Arrested for Flirting in Saudi Arabia

by Rachael Grant

On Saturday in Saudi Arabia, 57 men were interrogated after they were arrested for allegedly flirting with women in front of a shopping mall in Mecca.

According to the Okaz paper, which is reported to be close to the government, the religious police arrested them, for amongst other things, dancing to blaring pop music and wearing clothes deemed improper.

The religious police, whose members patrol public places, are run by The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. The police consider themselves there to make sure that women are covered, and without makeup, that stores are closed for prayer (which takes place five times a day), that sexes don’t mingle, and that men attend the local mosques.

The police are recognised not by uniform (they don’t wear one), but by beards they keep long, and robes that are shorter than the usual robes worn by Saudi men.

The men, who were arrested on Thursday, are to face trial in court unless they can prove that they were not flirting.

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