Saudi officials have arrested 50 people for sexual harassment after several reports, some through social networks, of women attending a music festival in Riyadh, police said Thursday.
Saudi capital police spokesman Colonel Shaker bin Suleiman al Tuwaijri, quoted in a statement issued by the official SPA news agency, said authorities detained 50 people “after evidence was found of their involvement in crimes of harassment”.
According to the police official, the alleged abuses were reported to the authorities and social networks by several people who attended the MDL Beast Festival, which took place from December 19 to 21 in Riyadh in the Saudi capital. participation of more than 100 artists and musicians.
According to the Efe news agency, one of the most shared videos was that of a young American woman who indicated that she loved the party, but that the audience “was detestable because of the incredible level of harassment and because some people tried to touch her. and grab it while dancing “.
The police spokesman said the videos shared on social networks “show a group of people harassing several women,” adding that the investigations “resulted in the identification of 24 suspects who were later detained.”
The crime of harassment in Saudi Arabia is punishable by up to two years imprisonment or a fine of about 23,000 euros, and up to five years imprisonment in the event of a repeat offense against minors or persons with disabilities.
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