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DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia has released 19 Filipino women arrested during a raid on the occasion of a Halloween party in Riyadh, a top diplomat said Wednesday. , who would have received complaints for loud music and terrifying costumes.
Online videos that, according to the posters, were filmed during the event that was held in a rented complex over the weekend, show participants dressed in costumes and dancing to a music strong. The film, which Reuters was unable to verify independently, also showed police vehicles with flashing lights.
The Saudi Public Security Bureau tweeted Saturday that party organizers had been arrested for charging a fee for entry without a license, in addition to "disturbing residents, ordered the violations of some participants and aroused fear among residents using masks, strange clothes, and firecrackers. "
Christopher Patrick Aro, Consul General of the Philippines in Saudi Arabia, told Reuters that Filipina women had been hired as party cleaners at a resort complex in Riyadh's Al-Thumama district and that they would not did not wear costumes. They could face charges for violating labor regulations, he said.
Celebrating Halloween, as well as Christmas and other common festivals in many countries, is banned in the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom, although in practice many foreigners and some Saudis attend such occasions and drink from alcohol in private, although it is illegal.
Some religious consider Halloween as a form of devil worship too associated with Western culture.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman introduced reforms aimed at relaxing Saudi Arabia's strict social rules, including easing restrictions on gender diversity in public places and shattering the religious police enforcing standards. draconian for years.
But the red lines still exist.
Four men, including a Saudi man, were also detained, Aro said. It was not clear if the men had also been released.
The Ministry of the Interior did not immediately respond to a request for additional information.
Hundreds of people attended the party, Reuters said. One woman said all were women, with the exception of the organizers and DJs. She said she did not see any alcohol or anything else inappropriate, and that the area around the room was not densely populated.
Police raided at least two Western complexes in the Saudi capital last week, apparently looking for alcohol and illegal workers, diplomats said.
Report by Nafisa Eltahir, edited by Stephen Kalin and Alexandra Hudson
