Riyadh: Saudi authorities have arrested an Egyptian hotel worker who appeared in what officials described as an “offensive” video eating breakfast with a female co-worker.
The footage, which sparked outrage on social media in the ultra-conservative kingdom, showed the pair sharing a meal at a desk.
The woman, draped head-to-toe in Islamic niqab, is seen waving to the camera and feeding the man — who was filming — with her hand.
“The labour ministry arrested an expatriate in Jeddah after he appeared in an offensive video,” the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWMZ72b4NiE
Local media has identified the man as an Egyptian national.
The ministry said the hotel owner had also been summoned for failing to adhere to government regulations that stipulate a gender-segregated workplace.
As the video sparked a torrent of criticism from arch-conservatives, the public prosecution urged expats in the kingdom to respect “values and traditions of Saudi society”.
The incident comes in the midst of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s far-reaching liberalisation drive that have ended decades-long bans on women driving and cinemas, and allowed some mixed-gender concerts.
The backlash underscores the challenges facing the prince as he seeks to modernise a country steeped in conservatism.
In April, Saudi sports authorities shut down a female fitness centre in Riyadh over a contentious promotional video that appeared to show a woman in tight gym clothes.
Later in June, Saudi Arabia sacked the head of its entertainment authority, following an online backlash against a circus featuring women wearing skintight leotards.
[source_without_link]AFP[/source_without_link]