RIYADH // Saudi police have arrested a man on public order charges after he was accused of cross-dressing online.
Police in Qassim, north-west of Riyadh, “arrested a famous Snapchat personality who appeared in video clips dressed like women,” the Sabq online newspaper reported.
The publication quoted the Qassim police spokesman as saying the suspect was detained “for producing and distributing material insulting to public order”.
Sabq did not identify the suspect but said citizens had complained about his dressing “inappropriately”.
In April, the government stripped the kingdom’s religious police of the power of arrest but strict moral codes remain in effect.
Members of the Haia force, among whose duties was to monitor people’s dress, can now only offer advice and report suspected violators to regular police for prosecution.
In June, police in the holy city of Mecca arrested 50 young men for haircuts, necklaces and other adornments considered un-Islamic, Sabq reported at the time.
* Agence France-Presse
