Saudi men arrested for offering free hugs

[Hum]

Two men have been arrested in Saudi Arabia for offering free hugs to passers-by in the capital, Riyadh.

The Saudi religious police detained the two young men for indulging in exotic practices and offending public order.

The free hugs movement aims to "brighten up" people's lives by offering strangers hugs.

A young Saudi man, Bandr al-Swed, posted a video of himself offering hugs to male strangers on YouTube, where it has received nearly 1.5m 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."

Britain's Independent newspaper reports that his video inspired two more young Saudis, Abdulrahman al-Khayyal and a friend.

They offered hugs, advertised on a placard, in one of Riyadh's main shopping streets.

They were subsequently arrested by the kingdom's religious police, the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, which is charged with ensuring that sharia law is strictly adhered to.

The two were required to sign a pledge that they would not offer hugs again, reports say.

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[SiCKX]

 

 

"After seeing the Free Hugs Campaign in many different countries, I decided to do it in my own country,"

 

This playa forgot that 90% of what he sees in many different countries is forbidden in his.

[Atomic Wanderer Chicken]

A lot of those middle eastern countries are still stuck in the primitive times, especially with treatment of women. It makes me proud to live in the United States.

[.Ruby]

A lot of those middle eastern countries are still stuck in the primitive times, especially with treatment of women. It makes me proud to live in the United States.

I would say their governments behave primitively but not their people

[Atomic Wanderer Chicken]

I would say their governments behave primitively but not their people

They desperately need separation of church and state in the middle east. A lot of the laws there are based off religion and a lot of the laws are very unusual and extremely obsolete.

[Hum]

The sickos :p

[.Ruby]

They desperately need separation of church and state in the middle east. A lot of the laws there are based off religion and a lot of the laws are very unusual and extremely obsolete.

I don't agree that their laws are based off of religion but from further study a lot of these laws are made up and enforced by these dynasties, the religious context itself does not go into excess like what these secret police agencies are doing. It's a psychological profile to keep people in a state of fear against these rulers.

 

For example a headscarf is not required for women to wear but in some countries it's compulsory by the country's regulations

[Growled Member]

 

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

 

Plainly Saudi Arabia likes being unhappy.

[compl3x]

I don't agree that their laws are based off of religion 

 

 

 

The Saudi religious police detained the two young men for indulging in exotic practices and offending public order.

 

Not only are these absurd and anti-human laws based of off religion, they've set up a group of thugs to go around and enforce them. *