Blog of Adam Daifallah -- author, journalist, law student. Lover of politics, writing, golf, curling, fitness, fashion, bacon and maple products -- not necessarily (but probably) in that order. Partisan of the Anglosphere. Contact me via email at adam@daifallah.com. This summer I am joined by Keir Wilmut and Omar Soliman. Monday, February 14, 2005 The Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Yes, this Orwellian-sounding organization actually exists -- this is the actual name of the Saudi religious police. They're on the prowl once again, this time for any signs of celebrating Valentines Day: The Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, Saudi Arabia's powerful religious vigilantes, have banned shops from selling any red flowers in the run-up to February 14. Florists say the move is part of an annual campaign by the committee -- whose members are known as "mutawwaeen" or volunteers -- to prevent Saudis marking a festival they believe flouts their austere doctrine of "Wahhabi" Islam. "They pass by two or three times a day to check we don't have any red flowers," said a Pakistani florist in Riyadh's smart Sulaimaniya district. "Look, no red. I've taken them all out," he said pointing to a dazzling floral collection covering every color of the rainbow except one. Business as usual for the House of Saud. # posted by Adam Daifallah : 8:49 AM    << Home   National Post peeps RSS - Syndicate me! Andrew Coyne J. Kelly Nestruck Bob Fulford Jonathan Kay Colby Cosh George Jonas Everyone else Maderblog The Shotgun Paul Tuns Paul Wells Damian Penny Peter Loewen Stephen Taylor Cory MacDonald Kathy Shaidle Conservative Hipster Vincent Geloso October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008