Miniskirt model escapes charges

riyadh — Saudi Arabia announced on Wednesday that a woman who was detained after wearing a miniskirt in a video that went viral has been released without charge.

Police in Saudi Arabia had arrested the young woman for wearing “immodest clothes” after an outcry from people who say she flagrantly violated the kingdom’s dress code.

The young Saudi woman drew attention over the weekend when the video was shared online of her walking in a historic village north of the capital wearing a miniskirt and crop top, and showing her hair.

Saudi rules require all women living in the kingdom to wear long, loose robes known as abayas in public. Most Saudi women also wear a headscarf and veil that covers the face.

A statement released by the Centre for International Communication said police released the woman, who was not named. It says she was released on Tuesday evening after a few hours of questioning and that she told investigators that the video posted on social media was published without her knowledge.

“She was released without charge and the case has been closed by the prosecutor,” the statement said.

It was a rare win for supporters of women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, who criticised the public outcry against her, which prompted police to bring her in for questioning. Her release from detention without charge was also unusual. —

She was released without charge and the case has been closed by the prosecutor. The woman said the video posted on social media was published without her knowledge.

Saudi statement