The Emir of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, has issued a reprimand in "strong language" to the rector of Mohammed bin Fahd University -- the local university that bears his name -- for organizing women's football competitions. [Full Story in Arabic]



The Emir's action was in response to a campaign led by extremist "salafi" elements in mosques across the Eastern Province.



It was reported that the Emir had received a large number of letters protesting the women's sports competitions at the university. The fundamentalist elements demanded that the Emir “stop the farces that the academics are supervising.”



In addition to rebuking Issa Al-Ansari, the university rector, the Emir called for an investigation of the setting up of the football matches between women’s teams, which set a precedent in the history of Saudi universities.



While the rector insisted that the matches were held privately and out of the view of men, police officials and members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice said they had “proven” that young men were present near the site of the football matches.



The "salafi" zealots who oppose the inclusion of sports in women students' curriculum regard the involvement of women in sports as contrary to the shari`ah and charge that it will lead to the westernizing of Saudi women.



It may be noted that in a match held on Wednesday evening at the Mohammed bin Fahd University playing field, the Mohammed bin Fahd team was defeated by the visiting team from Yamama College of Riyadh by a score of 4-3.