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No Arrests or Car Chases, Saudi Vice Police Told After Criticism

  • Paid teams patrol public venues enforcing gender, dress laws
  • Saudis have used Twitter to protest aggressive behavior
Saudi women are seen reflected in a shop mirror carrying their shoppings at a local mall in Riyadh.

Saudi women are seen reflected in a shop mirror carrying their shoppings at a local mall in Riyadh.

Photographer: Fayez Nureldine/AFP via GettyImages
By
Deema Almashabi

Saudi Arabia has banned its religious police from making arrests or embarking on car chases, curbing a force sporadically criticized as overzealous in upholding strict rules on the mixing of the sexes or acceptable dress.

QuickTake Saudi Arabia's Strains