mutawa

mu·ta·wa

(mo͞o-tä′wə)

1. A member of a police force, especially in Saudi Arabia, charged with enforcing adherence to Shari'a law, notably in application to public conduct and dress.

2. (used with a pl. verb) The members of this police force, considered as a group.

[Arabic muṭṭawwa', colloquial form of muṭṭawwi', volunteer, one following the noncompulsory practices recommended in the shari'a, active participle of iṭṭawwa'a, to volunteer, contracted form of taṭawwa'a, to volunteer, reflexive of ṭawwa'a, to make obedient, factative of ṭā'a, to be obedient; see ṭwʕ in Semitic roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Noun

Mutawa - religious police in Saudi Arabia whose duty is to ensure strict adherence to established codes of conduct; offenders may be detained indefinitely; foreigners are not excluded

Mutawa'een

constabulary, police, police force, law - the force of policemen and officers; "the law came looking for him"

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia - an absolute monarchy occupying most of the Arabian Peninsula in southwest Asia; vast oil reserves dominate the economy

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References in periodicals archive ?

Dr Al Mutawa, a UAE national, has been serving as the vice-chairman for the past two years.

GFH appoints new chairman

Tribune News Network - Doha : Stemming from its keenness to enhance the Qatari artistic scene, the Cultural Village Foundation- Katara announced the publication of a documentary book, titled; 'The Musician Abdulaziz Nasser' which is sought to be written by Ibrahim Ali Mutawa. The documentary launch was held in a press conference on Monday, 27 November at Katara's Amphitheatre, and saw the presence of the General Manager of the Cultural Village Foundation- Katara, H.E.

Katara documents the history of the Qatari Musician Abdulaziz Nasser

Yesterday's announcement quoted Cityview chairman Abdulhakeem Al Mutawa as saying that the company was "committed to completing the 23-storey residential apartment building as soon as possible".

Work set to resume on stalled project

Speaking at a conference held at the Dubai Police's headquarters on Thursday, Colonel Fahd Al Mutawa, director of the Criminal Evidence and Criminology Department said the conference was held not to defend or promote smoking, but to clarify false information.

Dubai Police dismiss claims of marijuana in dokha

Summary: Colonel Fahd Al Mutawa, Head of the Awareness Section at the General Department of Anti-Narcotics of Dubai Police said that from 2008 to 2010, the Department witnessed widespread use of 370 types of new drugs, which most other countries have not listed in their banned drugs list.

Manufactured drugs rife in Dubai

Faisal Seddiq M Samea Al Mutawa, founding partner Crystal Arc, said: "To pay homage to the vision and legacy of its late founding fathers, Crystal Arc has launched a special Nakawa line of products."

Crystal Arc launches unique range

20 (BNA): Cabinet Affairs Minister Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Mutawa received today Dr.

Cabinet Affairs Minister receives researcher

This came as Cabinet Affairs Minister Mohammed Al Mutawa expressed the kingdom's keenness to enhance co-operation with the European Parliament (EP) and strengthen GCC-European relations.

FORGING NEW EUROPE LINKS

Dubai: When Dr Naif Al Mutawa created the first group of superheroes born of Islamic archetype, he didn't know his comic book series, THE 99, was going to stir controversy all over the world.

THE 99 inspired by Islam and its message

DOHA LOCAL youngster Jabor Mohammed Ali Mutawa is ready to make his mark when he takes on more experienced Egyptian Mohamed Safwat in a match between the wild cards at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open.