What is mutawa een?

Mutawaeen is an Arabic term that refers to the religious police force in Saudi Arabia known as the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (CPVPV). Mutawaeen (singular: mutawa) are responsible for enforcing Islamic behaviors and values in public places. They are tasked with ensuring that individuals do not engage in behavior that is considered against Islamic teachings, such as drinking alcohol, engaging in premarital sex, or listening to music. Mutawaeen have been widely criticized for their strict and often aggressive enforcement tactics, which have been known to trample on individuals’ rights and freedoms. In recent years, the Saudi government has attempted to soften the image of the mutawaeen in response to this criticism.