JEDDAH: A 27-year-old aspiring model from Saudi Arabia is in police custody after a video of her walking in the historic village of Ushayqir, east of the capital Riyadh, wearing clothing that contravenes the cultural norms of the Kingdom, surfaced on social media.
In the short video, the woman — identified only as Kholoud — appears in a black miniskirt and sleeveless crop top. Women residing in the country are expected to wear a loose, black, full-length garment known as an abaya whenever they are in a public place.
Within hours of the video going viral, a police investigation was initiated, and early on Tuesday the Riyadh Police issued a statement indicating that the woman had been identified and questioned. The story made international headlines after it was first reported in local daily Okaz.
“Investigators specializing in such matters found several videos circulating on social networking programs that included those of a woman wandering in the heritage village of Ushayqir dressed indecently,” the police statement said.
“According to the system of combating cybercrime, the woman’s identity has been ascertained. She has acknowledged that she visited the heritage village, and claims the videos were published by an unknown person without her consent.”
The case has been referred to the Public Prosecution Department to take the necessary action, the statement added.
Arab News spoke with Capt. Sattam Al-Huzaini of the Riyadh Police on Tuesday night, hours after the police statement was released. He gave no indication as to whether the woman remains in police custody or has been released, adding that he had no further comment on the case beyond what had already been published in the statement.
On social media however, many Saudis posted messages of support to the woman, saying that there was nothing wrong with what she had done, particularly since she had not offended anyone, since there was nobody at the site when she visited.
Others took a more conservative view, calling for the woman to be punished for promoting sin, stating that her actions violate the Kingdom’s cultural and religious traditions.
Saudi social media divided over arrest of ‘abaya’-less model Kholoud
Saudi social media divided over arrest of ‘abaya’-less model Kholoud
KSrelief distributes winter clothes, food in Yemen, Gaza
- Aid comes as regions hit by falling temperatures, heavy rain
LONDON: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief has distributed winter clothing to families in Yemen and provided food parcels to displaced Palestinians living in tents in the Gaza Strip.
The humanitarian effort comes amid a cold snap and heavy rain in the two regions.
In Yemen, mostly in the Hadramout valley area, the agency handed out more than 2,000 items of winter clothing.
Since the start of the war in late 2023, KSrelief has dispatched 78 planes and eight ships carrying almost 7,700 tonnes of food, medical supplies and shelter materials to Gaza. More than 900 Saudi trucks have also delivered food and medical equipment to the region.
The agency has delivered 20 ambulances to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and signed agreements totaling $90 million for relief projects in Gaza. It has also carried out airdrops in partnership with the Jordanian Armed Forces.
