At least 20 teenage boys have been given 30 lashes each for harassing schoolgirls in the Saudi holy city of Medina, in a crackdown on young troublemakers, a newspaper reported Sunday.
The Commission for Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice, which safeguards and polices Islamic morals in the kingdom, had ordered the recent punishments, Arab News said.
Medina governate has set up a separate committee to deal with the problem of boys chasing girls and granted it wide powers to "mete out severe and quick punishment."
A similar committee had been set up in Mecca to tackle the troublemakers, the daily said, and offenders would receive 30 lashes in public. Repeat offenders would be lashed again and jailed.
Arab News added that during December 350 young men had been arrested in shopping malls in the city of Taif in the mountains above Mecca. Forty youths had been detained by security officials for "teasing" women in a single evening.
Saudi Arabia's strict interpretation of Islam includes amputation of thieves' right hands, stoning for adultery and floggings for drinking alcohol.
People found guilty of murder, rape, apostasy, armed robbery, drug trafficking or repeated drug offences are often decapitated by sword -- RIYADH (AFP)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
