Saudis are celebrating 1 year since religious police lost power

Throughout Saudi Arabia, social media users are posting celebratory statuses to mark one year since the kingdom's religious police had its power curbed.

Last year, the kingdom passed a new law blocking members of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice from arresting suspects or practicing any other form of law enforcement.

Committee members are no longer allowed to "stop people, put reservations on them, chase them, ask for their documents, verify their identities or follow them," according to the updated law.

Even former leaders of the commission say reducing the organization's power has worked out well. 

“Many people anticipated that society would plunge into moral corruption if the religious police didn’t resume its work,” Ahmed Qasim Al-Ghamdi, the former president of the commission's Mecca branch, told Arab News.

“This is not only an exaggeration, but a questioning of Saudi society’s religion and ethics. The reality proves the opposite," he said.

Needless to say, a lot of Saudis are more than happy that the conservative force has been reigned in. The hashtag "A year since the religious police were banned" (#عام_علي_منع_الهييه) has been trending in the last week.

"Thank God! That unfortunate chapter of our lives is over, and we can now put its darkness behind us forever. Thanks to those who are enlightened, thank you life."  

"A year has passed since the government’s new organization of the religious police’s work, and things in the country are proceeding in a regular manner. Morals and virtue are preserved, and all disciplinary apparatuses are in place and performing their duties in the best way," Ghamdi said.

Considering Ghamdi used to lead a religious police force, it's safe to assume he knows what he's talking about.