Lawyers ready to help girl beaten by Haia members

JEDDAH: The Nakheel mall case has continued to grab the limelight, with a number of lawyers now offering their services to the girl who was roughed up by some Haia members in Riyadh.
Some people also expressed, through social media, their support to Mubarak Al-Dosari, the security guard of the mall who had come to the girl’s rescue, and resigned from the job after he was suspended for his action, local media reported on Saturday.
The girl drew the wrath of the Haia squad members near the mall in Riyadh a few days ago because she had reportedly refused to cover her face and stop for queries. According to reports, she later covered her face but was still manhandled by the squad.
An inquiry ordered by Haia (Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice) later found excesses by the Haia squad and also blamed the girl for some faults. Haia said it already took appropriate action against its members involved in the incident.
Speaking in support of the girl, lawyer Ibrahim Al-Abadi, a former member of the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution told the publication that every lawyer must handle a certain number of lawsuits free of charge.
“This comes within the social responsibility of individuals and corporates. The Ministry of Justice has put in place a list of lawyers who can handle lawsuits without taking fees if the people involved cannot find a party to defend their rights.”
Saad Al-Malki, another lawyer, agreed with him and said that the initiative comes within the framework of social responsibility of lawyers. He said the Saudi society has witnessed many such social initiatives in all fields.
The security guard, Al-Dosari, confirmed in a video clip that the Haia members dragged the girl. “They chased the girl for about half an hour before she fell and a part of her body was exposed to the public as the video footage showed,” he said.
Al-Dosari said he was surprised when the Haia member violently grabbed the girl in an attempt to arrest her, which prompted him to intervene and release her from his grip and help her to escape in a school bus.