Saudi woman could face prison for posting video of husband cheating with maid

A Saudi woman who filmed her husband cheating on her with their housemaid may be sent to prison because of the Kingdom’s defamation laws.

The woman shared a footage of her husband kissing and talking to the maid on social media with the caption, “The minimum punishment for this husband is to scandalise him.”

Read: Saudi prince arrested on sex crime charge at Los Angeles mansion

However, Majid Qaroob, a top Saudi lawyer said the woman could be handed a one-year prison sentence or a fine of 500,000 Saudi Riyals.

"This law [on information technology crimes] includes stiff punishment for anyone using mobile phones with a camera or other equipment to photograph others and defame them," he added.

Read: Indian activists outraged as Saudi diplomat accused of raping Nepali maids flees

The video went viral in Saudi Arabia with many viewers showing support for the wife.

“I salute you warmly for your valiant courage,” Al Yamama, a blogger, said of the woman’s decision, according to Gulf News. “You did the best thing because there was an urgent need for revenge and your revenge is the best," she added.

Many also took to Twitter to express outrage over the possible detention:

@Independent In Saudi Arabia once a woman reported her rape and in punishment she get lashes. Yes it happened.

— W-A-S-I-M (@joke_sparrow) October 6, 2015

https://twitter.com/CraneMaggie/status/651477642856787968

https://twitter.com/SuperDazLUFC/status/651475279064469504

https://twitter.com/je5kby/status/651473857103200257

@Independent Funny that it's the woman being blamed: what about the adulterating bloke? One law for women, another for men!

— Daphne Miles#PCPEU (@daphne_miles) October 6, 2015

https://twitter.com/SuperDazLUFC/status/651475279064469504

 

Thousands of people work as maids in the Gulf States, many of whom are migrants from poor countries such as the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

 

This article originally appeared on Independent