Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh.

Celebrations at the social media over a report saying Haia was halting its ground operations were short-lived as the spokesman for the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice denied it saying the statement issued by Haia President Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh was aimed at strengthening the organization’s field operations.

“The president has disbanded the unit that was supervising field operations in Riyadh to make use of the services of its employees in order to meet growing demand,” said Turki Al-Sholail, the spokesman.

He, however, pointed out that the Haia’s field operations would be limited to responding to calls related to harassment, khulwa (a man being alone with an unrelated woman) and drug abuse or participation in joint operations with security officers.

In accordance with Al-Asheikh’s decision, he said the staff members of the support unit would be sent to the 44 centers in Riyadh. “There will not be any change in the activities of these centers,” Al-Sholail said.

Bloggers had reportedly misunderstood the president’s decision.

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