RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s morality police may relax the kingdom’s strict rules on closing shops and businesses for prayer five times a day, the force’s head Sheikh Abdulatif Al al-Sheikh was quoted as saying by local press on Wednesday.

All shops in Saudi Arabia are supposed to shut for half an hour during prayers — five times a day.

However, Al al-Sheikh, a moderate appointed to the post a year ago, said he did not think they needed to close for such a long period, in comments on television carried in the English-language daily Arab News, which is owned by a leading prince.

The comments are the latest sign of Al al-Sheikh’s attempts to improve the image of the morality police Al al-Sheikh added that Muslim shop staff could pray at their places of work rather than having to spend time walking to the mosque and back.

King Abdullah appointed him a year ago after a clip went viral on YouTube showing a morality police patrol harassing a family in a shopping mall.

The organisation enforces the kingdom’s rigid interpretation of Islamic law, including strict gender segregation, modest dress and restrained public behaviour.

In 2002, it triggered international outrage when its officers prevented schoolgirls leaving a burning building because they were not wearing veils, leading to several deaths.—Reuters