22 March 2012

Saudi religious police ‘halalizes’ shopping malls for single men

.... Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz, Riyadh's governor, has decided "not to prevent any single men from visiting malls" in the capital on evenings and weekends, when malls are most crowded, Al-Riyadh newspaper reported.

The decision was made by a committee made up of local officials and representatives from the feared religious police, said the daily.

Shopping malls are a favourite leisure destination for young men and women in the ultra-conservative kingdom, where cinemas and theatres are banned. [Middle East Online] Read more