Saudi Vice, episode 23: Girls just want to have fun

It is, of course, axiomatic that women cannot enjoy themselves at parks in Saudi Arabia, because of the high risk that their laughing and enjoyment will drive any men who are nearby into a sexual frenzy that will force them to rape and ravage the young ladies. They must be protected, after all.

To solve this problem, a number of women decided to build their own woman-only park in Yanbu. It featured a health and sports club as well as Islamic lectures for women and other cultural events. It employed some 60 women and was a huge success.

This was not good enough for our heroes, the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. The Commission had received complaints about this facility, and moved immediately to shut it down.

What were the complaints? That residents nearby were hearing - gasp! - loud music and singing!

One would think that a warning would be given, but our heroes at the Muttawa know that such unacceptable behavior demands swift action. The very thought that perhaps men would hear this singing made this a matter of urgency, and it is better for the women of Yanbu to be without any place to unwind then to subject residents to a single syllable of a woman's voice.

The park is now closed, and sixty women are unemployed. And the city of Yanbu is now a bit safer from the temptations of vice, thanks to our heroes!