Pair offering free hugs arrested in Saudi Arabia

Saudi police have detained the two young men for indulging in exotic practices and offending public order in the capital of Riyadh.

Bandr al-Swed joined the free hugs movement aiming to brighten up people's lives by offering strangers hugs.

His YouTube video of him giving free hugs caused a sensation in Saudi Arabia and got almost 1.5million views.

"After seeing the Free Hugs Campaign in many different countries, I decided to do it in my own country," Mr Swed told al-Arabiya news.

"I liked the idea and thought it could bring happiness to Saudi Arabia."

Two other young Saudis, Abdulrahman al-Khayyal and a friend, followed suit and advertised the free hugs on a placard, in the capital city.

They were arrested by Saudi Arabia's religious police, the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, whose task is to ensure that the strict sharia law is adhered to.

The pair had to sign a pledge that they would not offer hugs again, according to reports.

The Commission’s duties include preventing women from driving, ensuring businesses close for prayers five times daily, enforcing modest dress codes and bans on public entertainment.

حادث دهس وقتل متعمد في الرياض التقطته كاميرات مراقبة

يبدو أن هناك نزاع سابق بين سائق الشاحنة وسائق الجمس، اضطر صديقه لرمي الحجارة على الشاحنة، فحاول سائق الشاحنة وصديقه الامساك به مما دفع سائق الجمس لدهس أحدهما للدفاع عن صديقه مما أدى إلى وفاته والآخر حالفه الحظ

saudi arabia punishment cut head

Saudi Arabia beheaded and crucified a Sudanese man in Riyadh on Friday after he was convicted of raping, robbing and killing a woman, the interior ministry announced.

Abdulrahman Zine Elabidine "broke into a house strangling its owner to death while she was asleep."

He also raped her and stole 165,000 riyals ($44,000/33,000 euros) as well as gold jewellery, said the statement carried by state news agency SPA.

Arson

He then set the house on fire.

His beheading took to 20 the total number of executions in the  conservative kingdom so far this year, according to an AFP tally based on official reports.

Under the AFP count, at least 76 people were beheaded in 2011, while rights group Amnesty International put the number of executions last year at 79.

The death penalty in Saudi Arabia applies strict Sharia (Islamic) law for a wide range of offences including rape, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking, as well as murder.

لجين الهذلول تسوق في الرياض women driving in saudi arabia

لم تمض سوى ساعات قليلة من اعلان وزارة الداخلية بتطبيق الأنظمة بحق من يدعو لقيادة المرأة للسيارة حتى ظهرت لجين الهذلول الطالبة المبتثعة إلى كندا في مقطع مصور تقود فيه السيارة حسب زعمها من مطار الملك خالد الدولي في العاصمة الرياض برفقة والدها في مخالفة صريحة لقرار وزارة الداخلية.
والد لجين الذي كان يصور ابنته تحدث في المقطع قائلا : هذه لجين تقود السيارة مبسوطة بعد عودتها من كندا و سنضحك بعد عشر سنوات اذا شاهدنا المقطع.
ردود الفعل كانت غاضبة من تصرف لجين ووالدها, حيث أكد من شاهد المقطع على ضرورة تطبيق النظام في حقها وفقاً لتصريح المتحدث الأمني في وزارة الداخلية الذي أكد التعامل بحزم وقوة ضد المخالفين.