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mutawa - What does it mean?

Definition of 'mutawa'

English

Alternative forms

*

Noun

(mutaween)
  • A member of the religious police in an Islamic country, especially Saudi Arabia.
  • * 2007 August 6th, Scott Macleod, “Vice Squad” in CLXX, ? 5, page 36:
  • Meanwhile, another trial is already under way in the city of Tabuk, where the family of a man who died of an apparent heart attack in the commission’s custody is likewise demanding a death sentence for four mutaween''''' allegedly involved in his detention. Ahmed al-Bulawi died after being hauled into a local commission headquarters for being in a car with a woman who was not his close relative; the '''''mutaween apparently acted too hastily, since it turned out that he was employed as the family’s driver.
  • * ibidem , page 37:
  • Conservatively dressed, but not in the standard attire of Saudi women, Wynn-Stanley was harangued by a mutawwa''''', so she pulled out her Saudi-issued diplomatic identity card. The '''''mutawwa ’s response was to throw it on the ground and grind it into the pavement with the sole of his shoe, a gesture considered a grave insult in Arab custom.
  • The religious police as a body.
  • Similar to 'mutawa'

    media, mitta, mutha, matta, motia, mutawwa, maida, matha