Teen arrested for Macarena dance
DUBAI: Saudi police arrested a 14-year-old boy who was filmed dancing to the Macarena at an intersection in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, according to local media reports on Wednesday.
The video, which went viral on social media in the kingdom, shows the boy with head phones and wearing gray sweat shorts, a striped T-shirt and Crocs. He is swaying his hips and arms to the 1990s hit song, appearing to be smiling and giggling throughout the dance.
The state-linked Al-Riyadh news website quoted Col Aati bin Attiyah al-Qurashi as saying the 14-year-old was brought to police along with his father, who was asked to sign a pledge vowing to protect his son and not to violate public morals. Al-Qurashi said the boy was then swiftly released from custody.
Police said the video appeared to be a year old.
Western music and dancing is taboo in Saudi Arabia, but such incidents in the past have not necessarily led to lengthy imprisonment or serious punishment. The young man may be asked to sign a police form vowing to not disrupt traffic again.
Traditional dance, however, is permitted. Saudi King Salman and US President Donald Trump were filmed taking part in a traditional allmale Saudi sword dance in May when the latter visited the kingdom earlier this year to boost ties.
Saudi Arabia’s heir to the throne, 31-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has pushed for greater openings for entertainment in the kingdom, including allowing a limited number of musical concerts after a more than 20-year-ban.