Chasing miniskirts: Saudi police arrest woman who wore ‘indecent clothing’ in viral video

Saudi police have arrested a young woman who was earlier filmed wearing a miniskirt and crop top, wandering around a village in a conservative rural area near the country’s capital, local media reported. The footage sparked debate on social media.

Information on the woman’s arrest was released by the Riyadh-based Al-Ekhbariya TV channel on Tuesday. 

Earlier, the local government of Riyadh said that the authorities were taking the “necessary measures” to find the woman, who was accused of “walking around... in indecent clothing,” as cited by AFP. 

The footage, initially posted on the Snapchat account "Model Khulood," shows a woman posing at a deserted historic fort in the village of Ushaiger, 200km northwest of the capital, Riyadh, Saudi media reported on Monday. The village is situated in the Najd region, which is known for its traditional mores.

READ MORE: Video of woman wearing miniskirt in Saudi Arabia prompts heated debate

After the video appeared online, the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (CPVPV) said it was looking into the issue.

The incident has divided the Saudi public, with some calling for the woman to be punished, while others praised her.

Some on social media said that it’s the 21st century and the woman did nothing wrong.

Others, however, were not ready for such radical changes in Saudi society.

“Just like we call on people to respect the laws of countries they travel to, people must also respect the laws of this country,” said Ibrahim al-Munayif, a Saudi writer, as cited by AP.

Sharia law controls the Saudi dress code for women, who have to wear long and loose-fitting cloaks (abayas) that cover all the body. The majority wear abaya with a veil that covers the head and hair. Some women wear full-face niqabs.