There are some signs the morality police in Saudi Arabia (officially known as the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice) are starting to get some pushback from the people they’re charged with keeping holy. Last week a woman reportedly beat on one of their agents after he tried to punish her for hanging out with a male friend, unmarried. And there are current reforms underway which may lead to the founding of a co-ed school, where men and women will be allowed to learn and mingle sans stuffy Islamic asshole cops. Not that crazy of an idea to us, but over in Saudi Arabia it’s causing a huge fuss amongst the conservative fundamentalists.

But even with progress, it’s important to note things are still pretty fucked up over there. The woman who attacked the religious vice cop is liable to end up getting lashed and put in jail and Flying Spaghetti Monster knows what else. And a recent show on MTV has the morality police investigating several youths to see if they were guilty of ‘openly declaring sin.’ Their crimes?

In the program – called Resist the Power! Saudi Arabia – a girl named only as Fatimah told how she disguised herself as a boy to ride a bicycle in the streets of Jeddah.

The 20-year-old also railed against the traditional women’s dress – a black robe known as an abaya.

She said she made her own abayas in bright colours, which she sold to friends.

A young man, Aziz, talked about his attempts to break the strict segregation of the sexes in Saudi life – to meet his girlfriend for a date.

“We are not free to live as we like,” said the 24-year-old.

The four part documentary, which was screened in the US, also followed a Saudi heavy metal band who struggled to find venues that would allow them to play.

Riding a bike, going on a date, playing music … all sins in Saudi Arabia that can lead to serious jailtime. Ain’t religion the best?