Manama: Members of the powerful Saudi Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice were left red-faced after they arrested a married couple thinking the husband and wife were not related.

Acting upon a report that a man and a woman who were not relatives were spotted inside a house in the Suwaidi neighbourhood in the Saudi capital Riyadh, members of the Commission rushed to the place and proceeded to arrest the couple.

Dismissing arguments by the man and woman that they were husband and wife, the members took them to their office on the grounds that they were caught in khilwa, local daily Okaz reported on Sunday.

The khilwa offence in Saudi law consists of being in private with a member of the opposite sex who is not an immediate relative.

However, the Commission members were eventually convinced about the couple legal status when they called the woman’s father to the office and who confirmed that his daughter was married with the man they arrested.

The red-faced members released the husband and wife and two days later hosted the woman’s father to formally apologize for their mistake. The father accepted the apologies, the daily said.

Mohammad Al Sherim, the spokesperson for the Commission division in Riyadh, confirmed the incident and said that the issue had been settled after the members apologized for the mistake.

Social network users blamed the Commission members for rushing into conclusions and for not verifying the information they received.

Commenting on the incident, Abdullah Budaiwi, a blogger, said that he supported the Commission in general, but added that they needed to refine their manners and improve their methods.

Motaz, another blogger, said that the Commission should seriously take action against malicious reports.

“They should take down the name and contacts of those who report illegal happenings in order to make sure they are not being fooled by bogus or malicious claims,” he posted.

Basma, in her comments, said that houses should not be busted without strong evidence.

“It looks like it was a malicious report targeting the couple, and the Commission should never follow up to the end without verifying the claims,” she said. “Even though there were apologies and traditional kisses on the head and nose to show regret and sorrow, there is always the negative feeling of bitterness that hit the couple in this case,” she said.