Saudi Woman Arrested For Removing Veil And Posting Picture On Twitter

A woman in Saudi Arabia was arrested and imprisoned for posting a picture of herself on Twitter without a hijab, in violation of the country’s moral code, a spokesperson for the police, Fawaz Al Maiman, said in Riyadh. He also accused her of “speaking openly about prohibited relations” with unrelated men, according to AFP.

“Riyadh police stress that the action of this woman violates the laws applied in this country,” Maiman said, stating that the public should “adhere to the teachings of Islam.”

The spokesman did not name the woman, but a number of websites identified her as Malak Al Shehri. The woman, who is in her mid-20s, is seen in the picture in a colorful dress, black coat, and ankle boots, with her hair down.

The women soon received hateful messages, including many with the hashtag “we demand the imprisonment of the rebel Malak Al Shehri.” According to The Sun, one account tweeted “we want blood” and another users wrote, “Kill her and throw her corpse to the dogs” and “The least punishment for her is beheading her”.

Reacting to the news of the woman’s arrest, some tweeted in approval of the action taken against her and requested the authorities to be strict with her. One user wrote: “The country’s system has not been respected.”