No word yet on her punishment.
A Saudi Arabian Woman Was Arrested for Wearing a Crop Top and Skirt
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In the US, people watch Fashion Police for commentary on what their favorite celebs wear, but elsewhere in the world, taking a fashion risk can mean something much more serious than a daring red carpet look. A Saudi Arabian woman was just arrested for posting a video to Snapchat that shows her wearing an “indecent outfit.”
هذي أسمها مودل خلود بالقرية التراثية في مدينة أشيقر بالسعودية ، بعض الناس تشوفه (حياة طبيعية) والبعض الآخر يشوفه (عهر، وفجور) …!! pic.twitter.com/ObqEo8dKGN
— خالد عبدالعزيز🇸🇦 (@KHALED_Z_KSA_24) July 16, 2017
Snapchat user Model Khulood posted a video of her touring a fortress north of the capital city of Riyadh wearing a crop top, short flowy skirt, and flat shoes. People quickly began sharing the video on other social platforms.
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
In less than 24 hours, the video caught the attention of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, Saudi Arabia’s morality police. A spokesman for the commission issued a statement which said, “The Presidency has identified a video of a girl in a different kind of dress, and is coordinating with the authorities to investigate it.”
There's an arrest warrant. I refrain from commenting, because of course, this is all very logical.
#مطلوب_محاكمه_مودل_خلود pic.twitter.com/UEIToEdgxw— Roudha (@its__roudha) July 16, 2017
In Saudi Arabia, it’s law for Saudi women to wear a long, covering garment called an “abaya” in public, and muslim women are required to cover their hair. Riyadh police issued an arrest warrant for Khulood under the charges that she was, “taking photos in indecent clothing, disrespecting and violating the teachings of Islam, and violating the customs and traditions [of the country].”
شرطة #الرياض تضبط امرأة ظهرت بلباس غير محتشم في #أشيقر وتحيلها لـ #النيابة_العامة. #الإخبارية
#مطلوب_محاكمة_مودل_خلود— قناة الإخبارية (@alekhbariyatv) July 18, 2017
Saudi State TV reported Tuesday that Khulood was arrested by authorities. “Riyadh police arrests a woman dressed in indecent clothing in the village of Ushayqir, and has sent her to the public prosecutor.” As the news spread, people were divided on the response to Khulood’s outfit. One user stated that she doesn’t get to ignore the country’s laws.
يجب ان لاتطلع في بلد محافظ بهذا الشكل ، عليها احترام القوانين ، ولاا سوف يكون مصيرها معروف#مطلوب_محاكمة_مودل_خلود
pic.twitter.com/1ygF1UCD53— فــّــواز الوايلي 🍃 (@1__shadw) July 16, 2017
“She must not go out wearing [clothes] like this in conservative countries. She must respect the laws or else her fate will be decided.” Another said everyone must interpret the laws to maintain order.
#مطلوب_محاكمه_مودل_خلود لأن تصرفها همجي!
لازم تحترم القانون اعجبك او ما اعجبك!
>لو كل واحد تمرد على القانون لأنه مو عاجبه، بتصير الدعوة فوضى pic.twitter.com/f7k294gWlc— إبراهيم المنيف (@altamimi14) July 16, 2017
“We demand that Khoulood be tried because she acted irresponsibly. Whether you like it or not, you have to respect the law. If everyone rebelled against the law because they did not like it, it would be a mess.”
Others thought the reaction to what would be a normal outfit in many places in the world was much too harsh. Many mentioned the Trumps’ recent visit to the country, where Melania and Ivanka opted to wear Western clothes and keep their hair uncovered.
#مطلوب_محاكمة_مودل_خلود ماشوف فيه فرق بين صورتين ١- بنت ترامب امام الشاشات ونحن ندعم حقوق المرأة 🤔٢-خلف الشاشات ومحد درا عنا ويتم القبض pic.twitter.com/3bMPKpoQNx
— Asma Shalan (@AsmaShalan) July 16, 2017
“I don’t see any difference between those two photos: 1- When Trump’s daughter is on TV screens, we support women rights. 2- But nobody cares about the Saudi woman because she is not on TV, and they are calling for her arrest.”
لو كانت اجنبية كان تغزلوا بجمال خصرها وفتنتة عيناها .. بس لانها سعودية يطلبوا محاكمتها ! #مطلوب_محاكمة_مودل_خلود
pic.twitter.com/ttYqynySN2— فاطمة العيسى (@50BM_) July 16, 2017
Others pointed out how unfair it was that foreign women are held to different standards. “If she was a foreign girl, they would be courting to her beauty and her pretty eyes, but because she is a Saudi they demanded that she be tried.”
#مطلوب_محاكمة_مودل_خلود
خلاص يا جماعه انحل الموضوع . pic.twitter.com/R7JPObzyba— شَهد بنت فهاد🇸🇦. (@shody_1234) July 16, 2017
Some even went as far as “fixing” the problem with a little photo editing. “Okay stop, we have solved the problem.”
Past offenders have faced imprisonment and harsh criticism, including death threats, from the public after photos without the abaya and headscarf went viral on social media. In addition to the long robes and hair coverings, many women in Saudi Arabia also choose to cover their faces with veils, although it is not required. There’s no news yet on Khulood’s punishment.
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(h/t The Cut; photos by Jordan Pix/Getty)
