Pakistani woman held for 'catcalling' Saudi men on Jeddah streets

Viral footage shows beautician cat calling men on a street in Jeddah

https://twitter.com/hukusfof/status/1196698372410945541

A woman of Pakistani descent who works as a beautician in Saudi Arabia was arrested after a video of her 'catcalling' men on a street went viral.

The incident took place in Jeddah's Corniche, according to Saudi news outlet Okaz.

The woman was filmed sitting in the backseat of a car, smoking what appears to be an electronic cigarette, and catcalling men through an open window of the car.

The video of the incident was initially shared on Snapchat after which it also began doing the rounds on Twitter.

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In the video, the woman can be heard and seen speaking in Arabic, though authorities have since said that she is of Pakistani origin.

As the video rolls on, the woman in question makes comments regarding men walking by. At one instance, she is heard saying "If her abaya was pretty, I would've flirted with her" as a woman passes by.

Sources speaking to Okaz said the woman and her friend escaped to Madinah amid the backlash generated by the footage.

She was, nevertheless, detained in Madinah and referred to legal authorities in Jeddah.

Before her arrest, accounts on Twitter circulated a video claiming it featured the woman's apology.

In it, she is heard crying while saying she "didn't intend to offend anyone with her actions".

The accuracy and veracity of the footage being attributed to her remains unconfirmed.

The incident polarised Saudis the moment it was made public and people's reactions to it continued to pour in after the defendant's detainment.

Many were relieved action was taken against her because they felt what she did "violated the kingdom's rules and regulations".