of Saudi Arabia. More recently the term has gained use as an umbrella term indicating any religious-policing organization in an Islamic nation with at least some government recognition or deference, who enforce varied interpretations of Sharia Law.

Etymology

"Mutawwa'în" (plural; sing. mutawwa') originally referred solely to Saudi Arabia's infrastructure of proselytization and enforcement of Wahhabist tenets under the Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. However the phonetic romanization "mutaween" has gained increasing use as a generic term for any religious-policing organization in a Muslim nation. This may range from official state bureaucracies to unabashed militant enforcers aligned to powerful local clerics (e.g.Basij in Iran).

Recently (2005), "mutaween" has appeared to describe the enforcement of Sharia by autonomous groups within Muslim enclaves located inside secular nations.[1][citation needed]

Mutaween in Saudi Arabia

Main article: Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice

The Mutaween in Saudi Arabia are tasked with enforcing Sharia as defined by the government, specifically by the Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (CPVPV). The Mutaween of the CPVPV consists of "more than 3,500 officers in addition to thousands of volunteers...often accompanied by a police escort." They have the power to arrest unrelated males and females caught socializing, any one engaged in homosexual behavior or prostitution; to enforce Islamic dress-codes, and store closures during the prayer time. They enforce Muslim dietary laws, prohibiting the consumption or sale of alcoholic beverages and pork, and seize banned consumer products and media regarded as un-Islamic (such as CDs/DVDs of various Western musical groups, television shows and film). Additionally, they actively prevent the practice or proselytizing of other religions within Saudi Arabia, where such a thing is banned.[2][3]

Among the things the Mutaween have been criticized or ridiculed for include, use of flogging to punish violators,[4][5] banning Valentines Day gifts,[6][7] arresting priests for saying Mass,[8] and being staffed by "ex-convicts whose only job qualification was that they had memorized the Quran in order to reduce their sentences."[9]

Perhaps the most serious and widely criticized incident attributed to them occurred on March 11, 2002, when they prevented schoolgirls from escaping a burning school in Mecca, because the girls were not wearing headscarves and abayas (black robes). Fifteen girls died and 50 were injured as a result. Widespread public criticism followed, both internationally and within Saudi Arabia.[10]

Other groups

Religious police were very active and powerful in Afghanistan during the 1996-2001 reign of the Taliban, which also established a Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. Although commonly referred to as "munkrat" not "mutaween", the Afghan Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice was based at least in part on the Saudi mutaween - because Saudi Arabia was a major funder of the Taliban. Its police enforcement of Sharia was one of the main activities of the Taliban regime during this time and was even stricter than that of the Saudi Mutaween.[11]

See also

References and notes

  1. ^ "wannabe mutaween"
  2. ^ SAUDI ARABIA Catholic priest arrested and expelled from Riyadh - Asia News
  3. ^ BBC NEWS | Middle East | Saudi minister rebukes religious police
  4. ^ The Saudi Media Debates Flogging by the Saudi Religious Police
  5. ^ Saudi Arabia: Gross human rights abuses against women | Amnesty International
  6. ^ [http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/328rmach.asp Valentine's Day in Saudi Arabia by Stephen Schwartz & Irfan al-Alawir 03/05/2007, Volume 012, Issue 24
  7. ^ "200 Arrested in Mina for Celebrating Valentine's Day", Arab News, February 18, 2004
  8. ^ Catholic priest arrested and expelled from Riyadh, April 10, 2006, AsiaNews
  9. ^ Wright, Lawrence, Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11, by Lawrence Wright, NY, Knopf, 2006, p.149
  10. ^ "Saudi police 'stopped' fire rescue", BBC, 15 March 2002
  11. ^ Rashid, Ahmed, Taliban (200), p.105-7
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mutaween&oldid=207362880"