Following Online Outcry, Saudi Police Arrest Woman Who Posted a Photo of Herself Not Wearing Hijab
According to the Washington Post, a Saudi woman was trying to make a “statement” when she posted a photo of herself without any type of modesty-related covering to social media last month. Without the head-covering hijab or body-concealing abaya, Malak al-Shehri stood in ankle booties, a printed dress, sunglasses, and a jacket with her hair down. Some have called her the “Saudi Rosa Parks.” Others have called for her execution.
A Saudi woman went out yesterday without an Abaya or a hijab in Riyadh Saudi Arabia and many Saudis are now demanding her execution. pic.twitter.com/gPMOz5bRAr
— Anon #FreeMalak (@dontcarebut) November 29, 2016
Note that the lack of abaya is seen as more scandalous than the lack of hijab, but neither is encouraged.
There’s also a lot of praise for her. Especially from women calling her brave and that she started something great.
— Anon #FreeMalak (@dontcarebut) November 29, 2016
Following the backlash that caused her to delete her Twitter account, WaPo reports, she has been arrested.
On Monday, police in the country’s capital of Riyadh made it known they had taken al-Shehri in for “violations of general morals” and “speaking openly about prohibited relations.”
Across social media, the police have been praised and vilified, which is in keeping with current related trends. In France, for instance, debate has been raging about whether or not Muslim women should be allowed to wear the religious coverings at all. Police there have been celebrated and condemned for enforcing the newest rules.
[image: screengrab]
