The Mutawa – Religous police in Saudi Arabia

It’s always fun to see that. Today, again, the Mutawa (or Mutawaeen) strived through the food-court during prayer time and sent everybody to the prayer room. One official cop, one Arab with fat beard and dishdash and the main player, red-white headscarf (Kufiya), white dishdash and a brown cape with golden border.

About 50 people were sitting in the food court at this time, lunchtime-prayer at noon. About 10 of them left their table right away, when they saw the Mutawa. 15 expatriates could stay anyway, cause their not asked to go and pray. All others were dissed by the religious police for sitting and chatting instead of honouring Allah in the mosque and left the foodcourt heading for the prayer room. So in the end, if you couldn’t get a seat in the crowded foodcourt during busy lunchtime, there you are. The Mutawa is your friend. 😀

Good news for women as well; I’m always wondering, why women can walk fully uncovered through the Kingdom mall (except for the mandatory abaya), though I thought, this is not acceptable. A few days ago I indicated to a caucasian (I guess british) woman, that the Mutawa was around and whether she might not get problems not being covered as it is suggested; guess what: the Mutawa is legally not allowed to approach her, while she’s not with her husband, since a conversation between men and women who are not relatives, is not acceptable. 😀

This country is just too strange for me.. Flying home tonight, I’ll have at least ten days without this paranoia…