The latest report out of Saudi Arabia concerning the mad activities of the purity police suggests they are now considering a ban on the display of sexy eyes – women’s eyes, that is.
The Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (CPVPV) have apparently detected instances of provocative eye displays in the Islamic Kingdom, and have decided that a clamp-down is required.
Spokesman of the Ha’eal district, Sheikh Motlab al-Nabet said the committee has the right to stop women whose eyes seem “tempting” and order her to cover them immediately.
Three years ago the BBC reported that a Muslim cleric in Saudi Arabia had called on women to wear a full veil, or niqab, that reveals only one eye.
Sheikh Muhammad al-Habadan said showing both eyes encouraged women to use eye make-up to look seductive.
The latest announcement came days after the Saudi newspaper al-Watan reported that a Saudi man was admitted to a hospital after a fight with a member of the committee who ordered his wife to cover her eyes. The husband was then stabbed twice in the hand.
The CPVPV have draconian powers over the lives of ordinary Saudis, but these do not appear to extend to the country’s royal elite. A Wikileaks document released last year said that:
“Wild Western-style parties” are regularly held at royal palaces in Jeddah, away from the reach of the committee, who stands helpless against any royal violations.
It was reported that alcohol, drugs, dancing and sex were a feature of these bacchanalian parties.
Hat tip: Pete H
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
November 19th, 2011 at 11:35 am
Do as I say, not do as I do, obviously.
November 19th, 2011 at 11:56 am
When you get pricks like Rowan Williams espousing the virtues of sharia law then this is clearly where it would lead in this country as well.
November 19th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
When the only part of a person that you can see is their eyes then you concentrate on them and your imagination takes over. If the eyes are completely covered but the ankles are on show, you concentrate on them. The only way to get over this type of fixation is to allow people to be free to show whatever they like (now there will be lot’s of comments asking if I’m advocating nudity in public, well, why not, what is wrong with the human body that we should be afraid to show any part of it? By hiding away any part of the body, you draw attention to that part).
November 19th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
Hypocrisy rules OK! In Tudor times while prostitutes were savagely punished the Court was a rampage of upper class sex. Oliver Cromwell, while demanding the most condign punishments for sexual transgressors, had a mistress himself. “Do as I say, not as I do” indeed. Sums up the religious attitude to perfection.
PS I’m on a bit of a historical reading binge about English Rakes and sex generally. Currently reading the enormously entertaining, CITY of SIN: LONDON AND ITS VICES by Catharine Arnold. The penalty for indulgence was often the terrifying affliction of syphilis.
November 19th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
I see some Muslim men with evocative bulges in their trousers which offends me deeply,cant we get them to cover up more.
They could wear a dress like the Pope.
November 19th, 2011 at 2:53 pm
Does anything ever happen in Saudi Arabia that isn’t driven by fear and hatred of women?
If this is implemented, the “Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice” will then turn their attention to something like the shape of niqabs. Far too shapely! We can still tell there’s a woman in there!
They won’t be satisfied until they’ve managed to force every woman into waddling around in a full length cardboard box and preferably chained to a male relative.
No, actually, not even then.
November 19th, 2011 at 3:03 pm
wtf?
November 19th, 2011 at 3:09 pm
The Saudi royals are apparently good customers of Johnny Walker, too.
November 19th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
I say abacinate all the men. That’ll solve the problem.
November 19th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
Those “evocative bulges” might be their under-cover nine-year-old brides …
November 19th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
Absolutely ridiculous. It’s a shame these religious coppers don’t get dealt with down some back alley somewhere but I dare say they never go out alone.
November 19th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
The people of Islamic countries complain that western peoples patronize them, and refer to their beliefs as something they will grow out of when their cultures are more mature. People of Islamic countries would do better to realize that they are indeed children, and it’s time to grow up.
November 19th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Wild western style – what Cowboys and Indians?
Anyway – sounds like any party I ever held.
As for Rowan Williams – I saw his wife recently. I’m not a body fascist by any means – but I think the pair of them need to invest in a new toothbrush, bath and a shave – and a spot of grooming involving those remmington nose-hair trimmers.
Especially her.
(I’m sorry – I hate myself for stooping so low – I’m not usually bitchy at all – but man – that face will haunt me!)
November 19th, 2011 at 5:15 pm
Graham Martin-Royle you are contradicting yourself.. still getting your point though.
November 19th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
I think somebody should police the CPVPV, they are obviously taking too much interst in women’s eyes.
November 19th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
A society based on blaming the victim for men’s bad behavior.
Sounds like a Republican dream country.
November 19th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
@Daniel, yep, I probably am. I know what I want to say but I’m bloody hopeless at saying it! If you understand what I mean, do me a favour, explain it to me! Pretty please, with a cherry on top. -lol-
November 19th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
Why is it that the US will march in to any country who is a risk to the oil supply, with us trailing along happily in their wake, but neither of us will condemn the suppression of 50% of the population?
Ah, yes. Saudi oil is a secure supply.
November 20th, 2011 at 9:02 am
Apologies for being OT but there is a government petition afoot for the UK to follow the Irish and close our embassy to the Holy See.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22434
At present there are only about 250 signitures so it needs some help.
November 20th, 2011 at 9:37 am
Do these religious zealots have any idea how ridiculous they are in the eyes of sane people?
November 20th, 2011 at 11:06 am
These Saudi women need to follow the example of this Egyptian Lady atheist blogger and stage a demonstration on top of the Kaaba stone at Mecca ! ; http://www.scotsman.com/news/i....._1_1971864
http://ex-muslim.org.uk/2011/1.....a-elmahdy/
November 20th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
@Stonyground: I am happy to have signed the petition. Thanks.
November 20th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
@Stonyground: Signature added.
November 20th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
@Stonyground: As Above
November 20th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
@ Stonyground: Good call. My name is on the petition.
November 20th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
Sorry, this is OT. But given the man’s inhuman and utterly unethical stance on condoms, can you believe the shameless, barefaced cheek of the pope, who last time he was in Africa said “…the use of condoms exacerbates the problem of Aids”when he is now demanding that African leaders …adopt a courageous, ethical approach to their responsibilities?
What a complete and utter twat.
November 20th, 2011 at 7:00 pm
Saudi clerics now inform us that women will turn gay if they drive ; http://www.advocate.com/News/D.....hey_Drive/
November 20th, 2011 at 7:12 pm
Funny idea the one eyed niqab obviously,they are all gay, they have a one eyed monster fixation!
November 20th, 2011 at 8:06 pm
This was the best bit, AgentCormac:
The 84-year-old handed over a document showing how doctrine in the Roman Catholic church could heal rifts.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15811677
I have only just picked myself up from the floor!