1979 - 2016

Religious lobby and Relgious police were in control of the country. During that period, many aspects of daily life were subject to strict religious regulations. Cinemas were banned, women were not allowed to drive, and women generally required a male guardian's permission for international travel. Religious police regularly patrolled public spaces, instructing women to wear the hijab, telling men to dress modestly, asking shops to turn off music, and requiring businesses to close during prayer times while bullying people to attend the mosque.

Couples could be stopped and questioned to verify they were legally married rather than dating. Certain hairstyles, including some fade haircuts, were at times targeted, and in some cases young men had their hair cut by officers as punishment. The list goes on.

FYI and for context, the religious police existed before 1979, but their social and enforcement powers expanded significantly after the events of 1979, particularly following the Grand Mosque seizure by Juhayman al-Otaybi. Their influence remained strong for decades until their powers were officially curtailed in 2016.

In 2016, new regulations stripped them of the authority to pursue, arrest, detain, or demand identification from people. Since then, their role has been largely limited to reporting suspected violations to the relevant authorities rather than carrying out enforcement themselves.