Man arrested for eating breakfast with woman in Saudi Arabia
Egyptian hotel worker detained after ‘offensive’ video goes viral
Saudi authorities have detained an Egyptian hotel worker who filmed himself eating breakfast and joking with a female colleague.
The video was condemned by official as “offensive” after going viral and has “sparked outrage on social media in the ultra-conservative kingdom”, The Guardian reports. Saudi Arabia enforces strict segregation laws banning men and woman from sitting together in almost all public and work places unless they are related.
“The point that has prompted the most anger is at the end of the 30-second video”, when the woman, wearing a full face veil, appears to feed the man, the newspaper adds.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The man, who has not been named, was arrested in the port city of Jeddah by the Saudi Ministry of Labour and Social Development, which accused him of “committing several violations”.
The detainee, identified by local media as an Egyptian national, was also accused of “taking up a post exclusively reserved for Saudis”, under rules dictating which jobs may be taken by expat workers.
The ministry confirmed that it had “arrested an expatriate in Jeddah after he appeared in an offensive video”. The owner of the hotel has also been summoned for questioning.
Meanwhile, an Arabic hashtag that translates as “an Egyptian having breakfast with a Saudi” has been used more than 113,000 times on Twitter, “where it has become the centre of a cultural divide”, the BBC reports.
In recent months, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has instigated a drive toward modernisation that has “ended a decades-long ban on women driving, has seen cinemas reopen after 35 years, and some mixed-gender concerts allowed”, says The Guardian.
But the row over this video “underscores the challenges” faced by the royal in his attempts to liberalise the country, the newspaper concludes.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Making a police state out of the liberal university'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
8 looming climate tipping points that imperil our planet
The Explainer New reports detail the thresholds we may be close to crossing
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Try 6 free issues of The Week Junior
Spark your child's curiosity with The Week Junior - the award-winning current affairs magazine for 8-14s.
By The Week Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Gaza hospital blast: What the video evidence shows about who's to blame
Speed Read Nobody wants to take responsibility for the deadly explosion in the courtyard of Gaza's al-Ahli Hospital. Roll the tape.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giraffe poo seized after woman wanted to use it to make a necklace
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Helicopter sound arouses crocodiles
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Woman sues Disney over 'injurious wedgie'
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Emotional support alligator turned away from baseball stadium
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Europe's oldest shoes found in Spanish caves
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Artworks stolen by Nazis returned to heirs of cabaret performer
It wasn't all bad Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published