Two Saudis have been detained in the country’s capital for offering free hugs to passers-by. The local police arrested them for ‘indulging in exotic practices’ and offending public order.
One of the campaigners announced on Twitter that he would offer
free hugs to the public on Tahlia Street, a popular shopping area
in Riyadh. The men advertised free hugs on a placard, Al-Hayat
newspaper reported.
Later, they were arrested by the religious police, the Commission
for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, who are
charged with ensuring that Sharia law is strictly obeyed.
The two had to sign a pledge that they would not offer hugs
again.
Both men participate in the free hugs movement established to
‘brighten up’ people’s lives, which started after a young Saudi
man, Bandr Swed, posted a video of himself offering hugs to male
strangers on YouTube. The footage got almost 1.5 million views in
just a couple of days.
"After seeing the Free Hugs Campaign in many different
countries, I decided to do it in my own country. I liked the idea
and thought it could bring happiness to Saudi Arabia," the
man told Al Arabiya.
The video reportedly inspired two young Saudis, Abdulrahman
Khayyal and a friend, to start their own campaign on the Saudi
streets.
The country’s religious police force which prevented them from
carrying out their campaign is called Mutawa, and its
responsibilities include preventing women driving, enforcing
modest dress codes, policing bans on public entertainment and
making sure all businesses close for prayers five times a day.
The police reacted to the complaints of the local families and
individuals who reported the men's actions.