Saudi authorities investigating model who visited Kingdom in skirt
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are looking for a model, known as Khulood, who uploaded a video of herself walking in a Saudi village wearing a miniskirt.
The Saudi Arabian Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Riyadh on Sunday announced it had launched an investigation in cooperation with authorities to find her.
المتحدث باسم #هيئة_الأمر_بالمعروف بـ #الرياض: الرئاسة رصدت مقطع لفتاة بلباسٍ مخالف، وجرى التنسيق مع الجهات المختصة.https://t.co/WCZBqLN2e8 pic.twitter.com/rD78JeAgUa
— رئاسة الهيئة (@PvGovSa) July 16, 2017
An arrest warrant issued by Riyadh’s police department claims the woman was “disrespecting and violating the teachings of Islam.”
The model is a well-known Saudi social media figure, and posted the video of herself in a miniskirt and crop top in the village of Ushaiqer, north of the capital, on Snapchat over the weekend.
لو كانت اجنبية كان تغزلوا بجمال خصرها وفتنتة عيناها .. بس لانها سعودية يطلبوا محاكمتها ! #مطلوب_محاكمة_مودل_خلود
— فاطمة العيسى (@50BM_) July 16, 2017
pic.twitter.com/ttYqynySN2
Since the video has gone viral, a heated debate was sparked on social media with some calling for her to be punished, while other Saudis expressed their support for the model and her “bravery.”
Some defended Khulood by drawing comparisons between the Kingdom’s reaction to US President Donald Trump’s wife, Melania, and daughter, Ivanka, when they opted not to wear abayas or headscarves during a visit to Saudi Arabia in May.
Women in Saudi Arabia must wear loose-fitting, full-length robes known as “abayas” in public, as well as a headscarf if they are Muslim.
Officials in Ushaiqer have apparently called on the provincial governor and police to take action against the young woman.
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany